Happy Trails!

After over 60 years of combined service, Lieutenant Edgar Hall and MFF Bill Lucas will be celebrating their last day on the floor today. The members of Company 1 "A" shift will be hosting a well deserved last-shift luncheon for the both of them today.

I would like to wish both of these individuals the best of luck in their future retirement endeavors!


Stay Safe,
 
Bill

Fire & Carbon Monoxide Risks During Cold Weather

As many of you are all too aware, winter is HERE! With temperatures well below the seasonal average, and looking to be here for the foreseeable future, I thought it would be a good time to remind all of you of some of the risks during cold weather.

I am really concerned that many people sometimes turn to drastic measures to heat their homes – especially if money is very tight. This can prove to be very dangerous! Even traditional alternative heating sources, such as a fireplace or space heaters can be dangerous if not used properly.

The winter months are traditionally a peak time for house fires and carbon monoxide poisonings in Montgomery County. Please take a moment to click on the below links and learn more about how to protect you and your loved ones:

Fire/Carbon Monoxide Risks During Cold Weather

Winter Fires: Safety Tips for the Home

Stay Safe and WARM!

Bill Delaney
Program Manager - Community Safety Education
Division of Community Risk Reduction Services
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue

Shovel Around Fire Hydrants

Just to show everyone I practice what I preach, I have shoveled around 2 hydrants in my neighborhood. Now Fairfax County Fire Station 32 will have an easier time finding a water supply just in case something bad happens. Fire does not take a day off!

Twitter Updates

Looks like one heck of a storm is here and will be for many more hours!  There is a BLIZZARD WARNING until 6 PM tonight!

If you do not have Twitter, you can look to the left of this posting and see all of the latest Twitter updates.  This Blog's Twitter section updates seemlessly with the actual Twitter update so check in occassionally to see what might be up.

If you are physically able to do so and it is safe, please make sure you shovel around any fire hydrant's that may be close by! This is a huge help to us!

Stay safe and warm today!

Bill

Holiday Candle Safety

This week and next will no doubt see an increase in candle use. Flameless battery powered candles aside I want everyone to remember that candles, when lit, are an open flame and can be dangerous if not used properly. With that in mind, I would ask that you take a moment to watch and listen to the below presentation on Candle Safety.



I am also including a link here: Candle Safety to a safety tip sheet that covers basically the same information for your review.

I wish all of you a Happy and SAFE Holiday season!

Best Regards,

Bill Delaney
Program Manager - Community Safety Education
Division of Community Risk Reduction Services
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue

A Holiday Twist To Our Door to Door Outreach

Every Saturday afternoon, the women and men of MCFRS go to various neighborhoods in their communities knocking on doors, handing out fire safety information, and offering to check resident’s smoke alarms (see From Our Fire House to Your Home). This past Saturday, the crew at Fire Station 17 – C Shift took a creative approach in attempting to get safety information out to the public we serve.  They visited several Christmas Tree sale lots and distributed our door hangers to be given out with each tree sold.

If you happen to purchase a Christmas tree in the greater Laytonsville area, you may find an important reminder to test your smoke alarm attached to the tree.

Stuff The Truck

Great event at the Giant Food at Montrose and Rockville Pike that we are helping out with. It is called Stuff the Truck and the goal is to collect food for the Food Bank. The Fire Chief will be here shortly to contribute and our personnel from Station 23 will be here helping and handing out Holiday Fire Safety information.
Fox5 is here providing live updates and our Chief should be on at some point between 8:30 and 9. So tune in and watch if you can not stop by. If you are stopping by, please bring a non-perishable food item to donate.
Stay Safe,
Bill
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

An Extra Effort After A Fire

I wanted to make everyone aware of an extra effort made by personnel assigned to our Fire Station 31 yesterday. Our fire trucks were sent to Tobytown Drive for smoke coming from a town house. Units arrived on scene to find fire in the flue of a malfunctioning furnace. The fire was extinguished and fire fighters found flue from furnace to be significantly clogged.

Based on these findings, they planned a door to door saftey check in the neighborhood that same day to try and make sure smoke alarms were working and that homes did not have any carbon monoxide buildup (which can result from a clogged flu).  See the Google Map street view below as this is a new feature we are trying.  You can walk the neighborhood as well.  (If no map is visible it is because there is a high volume of traffic on the Google site.  Just click on "View larger map" link and it will come up)

View Larger Map
Led by Captain Troy Lipp, crews from Enging 731 and Truck 731 walked door to door to each home on Tobytown Drive and checked the homes (and around the furnaces) for carbon monoxide emmisions and made sure each home had working smoke alarms.  They also made sure to distribute furnace safety information to all 25 homes on the street.


All in all MCFRS personnel:

MET WITH 14 OCCUPANTS


DISTRIBUTED LITERATURE AT: 25 RESIDENCES


TESTED: 24 SMOKE DETECTORS


INSTALLED: 3 NEW SMOKE DETECTORS


INSTALLED: 2 NEW BATTERIES

Many thanks to Captain Lipp and the crew at Fire Station 31 for being proactive and attempting to prevent any future 9-1-1 calls and making 25 homes in the county just a little bit safer for the holiday's! 
 
As always, I hope everyone out there STAYS SAFE!  Bill Delaney

Holiday Safety

The holiday season is upon us and everyone out there knows what that means – an increased fire risk! You may want to call me Scrooge but, before you fault the messenger, please take a moment to review some of the important safety information below. No mater what occasion you observe it more than likely involves candles, cooking, and/or trees.

Our friends at the Home Safety Council have some fantastic tips, with some pictographs (like to the right), that highlight steps you should be taking to protect you and your loved ones during this special time of the year. Please take a moment to click on the links below and learn more so that you have a happy and SAFE holiday season!

Stay Safe!  Bill Delaney

Candle Safety

Trim the Tree Safely

Tips for Holiday Electrical Safety

Cooking

From Our Fire House to Your Home

One year ago, our department initiated a proactive fire safety campaign designed to ensure that all county residents have working smoke alarms in their homes.

How, you might ask, would we be able to accomplish our goal? Simple! By going directly to your home!

Every Saturday afternoon, the women and men of MCFRS go to various neighborhoods in their communities knocking on doors, handing out fire safety information, and offering to check resident’s smoke alarms. If you are in need of a new smoke alarm or just a new battery, we will install them for FREE! If you are not home you will find a little something on your door knob (look to right of this article) letting you know we were by with a list of safety tips and a number to call if you would like us to stop by your home on another day to check your alarms.

What we have found is we are actually going into roughly 20% of the homes whose doors we knock on. Of that, roughly 50% of those homes do not have a working smoke alarm! The good news is that they will before we leave!

Why is it important to have working smoke alarms in your home? About two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms and they can reduce your risk of dying form a fire in your home by almost half!

Here are some updated numbers from our door to door campaign through the end of November:

Homes Visited: 31,417

Smoke Alarms Installed: 972

Batteries Installed: 1119

So there are about a couple of thousand homes in Montgomery County that are now a little bit safer as a result of our program! Do not wait for us to stop by your home. Take a moment now to “Put A Finger On It” and test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working!

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
Program Manager, Community Safety Education

Health Care Fair @ JFK High School

I am attending a health care fair at JFK HS in Silver Spring all day today. It was organized by a group of students here and I am very impressed with the program they have put together.

I have interacted with roughly 300 students thus far and provided them with important fire and injury prevention information. A bit of a surprise is the amount of very good questions they have as most high school age kids tend to think they know it all or it is not important (me 30 something years ago).

They seem very engaged and want to know more for themselves as well as their families. Hopefully many smoke alarms will be tested and home escape plans developed tonight!
Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Blair High School Sports Academy Mentor Program

A collaboration involving MCFRS, Dept. of Recreation and the Task Force on Mentoring, has implemented a mentor Sports Academy program for students at Blair High School (BHS) in Silver Spring. The sports event kicking off the program is a flag football tournament. The County Council has been a strong supportive advocate for the Sports Academy and its work with under-achieving students.

Captain Tommy Foster is the lead for MCFRS in this very worthwhile endeavor and shares his experience, thus far, below:

I met with John Smith (Councilman Andrews Office), Joy Rafey (Task Force on Mentoring), and Daryl Gincherman (Task Force on Mentoring) for a brainstorming session on how we could make this happen. We all agreed that we needed to find a way to connect with the kids and felt strongly about utilizing sports as a way to make that connection.

John and Joy moved very quickly in setting up a meeting with BHS Principal Darryl Williams and Jose Segura from Sports Academy. A plan was devised, and the motions of the plan moved forward. The idea was to have a large flag football tournament, which would last approximately 6 days between the hours of 3pm-5pm.

I went back to senior leadership within my organization, and was given support by Fire Chief Richard Bowers towards moving forward with this collaboration.

Jose Segura from the Sports Academy recruited and organized 80 to 90 students for the event, which began this past Monday, November 16th. I brought a handful of firefighters and volunteers with me to participate in the games and began plugging them into different roles. Some of went in as quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defenders while others would help by refereeing the games. It felt great to see my fellow firefighters making an impact for the different teams. .

I was able to find several strong, diverse, young, and athletic role models in MCFRS to help out. Firefighters Tony Bencosme, Van Free, Seshibe Sefako, Ariel Dominguez, and Sean Carroll. Our approach was to have fun and mentor later. What I found on day four was openness from the students that allowed me to provide them information about ride alongs, career and volunteer opportunities, and an opportunity to come visit any of the mentors at their stations (to learn about life in a fire station) when the tournament was finished. I told the students they were not obligated to sign up for anything I had to offer but, to my amazement, they all signed up!

My goal is to provide these kids with valuable life lessons as they observe the discipline, focus, and accountability that their fire department mentors have demonstrated. They might also be inspired to volunteer their time and serve their community or attempt to make the fire and rescue service a career. These kids are hungry for opportunity, and are hungry for a vision to the possibilities that surround them!

This has been a wonderful and eye opening experience.

Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs

I just wanted to make sure all of you out there are aware of the following recall involving drop-side cribs.  There are several makes and models, in addition to the one pictured below, so I encourage each of you to go to the CPSC web site to gather more information.

-Bill
 
Infant Entrapment and Suffocation Prompts Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs

Stand By Your Pan This Thanksgiving!

It is that time of the year again when family and friends gather to celebrate, eat, drink, and be merry. Likewise, it is also the time of year where everyone is practicing to maybe be the next Iron Chef. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking fires are more likely on Thanksgiving than any other day.

With the last sentence in mind, I would like to offer all of you out there some information that you might find useful not only for Thanksgiving this week but for all of the various holidays and observances over the next several weeks.

I will be hosting a Cooking Safety Show this Wednesday, November 25th at 1 PM – 2 PM at MCFRS Blog Talk Radio Show.

You can listen live on your computer and I will be taking phone calls as well as Instant Messages. If you can not listen live no worries! The show will be available for download on the web site to listen when you can.

Our friends at the NFPA urges cooks to stand by their pan to prevent fires. Both MCFRS and NFPA discourage the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil.

Go here to read more: Turkey fryers

Go to our YouTube site to see a great video by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) that highlights the dangers: MCFRS on YouTube

NFPA also have some other resources you might find helpful:

NFPA's printable fact sheet on cooking fires

NFPA's cooking safety tips

Here’s wishing you and yours a SAFE and Happy Thanksgiving!

-Bill

H1N1 Vaccination Clinic

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will hold an H1N1 vaccination clinic on Sunday, Nov. 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic is limited only to the following target groups: Children ages 6 months to 24 years; Pregnant woman; Parents/Caregivers of children less than 6 months of age; adults 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease; and Health care workers and emergency medical service workers. The clinic is located at the Physical Education Building, Montgomery College, Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville, MD 20850. Vaccine is available on a walk in basis to the first 5000 individuals listed above. You should dress appropriately for the weather as waiting will be outdoors.

Families can assign one person to wait in line, while others wait in the car.

DHHS will hold a second H1N1 vaccination clinic on Tuesday, November 24th from 9 a.m. to noon. The clinic is by appointment only and will be limited to adults 18 to 64 years with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, etc. To make an appointment, please call (240)777-4040 on Monday, November 23rd from 3 to 4 p.m. Callers will be asked for name, doctor’s name and phone number when making an appointment. Location of vaccination will be given when appointment is made.

Fire & Carbon Monoxide Risks During Cold Weather

Cold temperatures may prompt families to turn to drastic measures to heat their homes. Even traditional alternative heating sources, such as a fireplace or space heaters can be dangerous if not used properly. As temperatures drop in your community, some simple tips can help keep families safer.

Winter months in particular are the peak time for house fires and carbon monoxide poisonings, with most incidents due to improperly ventilated or malfunctioning heating sources. Families can better protect themselves by having working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and in sleeping areas. Read On 

Candle Safety

The Holidays are fast approaching and candles are in demand. See and hear a quick presentation on Candle Safety. Click Here: MCFRS on Screenr

Our latest innovative way to reach out to the community!

Check out our latest innovative way to reach out to the community! http://screenr.com/D0B


You can also view this on our YouTube site: MCFRS-TV

Let us know what you think: Email Bill

PUBLIC HEARING ON DRAFT FIRE-RESCUE MASTER PLAN UPDATE

A Public Hearing concerning the draft “Update of the Fire, Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and Community Risk Reduction Master Plan” (“Master Plan Update) will be hosted by Montgomery County Fire Chief Richard R. Bowers on Monday, November 30, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Lobby Auditorium of the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. Public parking is available on the lower level of the nearby County Office Building Parking Garage located at Monroe Street and East Jefferson Street.

The draft Master Plan Update includes proposed changes to response time goals, delivery of advanced life support services, and four-person staffing implementation, among other changes. The document also proposes additional recommendations addressing various aspects of fire-rescue related risk. Major revisions, additions and deletions being proposed in the document could require amendments to the “Fire, Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and Community Risk Reduction Master Plan.” The draft Master Plan Update can be viewed at the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service headquarters at 101 Monroe Street, any of the County’s Regional Services Centers, or on- line at www.mcfrs.org.

Those wishing to testify during the Public Hearing must contact Cecilia Johnson no later than November 24 at 240-773-8945 or at Cecilia.johnson@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The opportunity to testify will be given to the first 30 persons requesting to testify. Individuals representing themselves or their household will be given 3 minutes to testify, and those representing a group or organization will have 5 minutes. Those testifying are asked to provide a written copy of their testimony to Chief Bowers at the Public Hearing.

Persons having disabilities that need any services or aids to participate should contact Mrs. Johnson no later than November 23.

What's Brewin Episode 2 Part 1 Richard Bowers Chief: MCFRS

See our Fire Chief, Richard Bowers, on the County's What's Brewin show. Learn more about the Chief and our department!

Part 2 is posted on our YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/MCFRSPubEd

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney

Fire Station 29 to Read Part of Mattie's book on Good Morning America This Morning

I wanted to make everyone aware that this morning at 0830 you can see members of our Fire Station 29 read part of Mattie's book on Good Morning America, ABC Channel 7.  Please also see a message from Mattie's Mom below.  This was a truly remarkable young man.

-Bill Delaney


Hello friends,

Am asking for your assistance and enthusiasm here. Please pass this info to folks in your email address book, your facebook page, your twitter followers, your co-workers, your church, your friends and relatives... everyone. This matters a lot to me.

This Monday, Nov 2, I will be on Good Morning America to release "Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs." This is not a book by Mattie, but the first book ABOUT Mattie's life! Early reviews of the book have been wonderful, and folks say they are left smiling, and re-remember why Mattie inspired us so profoundly with his words, his message, and his wit and wisdom. Dr. Maya Angelou penned a beautiful foreword for this book, which is available on online sites like amazon for pre-orders. And on Wednesday, Nov 4 at 7 pm, the book release event will take place at the White Flint Mall Borders Bookstore on Rockville Pike/North Betheda, MD. Please visit Mattie's website (www.mattieonline.com ) for info about the book and updated info about publicity.

Thank you so much my friends,

Jeni ("Mattie's mom").

Jennifer Smith Stepanek, Ph.D.

MDA National Vice President

Chair, Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation

Have a Safe and Spook-tacular Halloween

With Halloween quickly approaching, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service offers residents some safety tips to help prepare for a safe Halloween:

Plan a safe route.

1. Children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year. Accompany children and remind them to stop at all street corners, cross only at intersections and crosswalks. Teach them to look left, right and left before crossing the street and to continue looking both ways as they cross. If you’re a motorist, please slow down and be prepared to give trick or treaters a brake.

2. Stay in familiar neighborhoods and have an adult accompany trick or treaters. Visit only those houses where the lights are on. Accept treats only in the doorway and NEVER go inside a house.

3. Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.

4. Safety in numbers. If they’re old enough to trick-or-treat without an adult, designate a route before the kids go trick or treating, tell your kids to stay in a group, avoid taking short cuts through backyards and alleys and ask them to check in regularly.

5. Have an adult inspect treats BEFORE eating anything. Do not eat any unwrapped, partially wrapped, or homemade looking treats.

6. Stay away from open flames or jack-o-lanterns with candles burning.

7. Stay on the sidewalk. Don't walk or run in the street.

Be a good neighbor.

1. Keep your porch lights on and eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Remove outdoor safety hazards such as toys, bicycles and lawn ornaments. Make sure the driveway and steps are cleared of leaves, which can be a slipping and falling hazard. Make sure that the driveway and walks are well lit for incoming trick-or-treaters. Replace burned-out or broken light bulbs.

2. Pets get frightened on Halloween. Confine your pets for their safety and for that of trick or treaters.

Be Safe – Be Seen.

1. Encourage kids to follow all the rules for pedestrian safety. That includes obeying all traffic laws, looking both ways before crossing, using crosswalks, crossing at intersections and corners and never darting between parked cars.

2. Consider adding reflective tape or decals to costumes. Be sure kids carry a flashlight and use glow sticks for extra visibility.

3. Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.

Decorate Safely.

1. Illuminate your jack-o’-lanterns with flashlights or battery-operated candles instead of real ones. You won’t have the worries of an open flame coming in contact with anything . . .or anyone.

2. If you do use candles, keep them well away from where trick or treaters will be walking or standing.

3. Review with your children the principle of “stop, drop and roll” should their clothes catch fire.

4. When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant. Shorter IS safer. Ensure costumes are not so long they could trip and shoes should fit - - - even if they don’t go with the costume.

Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Arrive Alive and Don’t Text and Drive!

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and Calleva Outdoor Adventures are sponsoring a new “Don’t Text and Drive” campaign at Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Poolesville. Each year Markoff’s haunted forest attracts thousands of people from across the Washington DC area.

This year the haunted forest patrons will be greeted by a shocking visual display of what could happen in the event that you text and drive. In addition, volunteers from some of Montgomery County’s local fire and rescue departments are passing out “Don’t Text and Drive” flyers and talking with the patrons about opportunities to volunteer at the local departments.

Calleva Outdoor Adventures sponsors the Markoff’s Haunted Forest every year to help raise funds for their outdoor camps. The haunted forest will be open at sundown all weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), checkout there website for directions www.markoffshauntedforest.com.

On your way out to the haunted forest remember: Arrive Alive and Don’t Text and Drive!

Put a Finger On It! Change Your Clock, Check your Smoke Alarms & Batteries

Firefighters Going Door-to-Door this weekend 10/31/09
Checking your smoke alarms and batteries twice a year to ensure that they are working is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce tragic deaths and injuries from fire. In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire.

The men and women of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) urge ALL residents to check home smoke alarms on a regular basis.
“Put a Finger on It!” Fire Chief Richard Bowers recommends that all residents adopt a lifesaving habit by checking your home’s smoke alarms and batteries when changing clocks twice a year. Protect your family in the event of a home fire – change the battery!

Recent surveys conducted by fire fighters after serious fires and the door-to-door Safety in the Neighborhood campaign in Montgomery County have found that nearly half, 50%, of the smoke alarms checked did not work. That is alarming! Smoke alarms DO save lives!

2 – Change Your Clock, Check Your Battery

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service recommend that homeowners follow these tips to help prevent fires, deaths, and injuries:

* Install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of the home

* Properly dispose of all smoking materials

* Maintain and properly use gas and electrical appliances.

* Never leave food cooking unattended; turn off the burner if you leave.

* Keep matches and lighters away from children.

* Never leave candles burning unattended.

* Develop and practice a fire escape plan.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning—a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced.

Because fires can grow and spread so quickly, having working smoke alarms in your home can mean the difference between life and death. Once the alarm sounds, you may have as few as two minutes to escape. Smoke alarms are the most effective early warning devices available. Remember, when you change your clock, check your smoke alarms and batteries – put a finger on it!

NOTE:

Firefighters will be going door-to-door throughout neighborhoods this weekend in conjunction with the “Change Your Clock/Change Your Battery” initiative and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service “Safety in Our Neighborhood” campaign. To date, in the past 10 months, nearly 28000 homes have been visited and more than 900 smoke alarms and over 1000 batteries have been changed or installed.

Montgomery County residents may schedule a home safety evaluation by calling the Home Safety Hotline at (240)777-2476.

You Could Help Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Earn a $10,000 Fire Safety Pledge Award!

This fall, Liberty Mutual is helping to teach families about fire safety and provide a means to give back to our fire service.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue could earn one of ten $10,000 Fire Safety Pledge Awards! All you have to do is take the fire safety quiz and credit Montgomery County Fire and Rescue to do your part before 12/21/09.

We need your help and it is easy to participate! Please take the very educational quiz and then follow these simple steps:

- Take the Quiz

- Credit Your Fire Department: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue

- Rally Support: spread the word to help us

When filling out the Fire Department Credit portion, please make sure you enter Rockville as the city/town and 20850 as the zip code as that is where our Headquarters are located. Then select Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. This will benefit all of Montgomery County.

One of Fire Chief Richard Bowers’s prime missions for our service is to “prevent the 9-1-1 call.” During these challenging economic times $10,000 would help us toward that end. All it will cost is your time.

Fire Safety Pledge Award

IMG00003.jpg

If you happen to be in the Potomac area, please stop by and see us at the Emergency Preparedness Fair being held at 11700 Falls Rd (corner of Fall and Glen Roads). It is the Church located there. Lot's of important information for you and your loved ones as well as fun events. Some of our specialty teams are here.
Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Fire Prevention Week October 4 - 10, 2009

Just a friendly reminder that we are in the middle of Fire Prevention Week 2009 (FPW 2009). The theme this year is: “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”

Our friends at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have produced several very good videos as it relates to FPW 2009. I have placed them on our YouTube site for you to view at your convenience. They are very short and to the point and provide great information for you and your loved ones! Visit MCFRS TV to view.

In addition, NFPA has some great safety information on their Fire Prevention Week Website. Take a moment to go there and review.

As always, we here at MCFRS will be promoting fire and injury prevention throughout the month of October. This will include fire and rescue station "Open House" events, senior center and school visits, and participation in community events.

I would like to encourage all of you to make sure you have developed a home escape plan (and practiced it) and that you check all smoke alarms to ensure they are working.

Below, please find a list of Open House events this weekend. Be SAFE out there!
Bill Delaney – Program Manager, Community Life Safety Education

Saturday, October 10:
Chevy Chase, Fire/Rescue, Station 7             10am - 4pm
8001 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD.
240.773.4707

Cabin John, Fire/Rescue Station 10              10am - 4pm
8001 River Road, Potomac, MD.
240.773.4710

Sunday, October 11:
Hillandale, Fire/Rescue Station 24                12pm – 3pm
13216 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD.
240.773.4724

Burtonsville Fire/Rescue Station 15              12pm - 4pm
13900 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD
240.773.4715

Blood Drive!

This is in memory of two sorely missed members of our department.  Please join in if you are able.

-Bill

Child Passenger Safety Week Is Wrapping Up.

Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 12- 18, is wrapping up. Please take a moment to review the below tips and information as well as possibly schedule an installation appointment!

Our goal is to ensure that the children of Montgomery County are properly secured in car seats and seat belts while traveling. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children under 15. The inspection stations are sponsored by the Montgomery County Fire Rescue and SAFE KIDS Montgomery County.

Car Seat Safety Information



Stay Safe out there!

Bill

Remember!

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Honoring those who lost their lives 8 years ago today.

September is National Preparedness Month

Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month?  We here at Montgomery County Fire and Rescue encourage all of our community members to focus on individual and family preparedness at home, at work, and at school.

I would encourage all of you to take a moment and look at the links below to see what you and your loved ones can do to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies.  It could be as simple as testing your smoke alarm and making sure you have a home escape plan!

Do you use battery powered lighting equipment instead of candles when the power is out?  You should!

Many more tips and information can be found here:

Be Ready!

Montgomery County Emergency Preparedness Information

Make Sure Your Child Is Prepared For A Fire

Home Safety Check List

Be SAFE!

Bill Delaney
Program Manager - Community Safety Education

Division of Community Risk Reduction Services
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue

Chief James Seavey Sr. Named Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief James Seavey Sr. of the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department was recently named the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief Seavey was cited for having "led his department heroically in times of crisis, including administering the department’s staff and operations while his apparatus responded to the Pentagon following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks." In addition, he has cultivated a relationship with the Halsenbek Volunteer Fire Department just outside of Hamburg, Germany, that has created an opportunity for cultural, educational, and technological exchanges between U.S. and German fire services.

At the age of 16, Chief Seavey started his career in the fire service as a volunteer at his neighborhood fire station, the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County. While attending High School at Walt Whitman, he completed almost every class the Public Service Training Academy (PSTA) had to offer. When he became a student at Montgomery College he applied for a job as a part time fire fighter. In April 1979 he was hired by the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department (CJPVFD) to work at station 30 on Falls Road at a rate of $2.10 per hour.

Eventually he was hired as a full time fire fighter in the District of Columbia where today he is a Lieutenant at Engine 17. On December 10th 1991, he was elected as Chief of the CJPVFD. After 33 years of service, Chief Seavey continues to serve his community proudly as a volunteer in this position. Now, it has become a family affair as Chief Seavey is proud to serve with his son who is a volunteer fire fighter at CJPVFD. Through the years he has served in many positions both county and state wide.

You can volunteer as a fire fighter, emergency medical technician, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), or a department support member. No experience is necessary and all training is free. We are looking for volunteers for just a few hours up to one shift a week or more. If you or anyone you know is interested in following in Chief Seavey’s foot steps and helping out your community, please take the next step and learn more by calling 240-777-2238 or email fire.recruiting@Montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County Fire Fighters are helping MDA "Fill the Boot" for Jerry's Kids!

Beginning today and running through Thursday and Friday September 3 & 4 Montgomery County Fire Fighters are helping MDA "Fill the Boot" for Jerry's Kids! You will see many of our fire fighter’s at various intersections throughout the county, fire boot in hand, accepting donations for this very worthy cause.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary that the Montgomery County Fire Fighters have collected for, and supported, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Jerry’s Kids. Last year we collected over $206,000.00 and placed number 9 in the country for funds raised by fire fighters. Our goal this year is to collect $250,000.00.

Collection times will be between 8 AM and 8 PM each of the three days.

Kitchen Fire Safety

Over the last several weeks, I have noticed what appears to be a high number of kitchen/ cooking related fires here in the County. Kitchen/cooking related fires are the leading cause of fires both locally and nationally so this should not come as a total surprise.

As with most fires, these types of fires are almost ALWAYS easily prevented! Most of the time the kitchen fire starts because someone left a pot or frying pan on the stove cooking and then left the kitchen or the house to go do something else. With no one there to “watch what you heat,” a fire is soon allowed to start and grow.

I thought it would be a good opportunity to remind everyone out there of ways to prevent the kitchen/ cooking related fire as well as to watch just how fast a fire can, and does, grow. The short video is from the spring of 2007 and it is still very relevant today! It was shot at our Public Safety Training Academy and done with our great friends in fire and injury prevention – The Home Safety Council.

As always, please BE SAFE today and please help us to prevent the 9-1-1 call!

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
Program Manager – Community Life Safety Education

Watch the Kids - County Schools Start Today!

Fire Chief Richard Bowers wants to remind everyone that today is the first day of school for Montgomery County Public Schools and about 142,000 students.  Please take a moment to review the below safety tips from the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education and AAA:

 

Drivers Tips to Keep School Children Safe


* Slow down in or near school and residential areas.

* Drive with your headlights on - even during the day - so children and other drivers can see you.

* Look for clues such as School Safety Patrols, Adult Crossing Guards, bicycles, and playgrounds, which indicate children could be in the area.

* Always stop for school buses that are loading/unloading students.

* Limit distractions such as cell phones, CD players or other devices that cause you to take your eyes off the road.

* Practice extra caution in adverse weather conditions.

* Pay particular attention near schools during the morning and afternoon hours.

* Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children could dart into the road.


Safe Walking Tips for Children

* Always obey Adult Crossing Guards and AAA School Safety Patrols.

* Before crossing - look all ways.

* Obey all traffic signals.

* Use crosswalks and corners to cross the road.

* Where there is no sidewalk and it is necessary to walk in the roadway, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as possible.

* Avoid crossing between parked cars.

* Watch for cars. Be sure that the way is clear before you cross.

Remember, school's open - drive carefully. You can make a difference just by staying alert and taking the extra care while driving where children are present.

New Volunteer Basic Orientation Class Starts With 43 People!

Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association held its latest Volunteer Basic Orientation Class which was the largest to this point! Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Richard Bowers stopped by to show his support and give the opening welcome to the group!

Forty-Three students from nine different volunteer departments participated in the training which is Nine weeks long on and was held on Friday nights. The classes included CPR and AED certification, basic Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations, basic fire ground operations, self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and
Incident Command modules. SCBA is the air bottle the fire fighters wear on their back to provide fresh air. PPE is all of the other protective equipment you might see a fire fighter wear at a fire.

Classes are designed to provide new members with a basic level of training and understanding as they begin their path toward becoming an emergency responder. All of the students and instructors are volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering any time from a few hours a month to one night a week, we have emergency operations and non-emergency support positions available throughout the entire county. No experience is necessary and all training is provided FREE. To learn more, please call 240-777-2238 or email fire.recruiting@Montgomerycountymd.gov

MCFRS Command Post At the Fair

There is a lot going on behind the scene at our fair site. Here you see Captain Mauney and Assistant Chief Goldstein getting the personnel assignment sheet in order for the day.

At 9 AM we will have a briefing with all of our staff so that we are ready for the day. Remember we are not just handing out safety materials or doing demonstrations. We are still responsible for fire and EMS protection here. A lot of pre planning goes into this!

Last couple of days before it is over. Hope you have had a chance to stop by and say hi! Several great demos after 5 PM!
Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Early Morning Damascus Arson Fires

Investigators Seek Information

Montgomery County Fire and Explosive Investigators are looking for information regarding multiple intentional set fires in the Damascus area during the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday August 18, 2009. Crime Solvers of Montgomery County will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment in this felony crime.
These fires resulted in damage to straw/haybales, multiple mailboxes, a trash can and were potentially very damaging. Arson fires can be hazardous and damaging to both individual(s) intentionally setting the fires and the intended target. Investigators estimate that these fires caused a total of approximately $25,000 in damage. Below is a timeline of the events and a map is also attached:

3:04 a.m. – Straw / hay bales on fire in the 23600 block of Kings Valley Road
3:34 a.m. – Straw / hay bales on fire at Kings Valley Road and Mountain View Road
4:41 a.m. – Straw / hay bales on fire in the 24500 block of Woodfield School Road
5:00 a.m. – Brush and mailbox fire at 9310 Watkins Road
5:00 a.m. – Mailbox fire at 24215 Primula Court
5:06 a.m. – Multiple mailboxes on fire at 7501, 7505, 7513, 7517 Hawkins Creamery Road
5:34 a.m. – Trash can on fire at 24150 Doreen Drive
7:58 a.m. – Landscaping around mailbox was extinguished by the homeowner at 8908 Primula Drive.

Montgomery County Fire and Explosive Investigators are being assisted by the Montgomery County Police in the on-going investigation. Fire Investigators are also asking the community for assistance in identifying the owner of a gas can which was found in the area of one of the fires. The gas can has unique writing and Fire Investigators believe that the owner can identify the gas can.

The maximum penalty for these fires is 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Montgomery County Fire and Explosive investigators are looking for information from the community to help close this case. Anyone with possible information or knowledge about these fires is asked to contact the Montgomery County Crime Solvers toll-free number at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Citizens can leave tips anonymously through Crime Solvers and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and/or indictment in this felony crime. The reward will be offered for 90 days from the date of this release. The Montgomery County Arson Tipline will also take tips at 240-777-2263. Anyone with possible information or knowledge about these fires is being asked to contact the Montgomery County Crime Solvers toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Thursday At The Fair

No postings yesterday as I was actually off!

Things are already in full swing today. One of our groups at the tent is our dedicated Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. Here they are above ready to provide you Emergency Preparedness information. You can also learn how to join and become a member!

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Car Safety Seat Info

One of our many talented and certified car seat techs explaining the proper use of a booster seat to Mom and son. Do you know our car seat techs go through 40 hours of training to become certified?

If you are at the fair stop by and learn more!

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Bethesda Antique Fire Truck

It's a little after 9 AM and things are already heating up - literally!

Today is Senior Day at the fair. Chief Larry Gaddis from Bethesda VFD brought along one of his antique fire trucks from 1926. Stop by and take a look (and see above photo).

It is supposed to be a hot one today but we are ready! We have our EMS teams standing by and we have a cooling station in our tent area. If you are coming out today make sure you drink plenty of fluids that are good for you!

Several demos are planned again for tonight. Scroll below and see our list of events,
Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Fire Safety Deal or No Deal

Chief Jarboe from Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department is doing his Fire Safety Deal or No Deal. As you can see, a big crowd is assembled and ready to go!

This is one of our areas where prizes are awarded. But, you better be up on your fire safety and prevention!

The Chief will be here all day so come on by and play!
Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Full day of fun activities planned today

Monday at the Fair at 8 AM. The calm before the storm.

We have a full day of fun activities planned today. Stop by our tent and say "Hi!"

Be safe today!

Bill Delaney
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Sunday At The Fair

It is 11 AM and things are already hopping. I am blogging live from the Fair via my Blackberry so we will see if this works.

Long line at our Moon Bounce already!

Our Events At The County Fair

From 10am to 5pm we will have our area open to the public to move through our tent, moon bounce, fire trucks, and the safe trailer. From 5pm-roughly 9pm there will be nightly demonstrations.

FRIDAY AUGUST 14TH
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6pm- Paramedic Fred Maxey will be setting up 5 EMS related scenarios.

SATURDAY AUGUST 15th
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6pm- The Firefighters Combat Challenge Course

SUNDAY AUGUST 16th
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6pm-Station 7 B shift will be doing a dramatization of a HAZMAT incident. They will also be displaying their equipment for the crowd to see.

MONDAY AUGUST 17th
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – “Deal – No Deal Public Fire Safety Education Game – sponsored by Takoma Park VFD
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6 PM – 8:00 PM – “Deal – No Deal Public Fire Safety Education Game – sponsored by Takoma Park VFD+
7PM Fire Safety Puppet Show – sponsored by the Sandy Spring VFD
7:45 PM EMS Demonstration performed by Wheaton Vol Rescue Squad and BCC Rescue Squad

TUESDAY AUGUST 18th
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6 PM – 8:00 PM – “Deal – No Deal Public Fire Safety Education Game – sponsored by Takoma Park VFD
6:30 PM Kitchen Fire Safety hosted by the Sandy Spring VFD

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19th
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6pm: The dogs of Montgomery County.

THURSDAY AUGUST 20th
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
6PM – 9PM Water Supply Static Display – Hyattstown VFD
6pm- Captain Green from Station 3 is demonstrating rope and technical rescue

FRIDAY AUGUST 21st and SATURDAY AUGUST 22nd
5pm-6pm Public Safety Q and A demo
The auto extrication competition will begin at 6:30 PM in the Grandstand area
7:00 PM – Fire Safety Puppet Show – sponsored by the Sandy Spring VFD
8:00 PM – Kitchen Fire Safety – sponsored by the Sandy Spring VFD

Blog Talk Radio Show on Thursday!

Join host Bill Delaney and special guest, Captain Tom Foster, as they take you behind the scenes of the upcoming Montgomery County Fair. They will also go over what MCFRS will be doing at the Fair and run down the special demonstrations each night. Listener calls and emails will be taken.
Go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mcfrs at 10:30 AM on Thursday.

Date / Time: 8/13/2009 10:30 AM Call-in Number: (646) 716-9998

Cost Effective Life Safety Programs

As the Program Manager for Community Life Safety Education, I am always looking for cost effective ways to promote and enhance our fire and injury prevention efforts. This approach is even more important during these trying economic times!

But tough times can also lead to new, and previously considered unusual, opportunities. Recently I have been able to establish a partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – a very non traditional partnership for us in the fire service. The funny thing is it should be a very prominent partner for us as they have basically the same fire and injury prevention goals that we have.

This partnership has resulted in a recent donation of 700 ten-year lithium smoke alarms (approximate value of $8,400) that are to be used for our seniors or families that can not otherwise afford an alarm due to financial circumstances. We are also in the beginning stages of becoming a partner agency on a falls prevention grant with the DHMH. This program will again benefit our senior population here in the county by preventing unnecessary falls and, sometimes tragically, the corresponding injury.

As Fire Chief Richard Bowers has stressed repeatedly, one of our primary responsibilities is to prevent the 9-1-1 call! A falls prevention partnership will go a long way to keeping our seniors safe from harm and reducing the number of emergencies our fire and ems units respond too! I am also hopeful that by partnering with many agencies, including our own County Health and Human Services Department, we will be doing so in a very cost effective manor while bringing a very diverse group of health and safety advocates together for the greater good.

Stay safe out there!

Bill Delaney, Program Manager – Community Life Safety Education MCFRS

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