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Fire Chief Turns Firefighter At House Fire

On Thursday afternoon (6/18) Fire Chief Goldstein stopped by to visit with the shift at Fire Station #22.   Tanker 722 (a truck that carries a large amount of water) had been dispatched to a large vehicle/trash truck fire on I-270, which required staffing from Engine 722's crew to get it to the scene.  This left the Engine Company with only two people thus they were one person short.

At around 4:30 pm - during a severe thunderstorm event - a call came in for a house struck by lightning in the 24700 block of Kings Valley Road.  Fire Chief Goldstein, knowing the Engine was short one person, grabbed his gear and climbed onto Engine 722 in the seat (bucket) behind Captain Brett Livingston to serve as the lineman (firefighter) on the unit.  

Engine 722 arrived on the scene, with several other fire and rescue units, and Captain Livingston and his "crew" eventually went to work.  As you can see below, they all worked up quite a sweat!

Captain Brett Livingston and the crew of E722 taking
a break (Fire Chief Goldstein in middle).

Awaiting their assignment. Chief Goldstein on left.

Taking a break at the rehab section.

Congratulations!

All of us here at MCFRS wish to congratulate former Fire Chief Steve Lohr on his recent appointment as Fire Chief of the City of Hagerstown, Maryland Fire Department!

Scott E. Goldstein Appointed Fire Chief

This afternoon, County Executive Ike Leggett announced the selection of Scott Goldstein as the next Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Chief.

Commented Mr. Leggett, "As a 25-year veteran of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Scott Goldstein has a thorough knowledge of our system and the many operations that keep it functioning at its high-level of service. His service as acting chief, since the retirement of Chief Lohr in January, has been exceptional. His experience at all levels of fire and rescue service at the local level and with major incidents across the country gives him a broad perspective on issues that could arise locally.” 

Fire Chief Goldstein's Bio via County Office of Public Information:

During his 25-year career with the Montgomery County Fire-Rescue Service (MCFRS), Goldstein has worked his way up the ranks, achieving increasingly higher positions of responsibility and gaining a broad base of experience. 

Before being named acting chief upon the retirement of Chief Steve Lohr on January 1, Goldstein was Division Chief of Operations , the second-highest position in the department. Under his leadership were multiple functions, such as Special Operations, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Communications (9-1-1) and Field Operations. The division had more than 900 personnel that provided services from 37 stations to more than one million County residents situated over 500 square miles. 

His previous position was Assistant Chief of Special Operations that involved daily management of fire-rescue personnel in the section serving in Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Water Rescue and WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Response. 

Goldstein has experience in developing and coordinating MCFRS preventive and reactive response to mass gathering events such as pro golf tournaments, multi-day walks, the County Agricultural Fair and music festivals/concerts. 

He has participated in a number of disaster response operations, including the Oklahoma City bombing, the attack on the Pentagon on 9/11, hurricanes, and the 1996 bombing at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. 

Goldstein has an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Montgomery Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a candidate for a Masters of Science in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

Division Chief Scott Goldstein To Serve As Acting Fire Chief

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett selected Division Chief Scott Goldstein to serve as the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Acting Fire Chief, effective January 1, 2015. Most recently Chief Goldstein was assigned as the Operations Division Chief responsible for all field delivery of fire, medical and emergency response services to a community of just over one (1) million citizens spread out over 500 square miles.

The Operations Division is the largest Division within MCFRS and provides nearly 300 daily staffing positions spread over Montgomery County's 37 fire and rescue stations. Daily staffing includes over 50 pieces of large fire and rescue apparatus, 40 EMS transport units, and several dozen specialized and support units. The Department responds to more than 110,000 emergency calls for service annually with a departmental budget of about $218 million dollars.

Prior to his assignment as the Division Chief for Operations, Chief Goldstein served as the Special Operations Section Chief, from April 2009 to May 2013. The Special Operations Section includes; hazardous materials, technical rescue, water rescue, and bomb squad response, interoperability radio cache, Emergency Operations Center liaison and staffing, as well as fire and rescue involvement in all mass gatherings/special events. In Chief Goldstein’s over 23 years with MCFRS he has also been assigned as the Operations Chief Executive Officer, Field Operations Battalion Chief, Deputy Safety Officer, shift supervisor and fire fighter.

Chief Goldstein is actively involved in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Fire/Police Chiefs subcommittees and was the co-chair of the Law Enforcement and EMS working group that developed a model policy on intergrated operations of law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel during law enforcement incidents.

Since 1990, Chief Goldstein has been a member of the Maryland Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. He has been an Assistant Task Force Leader, Logistics Manager, and Logistics Specialist. Chief Goldstein was instrumental in equipment research and purchasing and the development of its task force cache. He responded as a member of the FEMA Incident Support Team to the Oklahoma City bombing and Hurricane Opal and deployed as a member of MD‑TF1 to the Northridge Earthquake, Hurricanes Charley, Fran, Floyd, Marilyn, and George and to the Pentagon terrorist incident on September 11, 2001.

Chief Goldstein holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland University College and is presently enrolled in the Naval Post Graduate School working towards a Master Degree in Homeland Security with a planned graduation in December 2015.

He, his wife and children reside in Montgomery County.

Fire Chief’s 2014 Veterans Day Message To MCFRS

As I have communicated previously, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th of each year and honors those individuals who have served in our armed services. Specifically, Americans honor the anniversary of the end of World War I; which officially ended major hostilities at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, when the armistice with Germany went into effect. For nearly 100 years, our nation has taken time to reflect upon the humbling sacrifices made by our veterans.

Today, there are more than 21 million veterans, 1.3 million active duty service members and more than 830,000 reservists, who have served or are serving their country. These men and women chose to suspend their personal freedoms in order to secure the joint freedoms of the American people and to guarantee the future of the American dream. Not unlike our own profession, the burden of their sacrifice is not borne by our veterans alone, but by their spouses, families and loved ones. To our veterans, our service members and all those who support them, a special thank you is extended.

While Veterans Day represents the sacrifices our armed service members and their families have made to protect our freedoms, many members of our own fire and rescue service have made, and continue to make, a dual sacrifice in serving both our communities and our country. Our MCFRS veterans have earned a unique position on the altar of freedom that our founding fathers so cherished. A glance at any headline or newscast reminds us all of the fragile nature of these freedoms.

During my tenure as your Chief, I continue to enjoy the regular praises of a grateful community and many of our political representatives. This appreciation is a direct result of the positive impacts each of you make on our citizens’ lives. These moments remind me how proud I am to be a member of the Montgomery County and Fire Rescue Service. As sworn public servants, we each enjoy a portion of the honor and respect bestowed upon all uniformed services by those who have served before us. Veterans Day is one of the designated opportunities each year to remember the true costs associated with that honor and respect.

For those who will serve in our stations this Veterans Day, I am confident you will assure the continued readiness of our resources to meet the calls that will surely come. I encourage both our chief officers and station officers to monitor and support this readiness while affording our on-duty personnel an opportunity to reflect upon the many sacrifices that our veterans have made to guarantee our freedoms. I encourage all personnel to personally thank and do something special this Veterans Day to honor a past or present armed services veteran.

As a service, we can offer no higher respect than to proudly fly the United States flag honorably at all our worksites. In that spirit, I would like to offer a suggestion to all of our worksite managers and station commanders that I practiced when I served as a station commander. That is, to change flags two times per year; Veterans Day and Memorial Day which coincidentally are about six-months apart. This regular practice will bestow the respect and honor to both our service veterans and the general public we so proudly serve.

Continue your excellent work and thank you for your commitment.

Yours in service,

Steven E. Lohr

Fire Chief

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service

Chief With 46+ Years of Service Ends His Career Today

Assistant Chief Mike Clemens, with 46+ years of service, ends his career TODAY. He is the most senior MCFRS employee.

Chief Clemens has been in charge of our Training Academy for over the last fifteen of those years.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement Chief!  You will be missed!

What Time Is It?

Time to change your clock and check your smoke alarm this weekend!

Simple task can be a potentially life-saving one 

Daylight savings time ends November 3rd and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) is urging all residents to check the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they change their clocks this weekend to ensure they are working. “Home fires injure and kill thousands every year,” said Fire Chief Steven Lohr. “Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. I encourage everyone to test their smoke alarms, replace any alarms that are 10 years or older and conduct a home fire drill this weekend.”

The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping. A working smoke alarm dramatically increases the chance for survival and provides advance warning of a fire resulting in more time to react and put a home escape plan into action. 

Help keep your family safe by following these fire safety tips:

1.      Install smoke alarms on all levels of your home, including the basement.

2.      Test smoke alarms each month to ensure they are working. Replace batteries annually, as needed.

3.      Plan and practice home fire drills regularly. Decide in advance who will help family members that may need assistance escaping (young children, older adults or people with disabilities).

4.      Retire old smoke alarms and replace with new ones every 10 years, as recommended by the manufacturer. Haven’t replaced your alarms since 2003? It’s time!  Smoke alarms do not last forever and units that are 10 years old are near the end of their service life and need to be replaced.

5.      Make sure children recognize the sound of your smoke alarm and how to respond to its signal.

6.      Maryland is one of the most recent states to require homeowners replace battery-only operated smoke alarms with units powered by sealed, long-life batteries by January 1, 2018. Smoke alarm technology has advanced over the years and the recent legislative update to Maryland’s Smoke Alarm Law is part of a nationwide trend to ensure future smoke alarm replacements possess this new technology. Visit our website for more information.

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will provide and install smoke alarm batteries at no cost to residents and will provide and install smoke alarms for residents that cannot afford them. Please call 311 for information and be sure to bookmark our website for year-round safety information at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe and sign up to follow us on twitter. 

Fire Chief Steven Lohr provides an important reminder below:

First Annual Fire Chief's Ride In Honor of Former Fire Chief Tom Carr

A great cause to honor a great man:

FireChiefsRide2013-Flyer1

Why Does The FD Tear Apart So Much "Stuff" at a Building Fire?

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

One of the biggest concerns of an Incident Commander at the scene of a building fire is the spread of fire throughout the building via void (or concealed) spaces. While infrared camera technology certainly helps firefighters detect such fire spread, the definitive action is to "open up the area." 

Fires in kitchens and bathrooms are particularly notorious for fire spread because of the numerous void spaces such as pipe chases and exhaust fans. This is why firefighters need to poke holes in walls or pull cabinets off of walls or remove entire ceilings.

The easy way to prevent this type of damage? Residential sprinklers!

The attached photo shows the pipe chase for a bathroom. The photo is taken from below the bathroom - so you can see that a fire on the floor below can easily spread to the upper floor. Many thanks to Captain Barber (15-A) for sharing the photo. 

Department Mourns the Passing of Former Fire Chief

Montgomery County, MD - - - Former Fire Chief Thomas Carr, praised for his tireless service and outstanding leadership, passed away on April 24^th in Charleston, South Carolina following complications from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare neurological disorder that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

Carr was named the Chief of the Charleston Fire Department in November 2008 after retiring as Fire Chief of the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service. He was instrumental in helping the Charleston Fire Department recover from the loss of nine firefighters following the Sofa Super Store fire in 2007 and set into motion critical transformations to mold the Charleston Fire Department into a modern service. In April of 2010, Chief Carr announced to the public his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease and pledged his continued commitment to lead the Charleston Fire Department for as long as he could. In March 2012, he retired toMSA.

focus on his battle with the more deadly

Chief Carr was named FIRE CHIEF’s 2010 Career Chief of the Year for his outstanding leadership and desire to improve the fire service. He was referred to as the “firefighter’s firefighter” and someone who earned his following through innovation and respect.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chief Tom Carr. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and will probably be best remembered as a world class leader responsible for helping generations of firefighters and as the architect of the Nation’s Urban Search & Rescue Response System and the County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team”, said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “He compiled an unparalleled record of public service and achievements and his loss is deeply felt.”  

“The fire service has lost a great leader and we’ve lost a great friend,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “Chief Carr was respected nationally and internationally. Under his leadership, the department added 4-person staffing, collective bargaining for volunteers and raised education and training standards. He led the department’s successful efforts to become a nationally accredited fire department and was a man of great vision, passion and integrity who led from the heart. His  impact will be felt for many years to come.”

Carr began his career in 1973 as an 18-year-old volunteer paramedic with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County (MD). He was hired as a career firefighter/paramedic in Montgomery County (MD) in 1977 and progressed through the ranks. He became the first operational fire chief of the Montgomery County Fire Rescue service in 2004. He was a long-standing advocate of the fire service, especially firefighter safety, and leaves a strong legacy of innovation and professionalism that will be felt for years to come.

Chief Carr is survived by his wife Anne, son West, daughter Amy, his parents, a brother and sister.

Services in Charleston, are being planned.

                                                                    #  #  # 

Chief Promotion Announcement

I am proud to announce the promotion of Diane Zuspan to the rank of Fire and Rescue Division Chief effective July 15, 2012. Division Chief Diane Zuspan will replace D/C Randy Wheeler who retired on June 30, 2012. She will be assigned to lead the Division of Administrative and Technical Support Services as the Division Chief.

Assistant Chief Zuspan entered the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service in 1988 as a firefighter paramedic. She has promoted up through each of the ranks in the department to now Division Chief.

Her tireless work as the Assistant Chief of EMS has proven invaluable and her contributions have been tremendous.

Please join me in congratulating Diane and working with her to ensure her success for the future!

Respectfully,

Fire Chief Richie Bowers

Space Heaters and Fire

Chief Bowers recently appeared on County Report This Week to highlight fire dangers associated with space heaters.

County Executive Isiah Leggett and Fire Chief Richard Bowers Recognize "Everyday Heroes" for Risking Their Lives to Save Others

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, County Council President Nancy Floreen and Fire Chief Richard Bowers yesterday paid tribute to a group of “everyday heroes” – ordinary people who took extraordinary actions to save lives and help others. In a ceremony in Rockville, six individuals were recognized for their role in four different incidents.

“I am always proud to have the opportunity to recognize our community heroes, and this is no exception,” said Leggett. “The individuals that we are honoring today have all demonstrated courage and quick thinking, and a willingness to risk their own lives to help others. These individuals have made our community a safer place in which to live, and for that we are grateful.”

County Council President Nancy Floreen said, “I’m sure that none of people recognized today woke up in the morning saying ‘I’m going to be a hero,’ but when they were confronted with a life or death situation, they jumped in to do what they could and indeed became heroes. We are truly grateful to them for that. Today’s honorees serve as inspiration to us all. ”

Councilmember Phil Andrews, chair of the Public Safety Committee said, “These heroes inspire us by their actions and remind us that helping people in peril is a responsibility of us all."

Leggett, Floreen and Bowers recognized the following individuals for their heroic actions in the following incidents:

(1) Security guard Nicholas Ayers is hailed as a hero for banging on doors and alerting and evacuating 49 residents to safety during a four-alarm fire at the Manor Apartments on Georgia Avenue in Aspen Hill on the evening of December 29, 2009. More than a dozen families were displaced as a result of the fire, and Nicholas Ayers is credited with helping to save their lives.

(2) Pool operator Tiffany Miles was restocking chemicals at a Burtonsville swimming pool early on Sunday, June 13, 2010 when she noticed a child at the bottom of the pool, which was closed at the time. She immediately pulled the three-year-old child out of the pool, asked a colleague to call 911 and began to administer CPR. The child was transported to Holy Cross Hospital and survived the incident due to Miles’ quick actions.

(3) Dean Haught and Kyle Murphy started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a construction worker who was suffering a heart attack at the MedImmune construction site in Gaithersburg on August 27, 2010. Using his paramedic training, Steve Cumpston used an on-site Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and he along with Dean Haught and Kyle Murphy are credited with saving the heart attack victim’s life. The victim has recently returned to work.

(4) FedEx driver Earl Spence was making a delivery in Laytonsville on July 7, 2010 when he noticed a van parked in an embankment and idling on the hot summer day. Deciding to investigate, he discovered three senior citizens inside the locked vehicle. Two were unconscious and unresponsive, and the driver was incoherent and losing consciousness. Mr. Spence immediately called 911 and calmly maintained dialog with the increasingly disoriented driver in an attempt to keep the driver awake. Mr. Spence is credited with saving the lives of the three seniors who have since recovered, but likely would have succumbed to the gasoline fumes that were leaking from a gas can inside their vehicle.