FALL BACK. CHECK YOUR ALARMS. SAVE A LIFE.

 

Fire Chief Smedley’s Top 8 Smoke Alarm Safety Tips for the Weekend

An extra hour of sleep? Yes, please! An extra few minutes to make your home safer? Even better.

Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 1st. While most of our clocks will change automatically, there’s one important safety check that still needs you: your smoke alarms.

Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley is asking residents to take a few minutes this weekend to check the devices that could make all the difference in a fire emergency.

Working smoke alarms provide early warning so you and your family can escape safely. But smoke alarms don’t last forever — even if they still beep when tested.

Before you settle in for that extra hour of sleep, take a look at the Chief’s eight tips.

1. Smoke Alarms Save Lives. Period.

A working smoke alarm is one of the simplest, most affordable ways to protect your family. Fires can spread quickly, and early warning gives you more time to escape. Every second counts.

2. Location, Location, Location.

Where you install smoke alarms matters. Make sure you have alarms:

• Inside every bedroom.
• Outside each sleeping area.
• On every level of your home, including the basement.

More protection. More warning. More time to escape.

3. One Sounds. They All Sound.

For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one detects smoke, every connected alarm sounds throughout your home. A fire starting in the basement? Interconnected alarms can help alert someone sleeping upstairs, too.

4. Check the Date. Replace at 10.

Smoke alarms have an expiration date. Their sensors and electronic components age, making them less reliable over time. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years, or sooner if recommended by the manufacturer or if they fail to operate properly.

Not sure how old yours are? Look for the manufacture date on the back of the alarm.

Remember: pressing the test button does not tell you whether an aging smoke sensor will reliably detect a fire. The sensor wears out over time. 

5. Paint the Walls. Not the Alarms.

Giving a room a fresh coat of paint? Keep that paint away from your smoke alarms. Paint can block openings and interfere with the alarm’s ability to detect smoke. A painted alarm may not work when you need it most.

6. Make Testing a Monthly Habit.

Press the test button on every smoke alarm at least once a month. It takes just seconds. Set a phone reminder, mark your calendar, or choose the first Saturday of every month.

A small check. A lifesaving impact.

7. Dust Happens. Keep Alarms Clean.

Dust and debris can interfere with smoke alarm performance and contribute to nuisance alarms. When you test your alarms, check whether they need cleaning. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to gently clean the exterior.

8. Hear a Chirp? Don’t Ignore It.

A chirping alarm needs attention. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out what the sound means and what action to take. For a hardwired alarm with a replaceable backup battery, it may be time for a new battery. For an alarm with a sealed, 10-year battery, the entire alarm may need replacement.

Never disconnect or disable an alarm to silence the chirping.

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Working Alarms Warn You. A Practiced Plan Helps You Get Out.

When a smoke alarm sounds, everyone needs to know what to do. Make a home fire escape plan and practice it together.

Identify two ways out of every room, where possible, and choose an outdoor meeting place a safe distance from your home.

Build your plan around the abilities and needs of everyone in your household. Consider mobility, hearing, vision, and other needs. Decide in advance who will help young children or anyone who needs assistance — and make sure that help is available.

Include pets in your planning, too, but never delay your escape or go back inside to find them. Tell firefighters if a pet is still inside.

Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year so everyone knows what to do and where to go.

If there’s a fire: get out, stay out, and call 911 from outside.

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Your Weekend Safety Checklist

A few minutes this weekend can make a lifesaving difference:

✅ Push it! Test every smoke alarm.

✅ Date it! Check manufacture dates. Replace alarms that are 10 years old.

✅ Spot it! Make sure alarms are inside every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level.

✅ Hear it? Handle it! Address chirping alarms. Never disable them.

✅ Plan it. Practice it! Hold a home fire drill. Build your plan around everyone’s abilities and needs, and include your pets.

Need a Hand? We’re Here to Help!

Have questions about your smoke alarms or need assistance? Call 311 to connect with our Community Risk Reduction Team!

Clocks back. Alarms checked. Family prepared.

      

Fire Prevention Month: Bringing Fire Safety into the Community

Fire prevention doesn't begin when firefighters arrive at an emergency. It begins long before the first 911 call, in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and everyday decisions.

Throughout October, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) is recognizing Fire Prevention Month by bringing practical, lifesaving information directly to the communities we serve.

This year's National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” highlights the importance of lithium-ion battery safety. From smartphones and laptops to e-bikes and scooters, rechargeable devices are part of everyday life. However, damaged batteries and unsafe charging practices can create serious fire hazards.

When lithium-ion batteries fail, fires can spread rapidly, producing intense heat, toxic smoke, and life-threatening conditions in seconds.

“Prevention is a core public safety mission,” said Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley. “Every conversation that helps someone recognize a hazard or make a safer choice is an opportunity to protect a family and the firefighters who may one day respond to their home.”

Prevention Beyond the Emergency Response

Fire Prevention Month is about more than a single campaign. Throughout October, MCFRS firefighters and Community Risk Reduction (CRR) personnel are connecting with residents through school visits, senior outreach, community events, and home safety education.

Our firefighters also play an important role beyond emergency response by recognizing hazards, reinforcing prevention messages, and connecting residents with valuable safety resources.

“Every school visit, home safety check, and community conversation gives us a chance to make prevention personal,” said Beth Anne Nesselt, Manager, Community Risk Reduction. “Those connections are how education becomes action.”

Bring Fire Safety Home

One of the easiest ways to participate in Fire Prevention Month is to take a few minutes to check your own home. Test your smoke alarms, review your family's escape plan, and practice safe charging habits.

MCFRS also offers FREE Home Safety Checks to help Montgomery County residents identify potential hazards, check smoke alarms, and learn practical ways to make their homes safer.

Request a FREE Home Safety Check through MC311 by calling 311 or visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/311.

Fire Prevention Month may end in October, but prevention is a year-round commitment shared by firefighters, community partners, and the residents we serve.

Because the best emergency is the one that never happens.

Trunk or Treat Is Back and This Year We’re Giving Back!

Last year, we tried something new at Public Safety Headquarters, and Montgomery County showed up in a BIG way!

More than 1,000 community members joined us for our first annual Public Safety Trunk or Treat, filling the parking lot with costumes, decorated vehicles, candy, safety activities, and plenty of Halloween fun.

But the real success wasn’t just the turnout. It was seeing families and public safety partners from across Montgomery County come together—to connect, share safety information, and enjoy an evening of community fun.

The response was incredible, and we’re bringing it back—with an opportunity to give back!

This Year, the Sweetest Part Isn’t the Candy

MCFRS is partnering with Manna Food Center to add a community food drive to this year’s Trunk or Treat. Help us “Stuff a Firetruck” with nonperishable food donations to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout Montgomery County.

Admission is FREE, and donations are welcome but never required. Everyone is invited to join the fun!

One night. One community. Coming together to help our neighbors.

🚒 Mark Your Calendars & Stop by on October 30!

Join MCFRS and our public safety and community partners for another evening of costumes, candy, decorated vehicles, public safety displays, family fun, and maybe a few surprises along the way.

📅 Friday, October 30, 2026

🕓 4–8 p.m.

📍 Public Safety Headquarters, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg

🎃 FREE family event

🥫 Bring a nonperishable food donation, if you’re able

Bring your costume.

Bring your family.

Bring your community spirit.

And come help us prove that when Montgomery County shows up, we can fill more than candy bags. We can help fill pantries, too.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Spring forward time!

For Spanish click here

 

Don’t forget: TEST smoke and carbon monoxide alarms this weekend!

It's that time of year again when we "Spring Forward" and change clocks (unless your clocks do it automatically!) and check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Here are our "Top Eight" Tips to remember when it comes to smoke alarms and fire safety this weekend:

1. It is indisputable that smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms are the best and least expensive way to provide an early warning system to alert you and your family to a potential fire emergency. Smoke alarms are designed to detect a fire in its early stages and alert people, so they have time to safely escape.

2. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

3. For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected. What does that mean? When one sounds they all sound alerting you to an emergency early on and giving you critical time to escape. New construction requirements have included hard- wired smoke alarms with battery back-ups since the mid-70's. 

4. Nothing lasts forever - including smoke alarms. Smoke alarms become less reliable with time, primarily due to aging of their electronic components making them more susceptible to nuisance false alarms. Replace entire smoke alarm units every 10 years or sooner if they don't respond properly when tested. Why? The sensor wears out and may not activate in an emergency putting your family at risk. Always read the manufacturer’s recommendations as some models recommend replacement every 5-7 years.

5. DIY projects? Never (ever) paint over a smoke alarm. It will affect the operation of the smoke alarm, potentially disabling it.

6. Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarms once a month by pressing the test button.

7. Lightly clean your smoke alarms monthly when you test them. Smoke alarms get clogged with dust build-up which may affect performance. Vacuum lightly and follow manufacturer recommendations. 

8. If your smoke alarm “chirps” it may be time to change the back-up battery in your hard-wired alarm. Since 2018, Maryland law has required all battery-only smoke alarms (typically found in homes built before 1975 that have never pulled a building permit) to have a sealed,10-year long-life battery in the unit. Any "chirping" in these units is likely signaling that you need to replace the entire smoke alarm with a new one. 

Today's home safety and security technology has evolved beyond smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Many families rely on household devices connected to the internet or smartphones to enhance safety and security. New technology can even notify you when the alarm is activated or if the battery is low. Take time this weekend to ensure your family has a fire safety plan and you have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms with the newest technology. And practice your plan with a Home Fire Drill to ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency. 

Montgomery County Cold Weather Advisory

A Message from Our Partners at the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security:

Montgomery County is under a cold weather emergency until Tuesday, February 3 at 12 PM. During this period, wind chill values are expected to reach 20°F or below. These dangerously cold temperatures can cause frostbite on exposed skin within 30 minutes and increase the risk of hypothermia.

If possible, stay indoors. If you must be outside, take extra precautions:

• Wear extra layers of clothing
• Take frequent breaks in warm locations
• Limit prolonged exposure to the cold

For more information about County services, contact MC311:

• By phone: 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 (weekdays, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.)
• Online: www.MC311.com (available 24/7)

Cold weather puts extra strain on the energy grid and water systems due to extra energy use

There are a few simple steps that we can take to lower the strain on energy systems:

· Set thermostats a few degrees lower, if safe to do so.

· Postpone high hot water usage activities (laundry, dishwashing).

· Turn off and unplug (if possible) lights and appliances when not in use.

· Open curtains and blinds during daylight hours to take advantage of natural heat.

· Use the microwave when heating up small meals (helps save 80% of your energy usage compared to using your oven).

· Report all downed wires you see to 877-778-2222. Stay clear and do not touch or approach downed wires.

· Gas odors: If gas is smelled, leave the area immediately and call 911 or 877-778-7798.

· Report any main water breaks to WSSC water: 301-206-4002

As always, be prepared!

Stay informed by signing up for Alert Montgomery: Click Here

Follow us on social media:

o Facebook: Montgomery County, MD Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

o X: @ReadyMontgomery

o Instagram: moco_oemhs

Write or edit your household emergency plan:

o You can use our Emergency Preparedness Workbook as a template: Click Here

o Feel free to review our resources through the OEMHS Resource Library: Click Here

Build Your Emergency Go-Kit: One Size Does Not Fit All

When it comes to emergency preparedness, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all kit. Every family is unique, and so should be your go-kit. Think of it as a personalized survival toolkit—designed around your household, your needs, and the types of emergencies you’re most likely to face.

While no two kits will look exactly the same, here are some items to consider including as you put yours together:

• Clothes and sturdy shoes that are appropriate for the weather
• Cash in small bills
• Hygiene Items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, etc.)
• Eyeglasses
• Contacts and contact solution
• Communication devices/equipment
• Favorite personal or comfort items
• Cell Phone and chargers (including a portable charger if you have)
• Contact Information for your household members and members of your support network
• Medications, at least a 3-day supply (as well as a list of what you take, why you take them, and their dosage)
• Supplies for service animals or pets (food, water, medicine, leash, collar, harness, veterinary info)
• Important documents in a waterproof bag or container (Insurance cards, Medicaid/Medicare cards, photo IDs, proof of address, marriage certificate, birth certificates, copies of credit or debit