Captain Earns Gold Medals At The United States Police And Fire Championships

Captain Penny Ingles 

The United States Police and Fire Championships are held every year in California. This event brings together Fire/Rescue and Law Enforcement agencies from around the United States. 2016 marks the 50th Anniversary of these games.

There are 41 sporting disciplines’ offered from archery to wrestling, track and field to golf. There are a few non-traditional events like surfing and fitness throw down.

Our own Captain Penny Ingles is in San Diego competing in this prestigious event and has already earned some hardware! Penny’s results thus far:

GOLD MEDAL - Javelin Throw

GOLD MEDAL and NEW MEET RECORD - Women's Triple Jump

Silver Medal - Shot Put

Silver Medal - Hammer Throw

Congratulations Penny! This is especially amazing as, until just a few weeks ago, Penny was on crutches not knowing if she was going to be well enough to even compete.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Will Be Accepting Applications for Firefighter/Rescuer I (Recruit)

Opening Date: May 9, 2016

Closing Date: May 23, 2016

On May 9, 2016, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) will begin accepting applications for the position of Firefighter/Rescuer I (Recruit).  Applications will be accepted until May 23, 2016 at midnight.  MCFRS Firefighter/Rescuers receive outstanding benefits, including a 20-year retirement with no age limit, group health and life insurance, paid holidays, paid vacation and paid sick leave. This recruitment will be used to establish eligibility for a Recruit Class that will begin in December, 2016.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

The Firefighter/Rescuer I position is an entry level position. Applicants must:

1. Be 17 ½ years of age to apply and 18 years of age at time of appointment
2. Possess a high school diploma or GED within two months from time of application
3. Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien
4. Possess a valid motor vehicle driver’s license (non-provisional at the time of appointment)

Based upon service needs, hiring preferences may be given to those applicants who possess one or more of the following at the time of application (subject to verification):

• Veterans and veterans with disabilities
• Paramedic (National Registry Paramedic)
• Residency in Montgomery County
• Multi-lingual skills (Spanish, Amharic, Chinese; French, Korean, Vietnamese, American-Sign             Language)
• Two years employment in a customer service related field
• Bachelor’s degree
• Thirty or more college credits (from an accredited college or university)

The hiring process includes a written exam, oral interview, background screening, medical exam, and the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT).  Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be invited to take the written examination, which is tentatively scheduled for June 16, 17 and 18, 2016.

For important information regarding the hiring process, critical dates and information, prospective applicants can visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/MCFRS-recruiting/application.html

We strongly encourage all applicants to create an AccessMCG Extranet Account prior to the application period.  Please use the following link http://bit.ly/1qGE3HQ

Montgomery County is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. It is the policy of Montgomery County to conduct all employment activities in a manner that will ensure equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, genetic status, or political affiliation. 

Firehouse Cleaning

By: Lieutenant Rob Furst

Once a week every week we focus on one area of the firehouse and give it a deep clean. Tuesday's at Fire Station 12, it is the "weekly" on the kitchen. 

Personnel at the firehouse spent some of the afternoon ensuring that their kitchen is clean and sanitary. We spend a full third of our lives at the firehouse, so we take pride in what we have. 

New Promotions

MCFRS is pleased to report the following personnel have been promoted to the rank of Master Firefighter:

• James M. Riddle 
• Jaymie R. Birney
• Sean T. Murphy

Congratulations and be safe in your new assignment!  Bill D

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.

Radio Communication Drill

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Units in the lower part of the 1st Battalion got in a little radio communications drill yesterday (3/2/15) afternoon at the Forest Glen Metro Station. Fire Stations 1, 2, and 19 along with Truck 716, Battalion Chief (BC) 702, and BC701 ran three exercises at the underground Metro station simulating a failure of the normal radio communications system - thus having to resort to a "radio-relay" system using portable radios. The Forest Glen Station is located in Fire Station 19's (Montgomery Hills) response district and is one of the deepest stations in the United States.

Today's radio relay drill sent companies on a "scavenger hunt" for information in the station that had to be relayed via radio back to the command post located in the Metro Station's parking lot. While some might find this training not as exciting as stretching hose lines or cutting up cars - it is very important training because the radio relay could be the last line of communications in a major incident in the Metro system.

Many thanks to Captain Blinkhorn (Fire Station 1-A Shift) for coordinating the event. Many thanks also to WMATA for providing an emergency management representative on site to help out as well.

Rookie Dinner

By: Battalion Chief David Polikoff 

Eating well at FS12-A

It has been a long standing tradition that when a rookie comes off probation, he/she will cook dinner for their shift. The rookie is to cook the dinner with their own hands and the meal will be free of charge for the shift. The rules the recruits are told in the academy, is that the meal will be good, creative and expensive.

This past Wednesday Firefighter Clinton Pfarr, Fire Station 12-A Shift, lived up to the tradition. On the menu was:

Prime rib
Crab cakes
Mashed potatoes
Fresh green beans

For desert Apple pie and Ice cream

Bravo Firefighter Pfarr and congratulations on coming off probation.