Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company

A pioneering firefighter in Baltimore County was posthumously honored December 15th with a meeting room at Fire Department headquarters in Towson being named in her honor. A portrait of Danelle England-Dansicker now hangs in the fourth-floor room, “The England-Dansicker Room,” in honor of the late Baltimore County Fire Department division chief who laid the groundwork for today’s female members of the county’s fire service. 

 England-Dansicker was the first female member of the BCoFD, its first chief officer, and is still the highest-ever ranking woman to serve in the agency. She was also the first member of the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company. 

 “When Danelle was hired it was very significant,” said BCoFD Fire Chief John Hohman told a room packed with fire department officials, county dignitaries, family members and friends. “Danelle changed this fire department forever.” 

 Hohman said England-Dansicker was “unequivocally the perfect person to break the barrier,” noting as a rookie firefighter at Engine 11 in Hillendale she responded to a working fire on her very first day on the job. “Her enthusiasm was unparalleled and she was a natural leader.” 

 Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith called England-Dansicker “ a trailblazer”, adding, “her valor, dedication and outstanding examples enriched our fire department and our entire county.” 

 England-Dansicker joined BCoFD in 1978 and served as a firefighter. apparatus driver, cardiac rescue technician, and member of the high-rise evacuation aerial team, a precursor to today’s Urban Search and Rescue team. In 1995 she was promoted to serve as the county’s first female battalion chief and its first division chief in 2001. England-Dansicker retired in 2005 after a distinguished 27-year career and in April 2009 passed away at age 52 due to complications from an autoimmune disease.

 England-Dansicker, whose family is deeply entrenched in the fire service, is survived by her husband Sam, past captain and life member of PVFC; daughters Gabrielle and Alex; mother Anida England of Box 234 Association; brother Bill, retired BCoFD lieutenant and Pikesville VFC member; uncle Rick Holden, BCoFD fire specialist and life member of PVFC; and grandmother Wilso Holden of Box 234 Association. Her fire service family also includes her late father, Bill England, Sr., an associate member of PVFC; late grandfather Captain Dan Holden, III, a BCoFD captain and life member of PVFC; late Uncle Gerald Holden, BCoFD lieutenant, past captain and life member of PVFC. Her cousin Dan Holden also was a longtime PVFC member.