Photos From The New Central Maintenance Facility

I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Central Maintenance Facility on Monday. This state-of-the-art facility was truly impressive and will help to keep the MCFRS fleet on the street!  Please take a moment and view some photos from the Central Maintenance Facility.


Stay Safe,
Bill

Keeping the Fleet on the Street

Ribbon Cutting to Open New Central Maintenance Facility

Monday, March 22, 2010 - 11:00 a.m.

14935B Southlawn Lane

Rockville, Maryland

ROCKVILLE, Maryland - - County Executive Ike Leggett, Public Safety Council Chair Phil Andrews, members of the County Council, Fire Chief Richard Bowers and other elected officials and distinguished guests will be on hand for the grand opening celebration of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s new Central Maintenance Facility. The media and community are invited to attend this grand opening and tours will be available at the conclusion of the ceremony.

“Keeping the fleet on the street is the basic mission of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service’s new Central Maintenance Facility,” commented Chief Bowers. “This state-of-the-art facility incorporates world class fleet management best practices and reinforces our commitment to provide innovative and cost effective solutions that increase efficiency and productivity while ensuring continuity of service to the residents of Montgomery County.”

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service has consolidated its satellite fleet management shops into this new 77,000 square foot Central Maintenance Facility. As the call load in Montgomery County continues to increase, the new Central Maintenance Facility complex is well-positioned to meet the growing demand and ensure a well-maintained fleet in top operating condition.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is one of the nation’s largest combination (career/volunteer) fire service agencies in the Country operating with a budget of about

$194 million and over 2,000 personnel.

In 2007 the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service attained the distinguished Accreditation status through the Commission Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), which falls under the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is one of only 122 departments in the US and the largest combination, career and volunteer department in the nation to be accredited.

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Put A Finger On It! Time to Check Your Smoke Alarms

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.  Fire Fighters will be out in the community on Saturday offering to check your home smoke alarms to ensure they are working.

“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 if it is dead or at least yearly!

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.

Remember, when you change your clock, check your smoke alarms and batteries – put a finger on it!

Photos From Yesterday's Small Plane Crash

3/1/2010 at 1730 hrs - FS28 - Gaithersburg Airport, Airpark Rd. - reported six seat plane crash on landing attempt, units arrived to find one occupant (pilot), wing hit on landing then summersaulted into trees. Pilot minor injuries, refused care. 100 gal. fuel spilled at crash, scene remanded to FAA, airport authority. Plane total loss, estimated $1.4 M.  Photos provided by Lieutenant Jay Blake. 

Appliance Fires

I wanted to make all of you aware of some outstanding fire prevention information that our friends from the U.S. Fire Administration put out recently in regard to Appliance Fires. It is a topic you have seen on our site over the past few weeks as it relates to power outages and then power surges when the power is restored to the home.

So please take a moment and click on the link below and learn more about what you can do to help PREVENT an appliance fire in your home. The vast majority of fires in Montgomery County and across our great land are preventable incidents and NOT accidents! Most are the result of actions we did, or did not, take.

That said, please take positive action and click here to learn more: Appliance Fires

Stay Safe!
 
Bill Delaney