Space Heaters and Fire

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

Smoke Alarm Donation: Story, Video, Photos, and Quotes From Today’s Press Conference

Today I had the distinct pleasure of attending a Press Conference, at our brand new Fire Station #34, at which Fire Chief Richard Bowers accepted a donation of two-thousand  smoke alarms from one of our partners in safety – PEPCO.  Also donated were special needs smoke alarms for those residents who are deaf or hard of hearing.  

I have posted a video below of the Chief and the Fire Fighters of Fire Station #34 accepting this generous donation from PEPCO representatives Ms. Kim Watson and Mr. Pete Pedersen.  Below the video you will also find quotes.

These alarms will be critical in our on going “Safety in Our Neighborhood” door-to-door safety and injury prevention campaign. Every Saturday MCFRS Fire Fighters canvas neighborhoods handing out safety information as well as offering to check smoke alarms to ensure they are working. If we find the alarms are not working, we will then install a fresh battery or new alarm before leaving as working smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire.

THANK YOU PEPCO!



Link to Video if above does not work: http://twitvid.com/MTVNT

Quotes

From Chief Richard Bowers:

“Pepco’s Emergency Services Partnership Program has donated smoke alarms to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service for several years as part of their long-standing commitment to public safety.” “Based on today’s challenging budgets, this donation comes at a critical time and will fill an important need.”

“We are proud to partner with PEPCO and their generous donation will continue to have significant impact in keeping residents safe and saving lives.”

From Kim Watson, PEPCO VP of Governmental Affairs:
“All of us at Pepco are very proud of the excellent working relationship we have with our first responders throughout the service territory. These smoke alarms are just another way for Pepco to support the life saving work that the dedicated men and women of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service perform everyday.”

Photos From The New Central Maintenance Facility

I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Central Maintenance Facility on Monday. This state-of-the-art facility was truly impressive and will help to keep the MCFRS fleet on the street!  Please take a moment and view some photos from the Central Maintenance Facility.


Stay Safe,
Bill

County Executive Isiah Leggett Names Interim Chief Bowers To Fire Chief Role

County Executive Isiah Leggett today concluded a nationwide search for a new fire chief by naming Acting Chief Richard R. Bowers, Jr. as Chief of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS). Bowers is a 32-year veteran of the department, and he has filled every rank and leadership role in MCFRS, including the role of Acting Chief since October 31, 2008, when the County’s first and only Fire Chief Thomas W. Carr, Jr. retired.

“Although we conducted an extensive nationwide search for fire chief, it is gratifying to know that our own interim chief beat all other competitors for the job,” said Leggett. “Our residents should take comfort in knowing that Montgomery County’s first class Fire and Rescue Service can only get better under the tutelage of such an experienced and highly-regarded leader in the fire and rescue field.” READ MORE

Prevent Home Fires!

Please take a moment to watch Chief Bowers, on FOX5 last Friday morning, talk about ways to prevent home fires and what to do to prepare in case of fire.

Click here to watch: Chief Bowers, on FOX5