House Fire on Estelle Road

Wheaton, MD July 22, 2009 - At approximately 4:20 PM units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to 12909 Estelle Road in the Wheaton-Glenmont area for a reported house fire. Units arrived on the scene to find a two level single family home with fire on the first floor and extending to other areas of the home. Firefighters were also faced with a significant electrical hazard on the front yard when the homes' electrical wires came down and energized the fence in the front yard.

Two occupants were home at the time of the fire. The adult female occupant stated she woke up when she felt heat around her feet and the smoke alarm activated. The adult female and teenager exited safely. It took firefighters 15-20 minutes to extinguish the fire. The adult female occupant and a firefighter were transported for a medical evaluation and are expected to be treated and released.

Fire Explosive Investigators estimated damages at $450,000. Origin of the fire is the first floor bedroom, and the cause is likely to be accidental involving an overloaded electrical circuit.

LOCATION: 12909 Estelle Road (Wheaton -Glenmont area)
ORIGIN/CAUSE: 1st floor bedroom / Accidental
DAMAGE: 450,000
INJURY: Two - 1 F/F, 1 Civilian (adult female)
DISPLACEMENT: 5 adults 1 Teenager
FIRE PROTECTION: Smoke alarm activated


Photos courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

Vehicle Into A Building

Wheaton, MD July 22, 2009 – At 12:50 PM, units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue were dispatched for a reported vehicle into a building.

Fire and Rescue Units arrived on the scene to the rear of 2209 Glen Allen Ave.
and found a Honda Element, with a single occupant/driver, which had crashed into the apartment building. The adult male driver was transported to a local emergency room, with non life threatening injuries, for a check up.

No other injuries were reported. Montgomery County Police will be investigating the circumstances of the collision.

A Montgomery County Building Inspector was on scene and determined that the building suffered minor damage and was safe to occupy.

Photos courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

Kids and Bike Helmets: The Right Fit

Bike helmets are not optional equipment. A helmet is your last line of defense in an accident - never ride without one!

Helmets have been shown in studies to reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by 90 percent. Your child is 14 times more likely to survive a bike crash if he/she is wearing a helmet. Each year in the United States, approximately 250 children die in bicycle-related accidents, and about half a million are injured in bicycling accidents. Although it's estimated that 75% of the serious injuries could have been avoided if a helmet was worn, only about 20% of children in the United States wear a helmet.

Montgomery County requires anyone under age 18 to wear a bicycle helmet when riding or being carried on a bicycle, including a bicycle with training wheels, on a public street, right-of-way, sidewalk or bicycle path in the County.

For more information, go here: Bike Safety and Bike Helmets

MCFRS New Media & Social Outreach

Just a reminder that we can be found throughout the Internet! Please take a moment to look at some of what we are doing. You can sign up for many of these sites and interact with us!

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8830 Piney Branch Road Two Alarm Fire

Silver Spring, MD July 12, 2009 - At approximately 7:35 PM last night units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, and Prince Georges County, responded to 8830 Piney Branch Rd. (Pineway Towers Condominiums) in Silver Spring for a reported building fire with people trapped.

Units arrived on the scene to find a residential hi-rise building with fire and toxic smoke showing from the 12th floor. Battalion Chief Officer 701 arrived to the rear of the building and reported seeing fire from the top floor and requested a second alarm worth of equipment and personnel to the scene. An aggressive interior attack and search and rescue operations were initiated. First arriving fire fighters rescued at least a dozen occupants from the 12th floor to safer areas on the floors below.

Upon arriving on the scene, the Fire Investigators were able to identify and interview the residents from the fire apartment. Four occupants were home at the time of the fire and they advised that the smoke alarms sounded and when they investigated they found smoke coming from a rear bedroom. The four exited the apartment and called 911.

The investigation revealed that a number of electronic components were plugged into an undersized extension cord in the room of origin. An apparent failure of the electrical cord occurred which was the cause of the fire.

One Firefighter was transported due to dehydration and one civilian was injured from falling debris. Red Cross was on the scene assisting with the numerous people that were displaced from their apartments

LOCATION: 8830 Piney Branch Rd (Pineway Towers Condominiums)
ORIGIN/CAUSE: Bedroom / Accidental
DAMAGE: 600,000
INJURY: Two – 1 F/F, 1 Civilian
DISPLACEMENT: Approx - 80
Smoke alarm and building alarms activated

Photo provided by FEI Junghans

Car Crashes Into Home

Wheaton, MD July 11, 2009 - At approximately 6:10 PM, units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue responded for a report of a car crashing into a home. Upon arrival, units found a single vehicle into a home located at 11553 Daffodil Lane.

The driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local trauma center.
There was one resident of the house who was home at the time and uninjured. At this time, the home has been determined to be unsafe to occupy.


Photos courtesy of Captain Oscar Garcia.

Structure Fire Goes To Two Alarms

On 7/10/09 at approximately 11:47 PM Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units responded for a building fire at 15853 Crabbs Branch Way - which is part of the Franklin Office Park. Units arrived on scene with fire showing from the roof, and a defensive attack was initiated. The fire
was quickly extinguished and no occupants were found during search and rescue operations.

The area of origin is believed to be on the second floor. A partial collapse of the second floor and the roof occurred posting units 15847 - 15857 as unsafe to occupy.

ORIGIN/CAUSE: Under investigation / Undetermined

DAMAGE: $425000

INJURY: None

DISPLACEMENT: Three offices displaced




Photos courtesy of FEI Maxwell

Automatic Fire Sprinklers Save Again!

Rockville, MD July 11, 2009 - Early this morning at approximately 1:30 AM, units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched for a fire in the Shoppers Food Warehouse at 18140 Village Center Drive.

Workers in the store reported seeing and smelling smoke and upon discovering the fire, they promptly exited the building to safety. The automatic fire sprinkler system operated to control the fire and Montgomery County Fire & Rescue units completed the extinguishment.

Chief Fire Marshal Mike Love noted, “This is the second time in less than a week where we have seen evidence showing the value of automatic fire sprinklers in their value to save lives and property. No home or business should be without automatic fire sprinklers.”

Fire Investigators determined that the fire started in a fluorescent light ballast attached to the refrigeration unit (see photo). The store is allowed to reopen although approximately half of it will be closed for a short time. Total damage estimates are still pending.

Illegal Fireworks Display Injures 20 Month Old Child

First Reported Firework Related Injury In 5 Years

On July 4, 2009 at approximately 11 PM, a 20 month old female was brought to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital (SGAH) by her parents with burns on her back. SGAH staff contacted the on-duty Fire Investigators who responded to the hospital.

Upon questioning the child’s parents, it was learned that she was burned by fireworks that had inadvertently flown into her stroller during an illegal display at a private residence. Fire Investigators were able to locate and interview the resident where the illegal fireworks display had occurred. The resident confirmed that a fireworks package, that shot multiple flame balls, tipped over and shot burning material into the bystanders and injured the child. The child received second degree burns to 4%, and third degree burns to 1% of her body. She was treated at SGAH and was released shortly thereafter.

This is the first reported firework related injury in the county in roughly five years. Charges are pending against the defendant.

Please remember that ALL Fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County throughout the year.

Fire Sprinklers Avert Tragedy At Nursing Home

Rockville, MD, July 8, 2009 - Yesterday morning at approximately 2:30 AM, units from Burtonsville Fire Station 15 were dispatched for an automatic fire alarm at the Arden Court Nursing Home (2500 Block of Musgrove Road). Engine 715 arrived on scene and reported heavy smoke conditions in the building and located an extinguished fire in a resident’s room.

A single automatic fire sprinkler operated to extinguish the fire. The elderly resident was removed from the room by the time the Fire Department arrived and he was transported to the hospital as a precaution for possible smoke inhalation. A picture of his room is on the right.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the action of the automatic sprinkler system averted a major a tragedy this morning,” stated Division Chief Mike Love, Chief Fire Marshal for Montgomery County.

The fire originated at a wire connection within a wall mounted A/C, heat pump unit and extended up the wall and burned a portion of the blinds at the window before the sprinkler activated. The Origin/Cause has been determined as Accidental – Electrical and damage is estimated at $5,000 Structure and $1,000 Contents.

Chief Love also said, “If this had been a non-sprinkled building, damage estimates could have easily been ten times what they were. The fact of the matter is fire sprinklers save lives and reduce property loss.”

County residents, who want to learn about residential fire sprinklers for their own home and how they can reduce their property tax bill by 50%, can go here for more information: Automatic Fire Sprinklers

Outdoor Grilling Safety

The onset of warm weather signals the beginning of Barbecue Season! Fire Chief Richard Bowers of the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service wants you and your loved ones to enjoy this season SAFELY! Here are some tips from the National Fire Protection Association that he hopes will help: GO HERE

ALL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Arson Tipline: 240-777-2263 to report illegal use of fireworks in Montgomery County

The Law
It is illegal for any person to manufacture, possess, store, offer for sale, sell, discharge, use, burn, or explode any fireworks in Montgomery County, Maryland, except that an authorized display may be conducted by a licensed pyrotechnic professional with a permit. Penalties for violations of the law include a fine up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.

Leave Fireworks To The Professionals! Protect The Ones You Love!

Questions you may have about fireworks.