Howard names first female fire chief, a 29-year veteran

Christine Uhlhorn, 50, a third-generation firefighter, was named Monday by County Executive Calvin Ball as the new fire chief of Howard County’s Department of Fire and Rescue Services. She becomes the county’s first female career fire chief, and said she was “beyond humbled” to be chosen. A lifelong Marylander who lives in Joppa, Uhlhorn began her career with Howard County in 1989 as a firefighter recruit and emergency medical technician working at Station 9, Long Reach. During her nearly 30-year career she moved up the ranks, serving in a variety of roles — including assistant fire chief for almost three years. Ball, the county’s first black county executive, said he selected Uhlhorn as the new chief because she shares his vision for quality for all aspects of life in Howard County. “I recognize that a key component of [that vision] is safety, health and wellness,” Ball said. Ball, a Democrat who is also a former firefighter and emergency medical technician, said he previously served with Uhlhorn in the department. Tuesday, police said. Officers were called about 1 p.m. to the shooting outside Saints Deli at Shirley and Park Heights avenues, where four men were found with non- l i fe- threatening gunshot wounds, according to Detective Jeremy Silbert, a Police Department spokesman. No one answered at a number listed for the deli Tuesday. Police placed evidence markers on the sidewalk in front of the business and roped off the intersection with police tape. A fifth person with gunshot wounds arrived at hospital nearby around the same time, and police are investigating whether that victim was injured in the same shooting. None of the victims were identified, and police did not immediately release any information on a suspect or motive in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1866-7LOCKUP.