Wicomico Co. native nominated as Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year

WICOMICO CO., Md. – A Wicomico County native has been selected as the Lower Eastern Regional Office nominee for Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year.

Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Kirby Travers was nominated by his supervisor, Deputy Chief Matt Stevens, commander of the Lower Eastern Region, which comprises Dorchester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties. In 2021, Deputy Chief Stevens commended Travers for his caseload of 28 fire investigations, six of which were criminal in nature, with a closure rate consistent with the national average.

“Master Deputy Travers works all of his criminal investigations with determination and fairness until either an arrest is made or the investigation hits a dead end. Even if he reaches that dead-end, he will return to the case to see if any new leads have popped up that could drive him in a new direction on the case,” said Stevens.

Stevens also says Master Deputy Travers is experienced in fire code enforcement, leading the region and one of the highest in the state in fire safety inspections conducted by deputies with 87 initial fire safety inspections. Stevens praised Travers for his knowledge of the Fire and Safety Code, saying, “He is fair but stern and ensures public buildings are fire safe to those that enter those buildings.”

Master Deputy Travers has been with the Office of the State Fire Marshal for close to 17 years and is well known throughout the agency as an exceptional and experienced investigator. We’re told many are still unaware of his behind-the-scenes duty as the State Fire Marshals Office liaison during the yearly legislation session in Annpolis. Travers tracks different bills affecting the OSFM, and meets weekly with lawmakers, fire department representatives, and State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci on how those bills will affect the fire service and the public.