Don’t Become a Statistic Tonight: SoberRide Offers New Year's Revelers FREE Ride Home!

MCFRS hopes all of you have a SAFE New Year’s Eve tonight! I want to make all of you aware of how you can get a free ride if you have had a bit too much to drink.  Drunk driving is a preventable incident – it is NOT an accident when one occurs!

So please take a moment to look at the information below to learn more. Pass along to any one you know who may be out and about celebrating tonight.  If even the slightest doubt please pick up a phone and call for a ride home. 

Stay Safe this evening!

Bill

How to Recycle/Dispose of Christmas Trees & Light Strings

A question that always comes up this time of year is what to do with the family Christmas Tree. Well, thanks to our friends in the Department of Environmental Protection – Division of Solid Waste, we have an answer.

Please take some time to go to their web site to learn how to properly Recycle/Dispose of Christmas Trees

In addition, you can also find some great information here on:How to recycle/dispose of light strings (Christmas lights / holiday lights)

 

As always – Be Safe!

A Close Call

By: Lt. Robert Furst

On Friday, December 26 at approximately 1 PM, MCFRS Firefighters were dispatched to a report of a house on fire.  Units arrived on scene and found a fence on fire - which we quickly extinguished before it reached the house.

Improper disposal of fireplace ashes caused this homeowner's fence to burn. The fire nearly spread to their house.

Please remember to discard your ashes in a metal container and store that container on a non-combustible surface.  A few related safety tips here: Fireplace and Wood Burning Safety.  See below for an example of a metal container.

Firefighter making sure fire is out

An example of a good metal container.

UPDATED to Include Mayday Video and Audio: Smoke Alarms Awaken Sleeping Occupants To House Fire

Updated 12/26/14

Just before 1 AM on Monday, December 22^nd fire and rescue units were dispatched to the 2200 block of Kings House Rd. for the report of flames coming from the house. Units from Burtonsville Fire Station 15 arrived on the scene and confirmed heavy fire from the structure. 

The occupants of the house were safely outside the home upon MCFRS arrival and indicated that they were awakened by the smoke alarms sounding thus allowing time to exit the burning home. Working smoke alarms save lives!

Due to the heavy fire conditions firefighters requested a 2^nd Alarm to assist.  At some point during fire suppression operations a Mayday was declared because a firefighter had fallen through a hole on the first floor into the basement. The firefighter was quickly located, rescued and evaluated and suffered no significant injury with no transportation to the hospital required.

Approximately 75 firefighters responded to the scene and brought the fire under control.  The fire is believed to have originated in the basement with the cause currently listed as undetermined.  Two adults were displaced and one cat is currently unaccounted for.  Damages were estimated at $600K to the structure and $200K to the contents of the home.

After the fire had been extinguished a high pressure pipe, below ground under a fire hydrant, broke and began leaking in the 14900 block of Peach Orchard Rd.  WSSC was contacted and responded to the scene to address. 


Video via Brett Russell Youtube Channel

Important Winter Fire Prevention Tips

Public Information Officer Pete Piringer recently appeared on FOX5 News to talk about winter and holiday fire safety.  Please take a moment to watch, learn, and take action if need be.


DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG

MCFRS Twas Nite Before Christmas - The Fire Is Out!

A little story from Public Information Officer Pete Piringer.

 

Transcript available upon request. Go here

Recent Promotions

Fire Chief Steve Lohr is pleased to announce that the following personnel have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant:

• Andrew D. German
• Christopher J. Reilly
• Kelly A. Mullendore
• Kristy M. Furst 
• Sean P. Hall
• Timothy A. Burns 

Congratulations to all in your new assignment and, as always, be safe!

Smoke Alarms Awaken Sleeping Occupants To House Fire

Just before 1 AM on Monday, December 22^nd fire and rescue units were dispatched to the 2200 block of Kings House Rd. for the report of flames coming from the house. Units from Burtonsville Fire Station 15 arrived on the scene and confirmed heavy fire from the structure. 

The occupants of the house were safely outside the home upon MCFRS arrival and indicated that they were awakened by the smoke alarms sounding thus allowing time to exit the burning home. Working smoke alarms save lives!

Due to the heavy fire conditions firefighters requested a 2^nd Alarm to assist.  At some point during fire suppression operations a Mayday was declared because a firefighter had fallen through a hole on the first floor into the basement. The firefighter was quickly located, rescued and evaluated and suffered no significant injury with no transportation to the hospital required.

Approximately 75 firefighters responded to the scene and brought the fire under control.  The fire is believed to have originated in the basement with the cause currently listed as undetermined.  Two adults were displaced and one cat is currently unaccounted for.  Damages were estimated at $600K to the structure and $200K to the contents of the home.

After the fire had been extinguished a high pressure pipe, below ground under a fire hydrant, broke and began leaking in the 14900 block of Peach Orchard Rd.  WSSC was contacted and responded to the scene to address. 




 Video from WUSA Channel 9

#firesafehomeforholidays

The holiday season is traditionally an occasion for family, friends and joyous times.  Unfortunately, it can also be a time of tragedy as the risk for fire increases.

Help us spread the message of safety this holiday season via social media!  If you are on Twitter or Facebook in particular, we are using the hash tag: #firesafehomeforholidays

Please share these posts with your followers to help spread the joy of holiday fire prevention.  We will also be posting related safety tips on our other sites.  Below, please find our variety of social media platforms and follow us throughout the year!

Happy Holidays to all!

MCFRS on Social Media

   

 

Happy Hanukkah and Use Your Candles Safely!

Happy Hanukkah to all who will be celebrating starting this evening!

December is a time of year where candles play a major role in many religious observations.  Please take a moment to review the below presentation on candle safety in the hopes all of you, regardless of your holiday season celebration, can enjoy a fire safe home for the holidays!

Santa's Little Helpers

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Firefighters from Fire Station 19 (Montgomery Hills) C-Shift helped deliver Santa Saturday to some very excited children at the Calvert Baptist Church. Many Fire Departments throughout the Country help out Santa through the holiday season by delivering him to many special places - MCFRS is no different. Some good work in the community 19 - C! 

Put A Freeze On Winter Holiday Fires

Please take a moment to click on the below info-graphic and learn how to help prevent fires in your home this holiday season.

As well, please also listen to the audio below (text translation in a link next to it).

Be safe today!





Holiday Decoration Fire Safety

  (:30 MP3) Read

Gaithersburg Plane Crash and House Fire

On Monday, December 8 at approximately 10:43 AM, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units were alerted for a house on fire due to a plane crash.  Incoming units arrived on the scene to find a plane that had crashed in the front yard of 19737 Drop Forge Lane and fire coming from the house located at 19733 Drop Forge Lane. 

Firefighters initiated simultaneous attacks on the fire and an initial search was conducted in 19733 for reports of possible people trapped inside.  Quickly deteriorating conditions, including compromised structural integrity, necessitated almost immediate evacuation of fire and rescue personnel from the home.  Exterior fire extinguishment efforts continued.

In addition, firefighters were simultaneously checking the downed plane and located three victims who were pronounced deceased on the scene.

Fire investigators arrived on the scene and assisted MCPD and NTSB with the investigation.  It was determined the house at 19733 caught fire as a result of the plane crash next door.  Two other houses received structural damage only as a result of the crash. 

After the fire was extinguished and the house was stabilized, a search resumed for the reported missing individuals in 19733.  All three were located together and removed. 

In total there were six fatalities:

Three occupants of 19733 Drop Forge Lane; a 36 year old female, a 3 year old male and a 7 week old male.

Three occupants of a Phenom 100 EMB-500 aircraft.

Physical damage estimates:

19733 Drop Forge Lane with damage estimate of approximately $400K 

19740 Drop Forge Lane received approximately $150K in structural damage; no fire, occupants escaped without injury 

19737 Drop Forge Lane (immediately next door) received approximately $50K in structural damage; no occupants were home at time 

Phenom 100 EMB-500 aircraft valued at $3.7M

Christmas Tree Fire Destroys a Living Room in Under a Minute

An impressive video giving you an idea of just how fast a Christmas Tree can burn and, likewise, destroy a room by fire.

After watching the video please go below and review Christmas Tree safety tips. By taking proactive steps you will be able to reduce your chances of a similar scene to the video playing out in your home.

Enjoy the holidays safely!

 

When selecting a tree for the Holiday, needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard. A safer option is to buy a fire-resistant artificial tree.

Use a wide-based stand to make sure the tree is secure and will not fall over. Keep your tree in a container full of water, and check it daily.

Keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators and heating vents. Decorate your tree with children in mind. Do not put ornaments that are breakable, have small detachable parts, metal hooks or look like food or candy on the lower branches where small children can reach them. Make sure tree lights are hung out of reach of young children. Also, cut back the lower branches to avoid eye injuries to small children.

Decorate your tree using only UL (Underwriters' Lab Inc.) approved lights and cords. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Do not overload extension cords. Use no more than three strings of lights on one extension cord, and never run an electrical cord under a carpet. Be sure to secure electrical cords so that children cannot pull them and topple the tree.

Turn off the tree lights when you go to bed, depart from home or leave the tree in an unattended room.

Never burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in your fireplace. Dispose of your tree promptly after the holidays.

MCFRS Now on Instagram

 We are now on Instagram!  Please go here and follow us when you get a chance!

MCFRSNews  http://instagram.com/mcfrsnews/

Christmas Safety

Picking the perfect Christmas tree - At roughly 2:40 in our very own Assistant Chief Charles Bailey provides some important safety tips!

DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG

Holiday Fire Safety

Text Transcript

Annual Toys for Tots Campaign

Once again the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) will be assisting the United States Marine Corps in collecting toys for their annual Toys for Tots campaign.  Now through Thursday, December 18 residents can drop off toys to the following fire and rescue stations designated as official collection points for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign:

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad - 5020 BATTERY LA., BETHESDA, MD 20814

Fire Station 4 - 17921 BROOKE ROAD SANDY SPRING, MD 20860

Fire Station 7 - 8001 CONNECTICUT AVE., CHEVY CHASE, MD 20815

Fire Station 12 - 10617 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20903

Fire Station 15 - 13900 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE BURTONSVILLE, MD 20866

Fire Station 22 - 18910 GERMANTOWN ROAD, GERMANTOWN, MD 20874

Fire Station 25 - 14401 CONNECTICUT AVE., LAYHILL, MD 20906

Fire Station 28 - 7272 MUNCASTER MILL RD., DERWOOD, MD 20855

Fire Station 32 - 9615 DARNESTOWN ROAD ROCKVILLE, MD 20850

Fire Station 34 - 20633 BOLAND FARM ROAD, GERMANTOWN, MD 20876