Assistant Fire Chief Earns Homeland Security Master’s Degree from Naval Postgraduate School and Prestigious Zimbardo Award

Rockville - - - Assistant Chief Michael McAdams of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) completed a Master of Arts Degree in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security on March 25, 2011.

Assistant Chief Michael McAdams has risen through the ranks from a firefighter rescuer to Assistant Chief of the Operations Division. He has held multiple positions during his 26-year career and welcomes the challenge of developing the principles learned at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) into the fire service. McAdams is the winner of the prestigious Zimbardo Award. This award is given by the faculty of the Psychology of Terrorism course to the member of the cohort who best represents the intellectual leadership evidenced by Phil Zimbardo, a renowned Stanford University psychologist who is on the CHDS faculty.

During the intensive 18-month online and in-residence program, McAdams collaborated with homeland security officials from across the nation on current policy, strategy and organizational design challenges. He completed a thesis on measuring collaboration in fire service organizations.

“As the traditional role of the fire department changes, we’re committed to strengthening our capabilities across many critical disciplines. The CHDS program provides the platform for developing a strong and expanding national network,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “The issues are wide-ranging and Assistant Chief McAdams brings an important and strategic perspective that provides a strong foundation for MCFRS.”

Twenty-nine students received degrees from CHDS as part of ceremonies at the Naval Postgraduate School. They represent a cross-section of the homeland security profession and include professionals from law enforcement, fire safety, homeland security, public health, public utilities and the military.

Infant & Child Car Seat Safety Information

As Chief Bowers has stated on numerous occasions, preventing the 9-1-1 call is our top priority. What does that mean?

For one it means helping folks to prevent fire in their home by providing fire prevention tips and going into the neighborhoods each Saturday knocking on doors, handing out tips, and checking smoke alarms.

As our Fire and Rescue personnel also provide ambulance service, it also means promoting healthy living habits and providing injury prevention information and programs. One of our best injury prevention programs is our Child Passenger Safety Seat (CPSS) program.

If you have young children, or grand children, please take a moment to visit our CPSS site to learn how to best keep your children safe in cars as well as schedule a child safety seat inspection/installation appointment.

Go here to learn more: Car Seat Safety Information

FREE Conference for Fire - Rescue - EMS - Safety & Health Personnel

Arrive Alive & Survive 2011 Conference
Fire - Rescue - EMS -
Safety & Health

April 8-9, 2011
Montgomery County Public Safety Training Center
  9710 Great Seneca Highway          
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Arrive Alive and Survive is a national conference for all public safety personnel.  In previous years this conference has included best safety practices for the fire service. These best practices focused on dealing with all aspects of successful safety, health, and wellness programs in the fire service.

You may register online, review directions and lodging information, and view the agenda.


Presentations to include:
Keynote Presentations by Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder to include:

• Who Is In Your Wallet? Why EVERYONE Does Not Come Home…
• The First Due Company Officer, Working Fire… “Those SOP’s Don’t Apply to Me”.

In addition:

• The Role of Occupational Medicine Programs in Reducing Firefighter Morbidity and Mortality
• Overview of Emergency Driver Training
• Fire Scene Safety and Health Hazards
• Fire Chief’s Roundtable- Montgomery, Alexandria, Fairfax City, and Arlington- Discussion of their department’s current health, safety, and wellness programs.

By attending both days one would have the opportunity to attend all breakout sessions

Session topics include:

• Maintain Don’t Gain
• Flammable Liquid Response/ Ethanol Emergencies
• Chemical Suicide Response

Please contact Patrick Powell with questions at (202) 962-3278.

Embrace Life - Always Wear Your Seat Belt

I wanted to share a really powerful video from the UK, that has been out and about for a while now, that reminds us all we should always wear our seat belt.




Embrace Life (C)2010 Sarah Alexander/Daniel Cox/Sussex Safer Roads Partnership

Smoking and Home Fires

In light of yesterday’s tragic house fire in Potomac that has seriously injured an 85 year old man, I thought it prudent to pass along some pertinent safety tips.

If you smoke or know someone who does, it is well worth your time to review some of the links I have provided below. Smoking related fires can be prevented.

Smoking and Fire Safety
 
Smoking & Home Fires Campaign
 
Fight Fire with Facts: Careless Smoking


Stay Safe,

Bill

Public’s Help Needed In Potomac Explosion Investigation

Below is our update from late yesterday afternoon regarding the explosive device that had detonated in front of a home in Potomac.

As you scroll down, please take a look at a photo of a necklace found on the scene. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is urged to call the Montgomery County Fire and Explosives Tip Line at 240-777-2263. Callers can remain anonymous and the tip line is available 24-hours a day.

PotomacExplosion31620112nd

Let’s Not Meet By “Accident!” Remember SoberRide Program If You Have One Too Many Tonight!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you!  As we all know one of the primary activities associated with this day, for those over the age of 21, is the consumption of alcohol.  With that comes the danger of drinking and driving.

The women and men of MCFRS have no desire to meet any of you by “accident” this evening because you have had one too many!  Of course, if you drink and drive and are involved in a crash it is really not an accident.  It would be a PREVENTABLE incident!

Toward that end of preventing a needless tragedy, I wanted to make all of you aware of a fantastic program available to you if you find you perhaps should not get behind the wheel of your vehicle after an evening of celebrating.

It is called SoberRide and it is a program developed by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP).  Please see below for more information and BE SAFE this evening!

2011StPatrickSoberRidePosters

How Smoke Alarms Work

One of our readers, William Hatfield, sent me a link to this very cool explanation of how smoke alarms work. It is a bit technical at times but I think most all will be able to grasp the general idea.

The video was done by a college professor Mr. Bill Hammack (a.k.a The Engineer Guy). You can find more of his stuff on his web site: The Engineer Guy

Stay Safe,

Bill

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

* If your smoke alarm is older than 10 years, it needs to be replaced

* 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!

What I Have Learned About The Smoke Alarm

By: Daniel the Intern

Here at the MCFRS, I hear about smoke alarms almost everyday and how crucial they are to surviving a fire.  Although they seem like simple, plastic devices that are stuck to the ceiling, they require a little more thought and maintenance than people give them.  Here are a few things to consider regarding smoke alarms in the home.

"Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half."

Before any alarms are installed, consider hiring an electrician to install wires to connect all of the alarms together and to the home's electrical system (hardwired).  Remember that hardwired alarms, even though they receive power from the home's electricity, need a battery backup in case the power goes out.  There are also smoke alarms that can communicate wirelessly and are just as good.  Once they are communicating, all of them will go off together even if only one of them detects smoke.  This will dramatically decrease the time it takes for the occupants to realize a fire is in the home, especially if it is two floors away.

Another point to consider is installing both types of smoke alarms: ionization and photoelectric.  Ionization are better at detecting flaming fires while photoelectric are better at detecting smoldering fires.  Since no one can predict the type of fire that will start, it is suggested that both kinds are installed throughout the home.  However, there are dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both sensors and are the ideal choice.

The placement of the devices can be very influential to their response times.  First of all, there must be alarms on every floor of the home.  It will take too long for an alarm to go off when the fire is a floor away and that can be disastrous.  Second, they should not be installed near vents or anything that is creating air movement.  A vent blowing air can push smoke away and will also increase the response time of the smoke alarm.  Finally, they must be placed inside and outside of sleeping areas.  It is devastating when a fire starts and smoke fills the home while all the occupants are sound asleep so it is crucial these are working at all times.  In fact, over half of all the American deaths in home fires “occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping."

Once they are installed and working, they must be maintained.  It is advised to test each smoke alarm once a month, even if they are connected to the home's electrical supply.  If they use a 9 volt battery, even if they are hardwired alarms, the battery should be replaced at least once per year.  To make sure all the necessary steps are taken, make sure to check the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. 

A popular time to check the alarms is during daylight savings time, which happens to be this weekend.

Just hold down the button for a few seconds and if the alarm chirps, it is working.  However, if they are at least 10 years old, it is strongly advised that they should be replaced.  The bottom line is a smoke alarm with a dead battery is not a smoke alarm at all but a piece of plastic, and is endangering everybody in the home.

Follow MCFRS on Social Media During Significant Weather Event

Many of you know you receive a lot of good news and information from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue via this Blog.  But did you know that you can receive more “real time” updates and information from our various social media sites?

During this storm, MCFRS has posted several bits of information and updates via our Twitter and Facebook pages.  You can also find our Twitter feed on the right hand side of our Fire Chief’s Blog.

Below are the links to our various sites.    

MCFRS Facebook Page

MCFRS Twitter

MCFRS Blog

Be safe out there today and tomorrow! 

List of Roads in Montgomery County Subject to Periodic Flooding

Please take a moment to review the list below and see if any are streets you would potentially travel today or tomorrow. If there are some streets listed you may be thinking of driving on today, please reconsider and try an alternate route.

Plan ahead now before going anywhere today or tomorrow! 

Remember, never drive through a flooded road or bridge. Turn Around - Don’t Drown and try an alternate route!

Street Flooding Hazards

Turn Around - Don’t Drown!

Many Roads in Montgomery County Susceptible to Flooding so Consider Alternate Routes Beforehand!

County residents are urged to be alert to changing weather conditions and should be prepared for possible flash flooding over the next 24 hours as a storm system moves into the area and is expected to bring heavy rains.

  

When it rains heavily, there may be flash floods, flood warnings and flood watches issued.  Flash floods more often occur in mountain streams, hilly areas or low-lying areas.  But they do happen in urban and suburban areas like Montgomery County, as well.  Flash floods can occur even though it's not raining where you are.  It may be raining hard farther upstream and raining so hard that the water can not be absorbed into the ground.

  

Safety Tips:

If a flash flood warning is issued, act immediately.  Don't wait for high water to dictate your course of action.

Know your location when you are driving.  If you needed rescue, would you be able to direct emergency crews to your location?  Distracted driving can lead to a situation where you are stranded and unable to direct emergency crews to you.  Be alert!

  

Never drive through a flooded road or bridge.  Turn Around - Don’t Drown and try an alternate route!  In many cases, it takes far less than a foot of water to incapacitate a vehicle.  It may stall, leaving you stranded, and depending on the level of water, you may not be able to open a vehicle door.  Do not underestimate the power of moving water.

  

Watch for flooding at bridges and dips in the road.  Never drive where water is over bridges or roads. Turn around - Don’t Drown!  The bridges or the road could suddenly be washed out. If you're driving at night be especially careful.  Often visibility is limited due to wind and rain.

  

Often what you can't see below the surface of the water is far more dangerous than the high levels of that water.  Remember that rocks, tree limbs and other debris can be caught in moving water and can be dangerous if you are forced to walk, wade or swim through flood waters.

  

If you have to walk or wade through flood water, use a stick to poke the ground in front of you with each step.  It can help you determine water levels, the bottom surface and the safest possible way to get to higher ground.

  

Remember that flash floods can come without warning, and sometimes without weather.  Be alert and heed all warnings and recommendations from officials. From FEMA's website, some further information about driving through flooded roadways:

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.  
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and pick-ups

TURN AROUND - DON’T DROWN and try an alternate route!

ROADS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUBJECT TO PERIODIC FLOODING:

DOWN-COUNTY AREAS

MD 29 (Columbia Pike) at Paint Branch - N. of White Oak
MD 185 (Conn. Ave) at Rock Creek - S. of Kensington

MD 190 (River Road) at Cabin John Creek - Potomac

MD 193 (Univ. Blvd) at Sligo Creek - Wheaton

MD 586 (Viers Mill Rd) at Rock Creek - S. of Twinbrook Pkwy.

Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park - Kensington-Chevy Chase

Sligo Creek Pkwy - Silver Spring-Takoma Park

UP-COUNTY AREAS

MD 97 (Georgia Ave) at Reddy Branch - N. of Brookeville

MD 124 (Woodfield Rd) at Goshen Branch and at Gr. Seneca Creek - N. of Brink Rd.

MD 117 (Clopper Rd) at Gr. Seneca Creek - W. of Gaithersburg

MD 117 (Clopper Rd) at Little Seneca Creek - E. of Boyds

MD 355 (Frederick Rd) at Little Seneca Creek - W. of Brink

MD 121 (Clarksburg Rd) near Little Seneca Lake - N. of Boyds

MD 118 (Germantown Rd) at Great Seneca Creek - S. of Germantown

River Rd and Berryville Rd at Seneca Creek - Seneca

Blunt Road at Great Seneca Creek - S. of Brink Rd.

Davis Mill Rd at Great Seneca Creek - N. of Gaithersburg

Brighton Dam Rd at Hawlings River - NE of Brookeville

Goldmine Rd at Hawlings River - E of Olney

Zion Rd at Hawlings River - E. of Laytonsville

Hoyles Mill Rd at ford of Little Seneca Creek - Germantown, west of soccer complex

Loghouse Rd at Magruder Branch - S. of Damascus

Elton Farm Rd at Haights Branch - N. of Sunshine

Howard Chapel Rd at Haights Branch - N. of Sunshine

White’s Ferry Road and River Road - White’s Ferry

Video - House Fire in Rockville Yesterday

The below is from a house fire yesterday in Rockville Fire Station #23’s first due response area in the 5900 block of Coral Sea Ave. There was heavy fire involvement in the attached garage. MCFRS Fire Fighters made an aggressive attack holding the fire to the garage area.

There were no injuries. A total of 3 adults and 1 child were displaced as a result.  The cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation at this time.  All media outlets are welcomed to use the video.


Video by LT Erik Couse, MCFRS

Fire and Explosive Investigators Seek Information

Brush Investigator Tip Line 2011

TGIF Fire Safety Tip

I am going to copy and paste below an important message from the United States Fire Administration (USFA) as it relates to smoke alarms.  It is a message that everyone out there needs to hear!  So please take a moment and read below and click on the links for more information.  What you learn could save the lives of you and/or your loved ones.

Please us the power of social media and the internet and forward this on to all who you know and care for!

Have a safe weekend!

Bill

Every year, approximately 2,600 Americans die in home fires. Over half of these deaths (52%) occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping.

Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire are as deadly as heat and flames. Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke can render you unconscious. In addition, smoke obscures vision, decreasing your ability to escape.

Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by detecting fires early and alerting residents, allowing crucial time to escape. The risk of dying from a fire in a home without working smoke alarms is twice as high as in a home with working smoke alarms.

To find out what type of smoke alarms are available for your home, including where to install and how to maintain them, visit Focus on Fire Safety: Smoke Alarms on the U.S. Fire Administration's website.

Clothes Dryer Cleaning Day – Preventing A Potential Fire In My Home!

Recently, I spent an off day doing something that I have advised all of you to do over the past couple of months – cleaning in and around my clothes dryer. I last did this a little over a year ago and it is something that you should do at least once a year.

As you can see by the pictures below, there was a ton of lint build up in, on and around my clothes dryer. These pictures show why it is very important you take time to clean both inside and outside the clothes dryer.

A couple of pictures show what happens to the inside of your pipe that runs in and just outside your dryer (Fig 1) that carries the hot air, and lint, out. The next photo (Fig 2) shows the inside of the flexible duct that connects to your dryer pipe and then connects to another pipe that usually runs to the outside of your house.

In the next photo (Fig 3) you can see the cleaning device I used to run up into the pipe and dryer and the large amount of lint I pulled out of the dryer. These photos clearly show the large amount of lint that builds up and can, when heated up by the hot air of the dryer, actually ignite and catch fire! The more the build up, the better chance for ignition and then – a fire in your home!

A couple of the photos (Fig 4 & 5) clearly show just how dusty and dirty the back of your dryer and the floor behind and underneath it can become. This also can create problems and hazards and you need to make sure you clean these spots as well!

For more tips please go here: Clothes Dryer Fire Safety Tips

As always Be Safe!
  
Bill



Fig 1



Fig 2





Fig 3



Fig 4



Fig 5

News Advisory: County Executive Leggett & Fire Chief Bowers Invite Community to Briefing on Darnestown/Germantown Brush Fire

BrushfireCommunityMtg

MCFRS Promotions

Congratulations to the following personnel who have been promoted to the rank of Master Firefighter. Well done!


o Craig T. Lauret

o Daniel A. Ballantine

o Daniel C. Schaefer

o James A. Snyder

o Jason M. Smith

o Jeffrey R. Kane

o Joseph A. Dingle Jr

o Kristy M. Furst

o Mark L. Arnold

o Michael J. Haba

o Ryan A. Keyser

o Shelley M. Wheeler