PIKESVILLE, Md. — Maryland has appointed Caroll H. Spriggs II as its new state fire marshal, naming a longtime fire service veteran to a six-year term and making history as the first Black person to hold the post in the Maryland Department of State Police’s 132-year existence.
Experienced leader tapped to head statewide fire safety efforts
Spriggs, 53, brings decades of experience in local and federal fire-response roles to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. He most recently served as a deputy fire chief with the Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department and previously worked in a senior capacity in Annapolis. His resume also includes time as a task force officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The state fire marshal oversees a range of responsibilities that include arson and explosives investigations, enforcement of the state’s fire prevention code and coordination of prevention initiatives with local, state and federal partners. The office is part of the Maryland State Police and supervises an investigative and enforcement staff statewide.
| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Term length | Six years |
| Staff supervised | 85 employees, including more than 42 deputy state fire marshals |
| Primary duties | Fire/arson/explosives investigations, code enforcement, prevention coordination |
Background and path to appointment
Spriggs began his fire-service career with the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and spent 38 years there, according to the announcement. He also has been active at the national level: he was elected to the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board in 2019 and later served as its secretary.
The selection followed a state recruitment process that began in May. Candidates were reviewed by the State Fire Prevention Commission, which recommended top contenders to Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Michael A. Jackson. The superintendent made the final appointment, the agency said.
Spriggs replaces Chief Deputy Jason Mowbray, who has served as acting state fire marshal since December 2023. Mowbray will remain within the agency and transfer into a senior management role following the leadership transition.
Reaction and priorities
"I would like to thank Colonel Jackson for this tremendous opportunity. I look forward to working with all of the partners of the MDSP to continue making Maryland safe," Spriggs said in a statement.
The appointment arrives at a time when fire prevention, arson investigations and explosives response remain priorities for state and local agencies. The Office of the State Fire Marshal plays a central role in enforcing fire codes and coordinating investigative resources that local jurisdictions may lack, particularly for complex or large-scale incidents.
Officials highlighted the human resources Spriggs will manage: the office is responsible for 85 employees statewide, including more than 42 deputy state fire marshals who lead day-to-day field work. That workforce handles routine inspections, technical investigations and coordination with local fire departments and law enforcement partners.
- Spriggs will serve a six-year term overseeing statewide fire prevention and investigative work.
- The office enforces Maryland’s fire prevention code and conducts arson and explosives investigations.
- Spriggs brings local, federal and volunteer fire-service experience, plus leadership roles on a national bomb squad advisory board.
What this means locally
For residents and local fire departments, the new state fire marshal is the point person for technical guidance on fire codes, inspection priorities and investigative support after suspicious or large-scale fires. Local jurisdictions that encounter incidents with potential arson or explosive elements typically rely on the state office for resources and expertise beyond what volunteer or municipal departments can provide.
Advocates for diversity in public safety described the appointment as a notable milestone. While the state did not provide further comment beyond the appointment announcement, civil-service leaders and community members often point to representation in senior roles as an important step for recruitment and public trust.
Spriggs’ appointment is effective immediately, and he will assume responsibility for directing the office’s investigative and prevention efforts while working with the Maryland State Police and local partners on public safety initiatives statewide.
Marylanders with questions about fire prevention, inspection schedules or how to report suspicious fires can find guidance through the Maryland State Police and the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s public resources.
