Safety First: The Dangers of Windows

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Fact: Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries in children less than 14 years of age. More than 80% of fall-related injuries among children ages 4 and under occur in the home.

You've child-proofed your home room-by-room. You've check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. You've covered all electrical outlets and you've even mastered how to install your car seat. But there is one potential hazard you may have missed or underestimated. As cooler weather arrives and people are opening their windows again, be aware of young children who may have access to windows -- and not just in high rise buildings. Many falls occur from modest heights. 

Windows play a vital role in home safety, serving as a secondary escape route in the event of a fire or other emergency, but they also pose a risk for a fall if safety measures are not followed. While most windows have screens, they are not designed to provide protection to keep a child safe.  Prevent window-related injuries in the home:

• Never rely on window screens to keep children from falling out of windows. A screen is not a safety device. It is designed to keep insects out, not to keep children in.
• Keep furniture such as sofas, beds and dressers away from windows. This will discourage children from climbing near any windows.
• Keep windows closed and locked when they are not being used.
• When windows are open for ventilation, take advantage of all safety features. If possible, open windows from the top and not the bottom if you have double-hung windows – the kind that can open down from the top as well as up from the bottom.
• Install safety devices such as window guards or window stops to help prevent falls.
• Remind grandparents and other caregivers about window safety.
• Always supervise children and keep their play area (or "home school" area) away from windows.

Toddlers are top-heavy. Their heads are bigger in proportion to the rest of their body than adults.This means they are more likely to fall head first, injuring their skull and brain upon impact. Window falls can happen quickly and, in some cases, be deadly. 

• If you see that a child has fallen out of a window and is lying on the ground not moving, do not move them. Call 911 and wait for emergency responders.
• Seek medical attention after a window fall, even if your child appears to have no injuries. 

Did someone say "Virtual Car Seat Check?'

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In mid-March we suspended all in-person car seat checks to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Like many other services, our resources went online. We began to offer virtual car seat checks in late March and continue to offer this service.

The Covid pandemic has upended almost all facets of our lives. Still, babies are being born and parents, grandparents, and other caregivers continue to need to transport kids in vehicles safely. To that end, MCFRS’ Car Seat Program has had to modify the way we provide caregivers with child passenger safety resources. Our goal continues to be to provide high quality, relevant, and timely child passenger safety assistance to all caregivers in need.

Virtual Car Seat Assistance

Our virtual car seat check appointments mirror what we would do during a regular in-person car seat check. We verify that the seats are not expired and operational. If the caregivers have already installed the seat, we take the necessary steps to ensure that the car seat is installed correctly. If it is not, we will walk the caregiver through the steps to correctly install the car seat. If the caregiver has not installed the seat, we provide step by step instructions. We always have our computers open to that car seat’s instruction manual as a reference and we have a demonstration car seat to provide guidance on our end of the video.

Once the car seat is correctly installed, we review the features of that specific car seat and we demonstrate how to correctly harness a child into the car seat using our demonstration seats and dolls. We also take the time to answer all questions that the caregiver may have. As with in-person car seat checks, our goal at the end of the virtual appointment is to make the caregiver feel comfortable and confident using their car seat and that all their questions have been addressed. To schedule a virtual car seat appointment with us, visit .

However, MCFRS is not the only program to offer virtual car seat appointments. Most car seat manufacturers have begun offering virtual appointments to assist that families that bought that manufacturer’s car seat. Maryland Kids in Safety Seats, a statewide program, also provides virtual car seat appointments as does the Fitzgerald Auto Mall group.

Telephone Assistance

MCFRS’ car seat program continues to offer assistance via phone.  If you have any questions related to car seats such as when to move you child from one stage of car seats to the next or if you feel that a part of the car seat is not functioning properly or not correctly installed, give us a call. Need to schedule a virtual car seat appointment?  Call us at 240-777-2223 and we’ll gladly answer your questions.

Online Resources and Videos

We have also posted valuable resources and links to videos on our website. We provide links to videos on how to properly install car seat. There are many videos online, especially on YouTube, that offer guidance on how to install car seats but not all of them provide correct information. To address this, we have video links to reputable organizations. We also have links to other national car seat organizations and car seat manufacturers. In some cases, caregivers feel more comfortable going directly to the car seat manufacturer to address their questions or concerns and we provide those direct links. Visit our resources page: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/tips/parents/carseats.html.

Please remember to never leave a child alone in the car and always buckle up! Everyone, every ride. Stay safe and healthy.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - Routes for June 26 (4 - 6 pm)

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What makes Montgomery County great is its community! We'll be mobilizing an important message during this week's Friday Night Lights to remind all our friends to please complete their 2020 Census. It takes less than 5 minutes and will have tremendous impact on funding for Montgomery County (and public safety) for the next DECADE! Can we count you in?

FRIENDLY REMINDER: While our crews are excited to see everyone, their first and foremost job is responding to emergencies. Because of this, we would ask that you please be understanding as firefighter crews may need to alter, delay or cancel their routes.

How do I find out if MCFRS will be visiting my neighborhood this week?

Below please find a listing of the communities and streets that we plan to visit on June 26th.  Find your color-coded "Battalion" on the map and check out the list below.

Please Note:We will not be able to drive through every Montgomery County neighborhood or down every street, but will do our best to make it to as many areas as possible. MCFRS crews will remain in service to respond to emergencies, so may get pulled away to respond to calls. Please be alert to this. Thank you for adhering to social distancing guidelines and do not approach the fire trucks or equipment as they drive by. We can’t wait to see you … from 6 feet away. Please be sure to check your smoke alarms and there’s never been a better (or more important) time to have a home fire drill! 

Battalion 1 - Neighborhoods

• Unit Blk of Dale Dr. to 700 Blk of Dale Dr, then 500 Blk of Ellsworth 800 Blk of Ellsworth Dr.
• Ethan Allen Ave, Prince George's Ave, Woodland Ave, and Sycamore Ave
• Mcknew Rd and Cedar Tree Dr Neighborhood
• Northwood Park
• Montgomery Hills Neighborhood - Seminary Rd to Hale St, Osborn Dr, Warren, Westview Dr., Riley Rd, 2nd Ave, Linden Ln, Monroe St

Battalion 2 - Neighborhoods

• Glenbrook Rd; Bettery Ln; Wilson Ln; Exeter Rd; Fairfax Rd; Moorland Ln; Del Ray Ave; Cordell Ave; Edgemoor Ln; Woodmont Ave; Hampden Ln; and Arlington Rd.
• Preston Pl. Leland St. Blackthorn St. Woodbine St. 
• Mirriam st, Barlow End, Winsome Circle Neighborhood at end of Grovensor Lane
• Stanmore neighborhood (Stanmore Dr to Pleasant Hill Dr to Belmart Dr to Brickyard Rd, including all side streets)

Battalion 3 - Neighborhoods

• Travis Ave. and all Croos Streets 
• Farmhaven Drive neighborhood and Rollins Avenue neighborhood between Evelyn Drive and Lorraine Drive
• Towne Crest Dr, Fairhaven Dr, Amity Dr (and side streets), Epsilon Dr (and side streets)
• Copen Meadow Dr, Carrington Hill Dr, Nursery Ln, McDonald Chapel Dr, Hillstone Rd, Orchard Dr, Seurat neighborhood
• Downtown Crown Neighborhood
• Marseille Dr. and various streets north to Tuckerman Lane

Battalion 4 - Neighborhoods

• Alexander Manor
• 4500 Blk Gaynor Road, 12400 Blk Dewey Road, 4500 Blk Furman Road, 12500 Blk Veirs Mill Road
• Emory Lane, Jasmine Dr, Carrolton Rd, Sunflower Dr, Red Clover Dr, Flower Valley Dr

Battalion 5 - Neighborhoods

• Little Bennett Dr and Little Bennett CT and neighborhoods.
• Rolling Fork Way; including the loops and courts that connect to it
• Cissel Manor Dr., Billek Ct., McKernon Way, Hackett Ct., Lewis Orchard Way
• Matteny Road from Rt. 118 to Clopper & Cinnamon Drive
• Crossridge dr, Ridgecrest dr, Stoneybottom rd, Gunnerfield la, and all side strr
• Milestone Manor Lane, Stardrift Drive, Emerald Drive, Royal Crown Drive and associated side streets 
• Shawnee Lane, Timbercreek Lane, Brook Point Way, Needle Drive, Dancrest Drive

IT'S OFFICIAL! Summer. Is. Here.

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Happy First Day of Summer! Fire Chief Scott E. Goldstein is launching the department's annual "Summer of Safety - Version 2020” campaign today! We know that the COVID19 summer ahead is going to be a lot different than previous summers and we're here to help as summer officially gets underway.  

Throughout the summer, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) will be providing key safety tips, information and activities to help keep families safe and we'll be providing fun "edu-tainment" activities for the kids! Follow along throughout the summer as we promote safer habits to help protect you, your children and your pets.

Fire Chief Goldstein’s campaign goal is to raise the collective "Safety IQ" of the community in a fun, interactive and engaging format. Follow us on social media for updated topics and stick with us all summer and see what you learn! You just might save a life... 

Are you in?  

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - Routes for June 19 (4 - 6 pm)

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We're looking forward to seeing you Friday and we will be mobilizing an important message! If you haven't completed your Census yet, please help us and complete it today. It seriously takes less then 5 minutes to complete and EVERY survey submitted will have tremendous impact on the community over the next 10 years!
FRIENDLY REMINDER: While our crews are excited to see everyone, their first and foremost job is responding to emergencies. Because of this, we would ask that you please be understanding as firefighter crews may need to alter, delay or cancel their routes.

IMPORTANT: We will not be able to drive through every Montgomery County neighborhood or down every street, but will do our best to make it to as many areas as possible. MCFRS crews will remain in service to respond to emergencies, so may get pulled away to respond to calls. Please be alert to this. Thank you for adhering to social distancing guidelines and do not approach the fire trucks or equipment as they drive by. We can’t wait to see you … from 6 feet away. Please be sure to check your smoke alarms and there’s never been a better (or more important) time to have a home fire drill! 

How do I find out if MCFRS will be visiting my neighborhood? 

Below please find a listing of the communities and streets that we plan to visit on June 19th.  Find your color-coded "Battalion" on the map and check out the list below.

Battalion 1 - Neighborhoods 

• Downtown
• Old Takoma 6/19
• White Oak
• Fairland
• Woodmoor
• Forest Glen
• Wolf Acres

Battalion 2 - Neighborhoods

• Town of Somerset - Dorset to Surry to Graystone
• North Chevy Chase - Kensington Pkwy to Kenilworth to Brierly
• Carderock Springs Neighborhood- Fenway dr. Fenway rd. Hamilton Spring ct. Hamilton Spring rd. Park Overlook dr. Lilly Spring dr.
• Goldsboro-Tulip Hill - Mohican Rd - Wisscasset Rd - Dahlonega Rd - MacArthur Blvd - Walhonding Rd. - Tuscarawas Rd - Iroquois Rd. - Wehawken Rd 
• Wyngate Neighborhood - Wyngate Dr, to Lindale Dr, R on Henning St, R Ewing Dr, R Ryland Dr, R Singeton Dr, R Beech Ave.
• Democracy Blvd. to Fernwood Rd. to Lone Oak Dr. cross Old Georgetown to continue on Lone Oak to end at Fleming Ave.
• Avenel neighborhood including all roads off Oaklyn Dr between Falls Rd and Persimmon Tree Lane
• Edgemoor (Fairfax Road, Exeter Road, Mooreland La, Glenbrook Road, etc) & Battery Park (Glenbrook Road, Fairfax Road, Battery Lane, Park Lane, Goddard Road, etc. )

Battalion 3 - Neighborhoods

• Winding Rose Drive, Rose Petal Way, all cross streets in neighborhood
• Whetstone Drive and all side streets from Montgomery Village Ave to Centerway Road
• Hitching post ln, Farmland dr, Old Stage rd, Old Bridge rd
• Saybrooke Oaks Blvd., Saybrooke View Dr., Bristol Downs Dr., Grange  Hall Dr., Victory Farm Dr., Bookham Ln., Belle Grove Rd.
• Falls Grove Blvd to include all the streets between Shady Grove Rd, Darnstown Rd and West Montgomery Ave
• Main St.- Darnestown Rd to Kentlands Blvd.. Chevy Chase St.- Kentlands Blvd. to Center Point Way to Main St.. Lakelands Dr. - Great Seneca Hwy. to Market St. E to Main St.

Battalion 4 - Neighborhoods 

• Lake Hallowell neighborhood - Old Baltimore Rd.  and cross streets - Georgia to Pond Ridge Ct.
• Kensington Park
• Glenmont Forest - Bordered by Randolph/Kendell/Judsonrd
• Holiday Park neighborhood - Ferrara Drive, IndigoRd, Selfridge Rd, Mentone Rd, Pittson Rd, Charles Rd.
• Longmead Crossing Drive and Cross Streets Between Layhill & Homecrest
• Willimsburg Village - Area encompassing Cherry Valley Dr and Hines Road between Georgia Ave and Power lines.
• Wheaton Hills

Battalion 5 - Neighborhoods

• Dickerson Rd, Big Woods Rd, Jerusalem Rd, Jerusalem Church Rd, Cissel Manor Dr, Lewis Orchard Rd, Wooton Ave, Cobb Ave, McNamara Rd, Spurrier Rd, Bupp Rd, W Willard Rd
• Father Hurley, Kingsview, Leaman Farm areas,richter Farm and all side streets
• Tall Pines, Virginia Pines, Seneca Crossing neighborhoods
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - Routes for June 12 (4 - 6 pm)

While our crews are excited to see everyone, their first and foremost job is responding to emergencies. Because of this, we would ask that you please be understanding as firefighter crews may need to alter, delay or cancel their routes.

IMPORTANT: We will not be able to drive through every Montgomery County neighborhood or down every street, but will do our best to make it to as many areas as possible. MCFRS crews will remain in service to respond to emergencies, so may get pulled away to respond to calls. Please be alert to this. Thank you for adhering to social distancing guidelines and do not approach the fire trucks or equipment as they drive by. We can’t wait to see you … from 6 feet away. Please be sure to check your smoke alarms and there’s never been a better (or more important) time to have a home fire drill! 

How do I find out if MCFRS will be visiting my neighborhood? 

Below please find a listing of the communities and streets that we plan to visit on June 12th.  Find your color-coded "Battalion" on the map and check out the list below. 

Battalion 1 -  Neighborhoods 

• 1700 blk of East West Hwy - Summitt Hills Apartments
• Westmoreland Ave./Poplar Ave./ Allegheny Ave.- area behind firehouse
• Lockwood Dr & Stewart Dr
• Perry Wood & Holly Hock
• Caddington Ave, Loxford Terr, Playford Ln, Malta Ln       Forest Knolls Community 6/9dpb
• Getty Park, Forest Grove, August, Brisbane, Cody, Belvedere Blvd 6/9 DJP
• Sherwood Forest Dr., Beaumont Rd. ( Neighborhood )

Battalion 2 - Neighborhoods

• Arlington & Bradley area
• Dunlop St., Kerry Ln, Glendale Rd, Cypress Pl, Cardiff Rd, Curtis St, Brookville Rd. to Lealand St. 
• Holly Leaf Ln, Willow Gate Ln, Town Gate Ln Saunders Ct, Saunders Ln, Country Club Dr
• Bannockburn Neighborhood
• Huntington Pkwy & Wilson Ln (East of Bradley Blvd) & Street's Between Both 
• Ashburton - Between Fernwood, Democracy, Old Georgetown and 495
• Belmart, Cripplegate, Bel Air Pl, and Stanmore Drive

Battalion 3 - Neighborhoods

• College Parkway area and all croos streets
• Whetstone Dr and cross streets. All cross streets on centerway MVA and goshen
• Twinbrook area-West side of Veirs Mill Road. 
• Mill CreekCommunity - Park Mill Dr,Mill Creek Dr, Wheat Fall Dr, Dew Wood, Warbler, 7300-7400 Blk Mill Run Dr and Cliffbourne La.
• Kentlands - Tschiffley Square Rd.- Kent Oaks Rd.- Chestertown St.- Little Quarry Rd.
• Ellington blv and Crown Park ave  Crown Park 
• Falls Chapel Way & surrounding streets

Battalion 4 - Neighborhoods

• Batchelors Forest Road, Old Vic Road, Norbeck Farm Drive
• Poplar run community
• Dewey Rd 12400-12100 Blk and cross streets
• Parkland Drive from Chesterfield Rd. to Aspen Hill Rd. and the cross streets in between.
• Olney Mill area - Olney Mill Rd and cross streets between Mt Olney Ln & Llewellyn Field Rd

Battalion 5 - Neighborhoods

• Hyattstown Mill Rd. to Prescott Rd. (Rt.355)
• Woodfield Rd. to Faith La. to Ridge Rd. to Sugarloaf Dr. to Tune Ave. to Grace Ct. and Warthen Dr. to Highview Ave. to High St. to Beall Ave. back to Ridge Rd. 
• Cobbs Ave and Shores drive and surrounding neighborhood
• East Village and Cinnabar 
• Steeple Rd, Eternity Rd, Ranworth Dr
• Forest Brook Drive and Stoney Bottom Road neighborhoods
• Snowden Farm and Little Seneca Pkwy
• Timber Creek Lane and Foreman Blvd

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - Routes for June 5 from 4 - 6 pm (Keep an eye on the sky - weather may be a factor)

Battalion 1 - Neighborhoods 

• Downtown- 500-700 Blk Philadelphia Ave, Baltimore and Takoma Ave
• 7200-6900 BLK Carroll Ave, Old Town Laurel Ave, 7100-7700 BLK Maple Ave
• White Oak
• Old Columbia Pike/Fairland
• Area bordered by west of University Blvd E, South of Rt 495, East of Colesville Rd, East of Sligo Creek Pkwy, North of Piney Branch Rd.  
• Forest Grove neighborhood- All streets between Forest Glen Road and Dublin Drive (Myrtle, Sherwood, Sanford, Tilton, Dameron, Belvedere ect.)
• Stonegate Community

Battalion 2 - Neighborhoods

• River Falls neighborhood. All associated streets off Brickyard rd.

Battalion 3 - Neighborhoods

• Woodley Gardens and College Gardens
• Ardennes Ave, Halpine Rd, Lewis Ave, Edmonston Dr and various cross streets between Ardennes and Lewis
• All streets between Shady Grove Rd and Redland Rd from Muncaster Mill west to Needwood Rd
• Kentlands west of inspiration lane
• Marseille Dr. and various streets north to Tuckerman Lane

Battalion 4 - Neighborhoods

• Bauer Dr. between Emory and Norbeck to include cross streets

Battalion 5 - Neighborhoods

• Rolling Fork Way; including the loops and courts that connect to it
• Wooton Ave, Hempstone Ave, Cambell Farm Rd, Munger Farm Rd, Lightfoot Rd, Soper Rd,Collier Cir
• Griffith road, rolling hill lane, Fitzgerald road
• Ridgecrest Dr, Crossridge Rd, Waringstation Rd from Middlebrook to stop sign at Waringstation 
• Shawnee Lane, Timbercreek Lane, Brook Point Way, Needle Drive, Dancrest Drive

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Routes for May 29 from 4 - 6 pm

While our crews are excited to see everyone, their first and foremost job is responding to emergencies. Because of this, we would ask that you please be understanding, as firefighter crews may need to alter, delay or cancel their routes.

IMPORTANT: We will not be able to drive through every Montgomery County neighborhood or down every street, but will do our best to make it to as many areas as possible. MCFRS crews will remain in service to respond to emergencies, so may get pulled away to respond to calls. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines and do not approach the fire trucks or equipment as they drive by. We can’t wait to see you … from 6 feet away.  Please be sure to check your smoke alarms and there’s never been a better time to have a home fire drill! 

How do I find out if MCFRS will be visiting my neighborhood? 

Below please find a listing of the communities and streets that we plan to visit on May 29th. Find your color-coded "Battalion" on the map and check out the list below.  

Battalion 1 

Downtown

Maple Ave

White Oak

Fairland

Woodmoor

Woodside Park

Wolf Acres

Battalion 2

Town of Somerset - Dorset to Surry to Graystone

Dunlop St-Glendale Rd-Kerry Lane-Cypress Pl-Cardiff Rd-Cardiff Court-Kerry Court- Kerry Rd-Club Dr

Carderock Springs Neighborhood- Fenway dr. Fenway rd. Hamilton Spring ct. Hamilton Spring rd. Park Overlook Drive, Lilly Spring Drive

Goldsboro-Tulip Hill - Mohican Rd - Wisscasset Rd - Dahlonega Rd - MacArthur Blvd - Walhonding Rd. - Tuscarawas Rd - Iroquois Rd. - Wehawken Rd

Greentree Rd, L Bradmoore Drive, R Roosevelt St., R Ewing Dr, R Beech Dr, R Linden Ave., L Alta Vista Ave,  R Kingsley Ave, L Elsmere Ave, to Broad Brook Dr to R Elmhirst Pkwy

Democracy Blvd. to Old Georgetown Rd. to Tuckerman Ln. to Rosemont Dr. to Wayside Dr. to Ralston Dr. to Windermere Circle

Stanmore neighborhood (Stanmore Dr to Pleasant Hill Dr to Belmart Dr to Brickyard Rd, including all side streets)

Edgemoor (Fairfax Road, Exeter Road, Mooreland La, Glenbrook Road, etc) & Battery Park (Glenbrook Road, Fairfax Road, Battery Lane, Park Lane, Goddard Road, etc. ) Battalion 3

Winding Rose Drive, Rose Petal Way, all cross streets in neighborhood

Whetstone Drive and all side streets from Montgomery Village Ave to Centerway Road

Hitching Post Ln, Farmland Dr, Old Stage Rd, Old Bridge Rd

Falls Grove Blvd to include all the streets between Shady Grove Rd, Darnstown Rd and West Montgomery Ave

Falls to Montrose to Seven Locks to Gainsborough to Bells Mill to Seven Locks to Tuckerman to Falls. We will also ride around the Park Potomac Neighborhood when we are in area of Montrose and Seven Locks.

Main St.- Darnestown Rd to Kentlands Blvd.. Chevy Chase St.- Kentlands Blvd. to Center Point Way to Main St.. Lakelands Dr. - Great Seneca Hwy. to Market St. E to Main St.

Battalion 4

Lake Hallowell neighborhood - Old Baltimore Rd. and cross streets - Georgia to Pond Ridge Ct.

Kensington Park

Glenmont Forest - Bordered by Randolph/Kendell/Judsonrd

Holiday Park neighborhood - Ferrara Drive, IndigoRd, Selfridge Rd, Mentone Rd, Pittson Rd, Charles Rd.

Longmead Crossing Drive and Cross Streets Between Layhill & Homecrest

Willimsburg Village - Area encompassing Cherry Valley Dr and Hines Road between Georgia Ave and Power lines.

Wheaton Hills Battalion 5

Little Bennett Drive, Bennett Chase Drive, Snowden Farm Parkway

Sweepstakes Road Neighborhoods

Poolesville (Westerly and Wesmond neighborhoods), Peach Tree Rd, Whites Ferry Rd

Town of Laytonsville, Golf Estates, Brooke Knolls

Father Hurley, Kingsview, Leaman Farm areas

Waterford Hills and Waters Road

Tall Pines, Virginia Pines, Seneca Crossing neighborhoods

Cabin Branch Ave, Broadway Ave, Fulmer Ave, Byrne Park Dr

Don't Overload Your Home

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Kids are home from school. Adults are telecommuting. Home learning continues. If you are facing a full house it is more important than ever to make fire safety a top priority in your home. Technology is an important part of our lives -- especially in these COVID-19 days -- with  everyone plugged IN. With more people charging mobile devices, using laptops and desktop computers and appliances running at the same time, Fire Chief Goldstein is asking families to be fire safe and fire smart and is sharing some important electrical fire safety tips to protect your family now. . . and for years to come.

One of the Chief's simplest electrical safety tips is also one of the easiest to forget: when an appliance is not in use, unplug it. Not only does this save you power by reducing any phantom drain (the amount of energy the device consumes even when not actively in use) but unplugging unused appliances also protects them from overheating or power surges ... and igniting a fire.   

• Extension cords and power strips provide more outlets, NOT more power. (read again)
  Just because there are 6 outlets does not mean it is safe to use all of them.
• Don't get overloaded when using extension cords. Extension cords are rated for capacity based on cord length and gauge. Do not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations. If the requirements of the items you plan to plug in exceed the circuit capacity, you are overloading the circuit and creating a potential fire hazard. Unplug your brother's PlayStation instead.   

• Power strips do not play well together. Never "piggy back" or create a "daisy chain" with power strips. This means plugging one power strip into another power strip to increase the number of outlets. Creative? Yes. Dangerous? Very. Power strips are not designed to be used this way and doing so can result in a fire ... and then what are you going to do? 

• All extension cords and power strips are not created equal. Know what you are buying. Only purchase cords certified by an independent testing lab like UL (Underwriters Laboratory) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories). If there is no stamp or sticker on an electrical device you are thinking about purchasing, choose another product. 
• It is easy to exceed the capacity of the power strip and the circuit, so use caution when adding multiple appliances to the strip. Only use light-load appliances on power strips like computers, phones, lamps, clocks, etc. Major appliances like your refrigerator are not "light-load" (even if it's empty) and need to be plugged into a dedicated wall outlet.
• Use the right charger for the right product - that's the one provided by the manufacturer. Don't be tempted to pick up a cheap one on-line.They may not be compatible and may use  substandard materials or parts. Yep, increased fire risk. 

• Understand that a surge protector, which is a feature in some but not all power strips, may protect your electrical equipment (such as your computer) from damage in the event of a surge of electricity; it does not function to prevent fires. 
  
• Do not use power strips in damp or potentially wet areas such as a bathroom, a kitchen countertop or a garage that is not climate controlled. Water and power strips don't mix, and if they do, a fire or electrocution may result. If you must use a power strip in an area that is prone to moisture, buy one that is specially designed to be safe in such conditions. If you require a power strip in your garage, have a professional electrician hard wire a moisture-resistant one and mount it to a wall.
• Never hide or cover a power strip or extension cord with anything like a rug. Electricity generates heat and that heat needs to disperse. If the cord is covered the heat becomes trapped the risk for a fire greatly increases. 

• Periodically inspect the condition of power strips, including the cord and plug, test the reset button and make sure all plugs are firmly inserted into the outlets. If the power strip feels hot, or if a defect is found, discard the power strip and replace with a new one. Like, right away.

Bottom line: power strips and extension cords should be used with caution and are meant to be temporary and not permanent solutions. If you are using them on a more permanent basis, consider upgrading your home's electrical system by a qualified electrician. And thank you for staying home and staying safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic! We got this.
(and please don't forget to check your smoke alarms)

Last minute shoppers, still looking for a Valentine’s gift?

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials are recommending smoke alarms as the PERFECT Valentine’s gift for loved ones. Nothing says you mean everything to me like the 24-hour protection that comes with a smoke alarm. And while you are busy planning the perfect evening, make it memorable for all the right reasons. A few tips to keep in mind:

• Cooking up a great meal? Stand by your pan. Too many meals are ruined when cooks get distracted or forgetful and leave cooking unattended. As much as Fire/Rescue loves your cooking, you really don’t want us to have to extinguish that perfect meal. Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires so keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, paper or plastic bags, dish towels, newspapers and curtains – away from your stovetop, oven and appliances that generate heat.
• Candles may look festive and set the mood however unattended candles account for thousands of fires annually. The National Fire Protection Association reports that, on average, a candle fire in the home is reported to a US Fire Department every 30 minutes. Consider battery-operated, flameless candles instead. You really can’t tell the difference!
• Lighting up the fireplace? Make sure that’s all you light up. Believe it or not, every year people dispose of fireplace ashes before they have sufficiently cooled. Keep your ash out of the trash and only dispose of fireplace ashes in a sealed, metal container located far from anything combustible. Never dispose of fireplace ashes in your recycling bin, trash can, paper or plastic bags or in a garage, carport or on a deck or porch. 

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue wants you to have a great Valentine’s Day. Remember, smoke alarms save lives. They make great gifts, one-size-fits-all and MCFRS will even come out and check your alarms for free! Just call 311 or visit www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe for info.