Captain Ron Martin

March 6, 1944 – January 12, 2021

Captain Ron Martin, Prince George’s County Fire Department, Maryland (Retired), passed away January 12, 2021 after a long illness.  Ron was married to Dorothy on July 3, 1967 and is survived by his, her, and their three children, Gary Wayne Martin of St. Augustine, Florida, Cynthia Lynn Howard of Texas and Barbara Ann Bailey of Lusby, Maryland.  He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Lojacono of Owing, Maryland and Bill Martin (Jane) of Bowie, Maryland.  Additionally, he is survived by 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews who all loved him dearly. 

During his fire department career he served as engine and truck company officer, Staff Operations Duty Officer, and Commander of the Fire Investigation Unit and Bomb Squad.  During his investigative career, he commanded the Prince George Fire Department team with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Abortion Clinic Bombing Task Force investigating and bringing to justice the abortion clinic bombers that were terrorizing the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.   Following his retirement from PGFD, he relocated to the west coast of Florida and continued his fire, arson and explosion investigations with SEA and more recently with Bruce Kerns Investigations in Tampa. 

In addition, Ron served on the federal government’s National Disaster Medical System under the Department of Health and Human Services where he responded as the Emergency Operations Specialist to federally declared disasters in multiple states.  Most notable of these was serving at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on New York City on September 11, 2001 and in Louisiana following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when he served as Management Support Team Commander. 

Throughout his career in the fire service and beyond, he was always the strongest possible supporter of continuing education for fire fighters and fire investigators. Captain Martin served as a mentor to many professional, public, and private sector investigators.    

Please keep his family in your prayers.