Arrest in Montgomery County Arson

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Fire and Explosive Investigations Section, in cooperation with the Montgomery County Department of Police, has arrested a suspect in the January 19, 2010 fire at 12204 Eagles Nest Court, Germantown, Md.

The investigation and arrest was conducted in concert with many partnering agencies. U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Service, Prince Georges County Fire Department, Metropolitan Police Department and Howard County Fire and Rescue have partnered in this investigation and arrest.

Raymond Raven Michael Masters, 30 years old of Hyattsville, Maryland, was arrested and charged with 1 count of 1st Degree Arson (arson of an occupied building),and 4 counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder. Investigators believe Mr. Masters was targeting a Montgomery County police officer who had previously arrested Mr. Masters on an unrelated charge.

Updates will be provided as the process continues. For information, please contact Assistant Chief Scott Graham at 240-876-1260 or scott.graham@montgomerycountymd.gov

Carbon Monoxide - The Silent, Colorless and Odorless Enemy

A near tragic incident earlier this week in the District of Columbia should serve as a stark reminder to all of us about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. On January 19, a 49 year old father and his two teenage sons were rushed to the hospital and the culprit was high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) that had built up in the home undetected. See 3 hospitalized after CO leak in D.C. home to learn more.

CO is a silent, colorless and odorless equal opportunity killer. However there are many ways that you can prevent, and detect, this silent killer before it attempts to strike you and your loved ones.

Please take a moment to review some useful information from our web site:
Fire & Carbon Monoxide Risks

Also, some more great information from our friends at the Home Safety Council:
CO Poisoning

As always, wishing everyone out there a SAFE and happy day!

Bill Delaney
Program Manager Community Life Safety Education

MCFRS Social Media Continues to Grow!

Recently, our Facebook and Twitter pages have exceeded 1,700 and 600 fans respectively! All good stuff in a relatively short time span.

It has been truly amazing to watch this grow and see how the various fire safety messages spread well beyond our listed fans. I have observed Twitter messages, in particular, being “re-tweeted” (forwarded) and going to look at each persons’ Twitter page and seeing hundreds and thousands of “followers” for them thus meaning that many more are receiving the message.

We also send out this information via “regular” email newsletters that have over 2,000 subscribers who in turn forward the email on to their civic/community groups or other individuals.

I have also learned, and am still learning, to utilize tracking tools that show me that many more people than just our registered friends and fans are clicking in to read up on our various messages. I can also even see where they are tuning in from!

Even more interesting is the fact we have received some fantastic information from these sites. Folks have requested smoke alarm checks for their homes, File of Life requests, fire safety questions, as well as tips on potential code enforcement issues.

Hope all of our friends have had a great start to 2010 and, as always:

Stay Safe!

Bill

TRAFFIC ALERT for January 5

I thought this might be of interest to many of you.  Please see below.

-Bill

STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION PERMANENTLY SHIFTS RANDOLPH ROAD TRAFFIC IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Traffic Switch Planned for January 5;

Motorists will Shift to Westbound Montrose Parkway

The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), working with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (DOT), will shift westbound Randolph Road traffic to the newly opened westbound Montrose Parkway between Maple/Chapman avenues and “old” Old Georgetown Road. This switch was originally scheduled for the weekend of December 18 but postponed for the winter storm.

The new traffic pattern is part of the $47.2 million MD 355/Montrose Parkway/Randolph Road interchange project in Montgomery County, which began summer 2008.

The traffic shift will begin at approximately 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5 at these locations:

Randolph Road

• Drivers traveling on westbound Randolph Road wishing to access Montrose Road will follow westbound Montrose Parkway; make an immediate right onto “old” Old Georgetown Road and then a left onto Montrose Road. Drivers wishing to access I-270 or all other points west will continue straight through on westbound Montrose Parkway. Motorists will no longer be able to cross over MD 355 to access Montrose Road.

• Drivers on westbound Randolph Road wishing to continue north and south on MD 355 will follow westbound Montrose Parkway, make an immediate right onto “old” Old Georgetown Road and then another right onto Montrose Road to access MD 355.

Northbound MD 355

• Drivers on northbound MD 355 wishing to access westbound Montrose Road will use the new exit ramp to Montrose Parkway/Randolph Road. At the bottom of the ramp drivers will make a left at the new signal onto westbound Montrose Parkway and then make an immediate right onto “old” Old Georgetown Road and a left onto Montrose Road. Motorists will no longer be able to turn left from MD 355 to access Montrose Road.

Montrose Road

• Drivers traveling on eastbound Montrose Road wishing to access north or southbound MD 355 will continue to follow the existing traffic pattern.

SHA is partnering with police and will use variable message signs, barrels and cones to guide motorists through the work zone. In the event of inclement weather SHA will reschedule the switch for the next good weather day.

The entire interchange project is expected to be complete late-fall 2010, weather permitting. SHA’s contractor for the $47.2 million project is Concrete General, Inc. of Gaithersburg.

Customers who have questions about MD 355 or any other State numbered roadway in Montgomery County should call SHA’s District 3 office at 1-800-749-0737. SHA encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” while driving through work zones by driving the speed limit and remaining alert at all times.

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