Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming Fire Department Open Houses

Rockville, Maryland - - -  The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be hosting ‘Open House’ events at fire stations around the County during Fire Prevention Month. The National Fire Protection Association has designated this year’s theme “Protect Your Family from Fire” and firefighters and safety advocates will focus efforts on the importance of developing a home escape plan, practicing a home fire drill and checking smoke alarms to ensure they are working.

All Open House events are free and will feature many exciting activities including tours of the station, fire safety activities, information/handouts, demonstrations of emergency equipment and
much more. . . please visit the fire station’s website or call for a comprehensive listing of activities planned.

October 8        Chevy Chase Fire Department, Station 7                              10:00  – 3:00 pm
                        8001 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD  

                        301-652-0707

October 9        Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department, Station 24              12:00 – 3:00 pm

                        13216 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD

                        240-773-4724

October 22      Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department, Station 15           12:00 – 4:00 pm
                        13900 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD

                        240-773-8957

October 29      Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, Station 10   10:00 – 5:00 p.m.
8001 River Road, Bethesda, MD
301-379-9387

November 12  Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department, Station 11                        TBA               

                        5920 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD 

                        301-229-3200

Safety, Health and Survival Week

Today Monday June 20, 2011, through Saturday June 25, 2011, is the annual Firefighter/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week. MCFRS will observe this week in several ways to help ensure our fire fighters safety and well being.

One of the ways MCFRS will be doing this is by honoring those in the past who paid the ultimate sacrifice while in the performance of their duties. On the hour this week, our Emergency Communications Center (9-1-1 Call Center) will make an announcement on our main radio channel remembering a Fire Fighter who lost their life in the line of duty serving the residents of Montgomery County. The announcement will include name, the date and how that Fire Fighter perished and a related safety message.

A good week to honor, remember, and learn.

Chief James Seavey Sr. Named Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief James Seavey Sr. of the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department was recently named the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief Seavey was cited for having "led his department heroically in times of crisis, including administering the department’s staff and operations while his apparatus responded to the Pentagon following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks." In addition, he has cultivated a relationship with the Halsenbek Volunteer Fire Department just outside of Hamburg, Germany, that has created an opportunity for cultural, educational, and technological exchanges between U.S. and German fire services.

At the age of 16, Chief Seavey started his career in the fire service as a volunteer at his neighborhood fire station, the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County. While attending High School at Walt Whitman, he completed almost every class the Public Service Training Academy (PSTA) had to offer. When he became a student at Montgomery College he applied for a job as a part time fire fighter. In April 1979 he was hired by the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department (CJPVFD) to work at station 30 on Falls Road at a rate of $2.10 per hour.

Eventually he was hired as a full time fire fighter in the District of Columbia where today he is a Lieutenant at Engine 17. On December 10th 1991, he was elected as Chief of the CJPVFD. After 33 years of service, Chief Seavey continues to serve his community proudly as a volunteer in this position. Now, it has become a family affair as Chief Seavey is proud to serve with his son who is a volunteer fire fighter at CJPVFD. Through the years he has served in many positions both county and state wide.

You can volunteer as a fire fighter, emergency medical technician, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), or a department support member. No experience is necessary and all training is free. We are looking for volunteers for just a few hours up to one shift a week or more. If you or anyone you know is interested in following in Chief Seavey’s foot steps and helping out your community, please take the next step and learn more by calling 240-777-2238 or email fire.recruiting@Montgomerycountymd.gov