Jesse Wade McCullough began his firefighting career with the Baltimore City Fire Department as a member of Class 10-02. Once out of the academy, Jesse was assigned to Squad 40 in the Liberty Heights neighborhood.

Jesse left Baltimore City in 2013 when he was hired by Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department as a member of Career Recruit School #47. Upon graduation, Jesse was assigned to Company 830 – Landover Hills on B Shift.

Jesse quickly earned the respect of his peers and officers because of his knowledge and passion for firefighting. Jesse was the primary driver for his shift, where he could often be found helping someone learn a new skill or understand a complex concept. Jesse’s attention to detail, passion, and knowledge were a great asset to all who worked alongside him.

Outside of work, Jesse was an accomplished artist. Jesse attended the Corcoran School of Arts & Design, where he earned a BA in fine art with his primary focus on sculptures and ceramics. Jesse also enjoyed gardening, cooking, and building projects.

Jesse’s greatest joy and source of strength was his family. Jesse and Susie were married in 2013 and welcomed two daughters, Maggie and Alice.

In January 2017, Jesse was diagnosed with an aggressive occupation-related Stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer, and his battle began. Jesse fought a valiant and courageous battle for 21 months, continuing to work for a period of time.

During his final days, Jesse continued to care for his family. While coworkers were tearing out an old concrete patio at their new house, Jesse was able to convince them to allow him to use a jackhammer so that he could contribute to the work.

On October 9, 2018, Jesse passed away peacefully at home. Jesse was 41 years old and had served the citizens of Baltimore City and Prince George’s County for over ten years. Jesse was posthumously promoted to the rank of fire technician.

Even after his passing, Jesse continued to make a difference for many Maryland firefighters. A bill was passed to change the law that dealt with combined years of service with multiple career departments.