Roofing Companies Give Frederick Firefighters a Safer Place to Train
TAMKO supplied materials and Topper Construction donated installation for a burn-building roof replaced in January.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
TAMKO donated materials and Topper Construction donated installation for the January roof replacement. The old roof had become worn and slippery when wet, but training was not suspended. The county had expected to spend approximately $3,000 to $4,000 on materials and use staff labor; total donated value was not reported.
A donated roof is helping Frederick County firefighters practice some of their most demanding skills while saving the county money and staff time.
TAMKO Building Products supplied materials and Frederick-based Topper Construction provided installation for the county fire and rescue division’s burn building, according to The Frederick News-Post.
The replacement took place in January, not this week. TAMKO confirmed the donation date as Jan. 14, and Battalion Chief Francis Malta said the installation was completed in one day.
The building supports training in firefighting, searches, ladder work and roof ventilation. Firefighters use it to observe how ventilation openings affect smoke and heat inside a structure.
Years of repeated foot traffic had worn away granules from the old shingles. Malta estimated the roof was 12 to 15 years old and said the wear made it more slippery when wet and raised concerns about leaks.
The condition did not force the department to suspend training. Officials arranged the replacement before deterioration could interfere with operations.
The original plan was for the county to buy materials and assign four or five staff members to do the work over roughly two days. Malta estimated the material expense at $3,000 to $4,000.
A connection through a county volunteer firefighter employed by TAMKO helped change that plan. TAMKO agreed to donate the materials and connected the department with Topper Construction, which offered the installation labor.
The donated supplies included shingles, underlayment, nails and drip edge. TAMKO said the shingles came from its Frederick manufacturing facility, which opened in 1979.
The contribution avoided the expected material purchase and allowed training staff to focus on other work. The report does not provide a complete dollar valuation of the donated labor or total project savings.
Malta estimated that hundreds of firefighters use the training facility annually, including personnel from Frederick, Montgomery, Howard and Carroll counties participating in University of Maryland programs.
He emphasized that firefighting skills need continued practice even after initial training. Keeping the building in good condition supports that ongoing work.
The project also illustrates how businesses with local connections can support emergency preparedness through donated materials and skilled labor.
WHAT IT MEANS
The donation improved a heavily used training surface while avoiding a planned material expense and freeing staff for other responsibilities. It is an account of work completed in January, not a newly completed October project.
Original reporting referenced by Everything Frederick:
The Frederick News-Post — Reporting by Joseph DeBell.
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