New Training Academy Nearing Completion

The new Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA) is nearing completion. As you can see in the photo album below, carpet is going down for administrative suites, painting is being done, bathrooms are getting finalized, ceiling tiles are going up and safety rails and staircase rails are installed.

Especially impressive when you take a peek back at our earlier updates with photos:

New Public Safety Training Academy Campus Progress

More Progress At The New Public Safety Training Academy Campus

Progress Continues At The New Public Safety Training Academy Campus

Move in is tentatively scheduled for sometime late August or early September. Fall Semester training will be conducted at the new PSTA along with our new recruit class that is expected to start in December.

Photos provided by Assistant Chief (ret) Mike Clemens.

Live Hazardous Materials Practical Training

Yesterday (5/4/16) we broadcast a live, via Periscope, Hazardous Materials practical training exercise from our Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA)​. The exercise involved crews practicing techniques to mitigate the release of anhydrous ammonia. Captain Carl Mauney provides commentary to explain what is occurring.

More Progress At The New Public Safety Training Academy Campus

Last month, we provided a little pictorial update of progress at the new Public Safety Training Academy. As you can imagine, since then, more progress has been made.

Below you will find a few photos with updates via our point person on the project Assistant Chief (ret) Mike Clemens.



Photo #1: steel shutters being installed in the single family burn building.
Photo #2: high-temp tile work being installed in the burn rooms of the single family burn building.
Photo #3: green roof being installed on the gym. Academic building will be next.
Photo #4: elevator installed in the parking garage.
Photo #5: painting of the high-bay walls and windows.

New Public Safety Training Academy Campus Progress

By: Michael Clemens
Assistant Chief (Ret) MCFRS

After months of hard work, the new Public Safety Training Academy is starting to look like a campus. Total completion is still several months away but we have come a long way since the ground breaking in February of 2015.

Below is a series of photos highlighting just how far we have come in the process.  

In the photo below, and to the left, siding has been put on the police shooting range building exterior. At the center, and a little green in color, is the Academic Building for both police (MCP) and fire (MCFRS). The MCFRS offices are on the second floor on the left while MCP will be on the first floor just below. A lobby area will be in the center and all classrooms are on the right of the building.

The multi-use Cityscape Structure Training area is going up in this photo. The school structure on the right is framed up. This will look great in the weeks to come.

Next up is the MCP’s Canine Training Building which is starting to take shape though the roof membrane is not installed yet. That should be happening soon. 

Below, the arch between the gym and parking garage coming from the front plaza area is up.  It will hold the rolling gate swipe card gate going to the back building and areas.

The High Bay and Fire Training Support Building is getting the interior painted. In addition, the balconies are getting installed along with lights, heating equipment and ventilation this week. The areas within the structure will be made to look like store fronts, a townhouse, and apartment building. There will also be storage and site support equipment on the other side of this building.

Siding completed on the High-Bay. Trim and doors next. 

In this photo we can see that the six story fire building (on the left) is half way up. This will be used for simulated fires and other emergencies in a high-rise building. Next to it is the single family burn structure that is almost complete.

Elevator installed in the lobby of the Academic building. It is becoming cleaner and less dusty inside. They are cleaning to make it ready for the fiber installations next month and painting. Second floor balcony location over the lobby below.

Look for another update soon! Right now, the estimate is the new training complex will be in sometime in late August for the beginning of fall classes.

Fire Lieutenant Graduates From Montgomery County Police Training Academy

Lt. Gettig (c) receiving certificate from
Chief Lohr (r) and MCP Chief Manger (l)

Fire Chief Lohr is extremely proud to announce the graduation of Lieutenant (Lt) Andrew Gettig, assigned to the Fire Investigation and Explosives section of the MCFRS, from the Montgomery County Police Training Academy, Session 60 yesterday.

Lt. Gettig was selected several months ago to fill a vacancy in the Fire Investigation and Explosives section.  One key requirement to fill this role is certification as a law enforcement officer in Montgomery County.  To obtain that certification Lt. Gettig was placed in the intensive, 27-week Police Training Academy program for all new law enforcement recruits that is designed to challenge the recruit physically, academically, and mentally.

If that was not enough, Lt. Gettig went a step further and distinguished himself as he was selected by Montgomery County Police Academy Instructors to receive the prominent Captain James E. Daly Award.  The award, created in memory of Captain James E. Daly who was tragically killed in the line of duty in 1972, is presented to the recruit who best exemplifies the ideals of guidance, knowledge, courage, skill, and dedication to public service. 

Lt. Gettig was presented this award by Mrs. Fran Daly, Captain Daly's widow, in a very moving ceremony.

Congratulations on a job well done Andy! 

Mrs. Daly presenting Lt Gettig w/Daly Award

left to right AC Van Gieson, Chief Lohr, Lt Gettig
DC Steckel and BC Frazier 

Recruit Class 37 – Coming To A Fire Station Near You Soon!

Recruit Class 37 – Coming To A Fire Station Near You Soon!, a set on Flickr.

By: Captain Jason Blake

Recruit Class 37 is finishing their training at the academy and have received their station assignments. The "Grand Finale" of their fire/EMS training occurs over a long and physical demanding day that the recruit's family gets to see them in action. Recruits are assigned to riding positions on engines, trucks, ambulances and rescue squads with lieutenants and captains from the field. They are dispatched and respond to calls on the 56 acres of the academy. A wide variety of calls occur over an eleven hour time frame with everything from building and car fires, to sick people and assaults. Recruits even deliver a baby in a car. There are over 50 scenarios that occur and are very realistic with smoke, fire and moulage of victims that make the most seasoned firefighter to look twice.

Thank you to Chief Clemens, Captain Carter, Lt. McDonald, Academy Staff and Adjuncts for training the largest recruit class in the history of the department.

Truck Company Back to Basics (Video)

Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service just finished an intense three month training program in "Truck Company" Back to Basics. Almost 1000 members went through the hands-on training to refresh and enhance their skills. Video courtesy of Captain Jason Blake

A Battalion of Training

By: Captain Jason D. Blake, NREMT-P

In-Service Training Coordinator Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service

The Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy (MCFRTA) operates seven days and six nights a week with over 6,000 students being trained in Fire, Rescue, EMS and other fire service related training each year.

The County is divided into five battalions, managed by a Battalion Chief. On average there are six firehouses with approximately 60 personnel working. On any given day at the MCFRTA there are 60-80 students being taught a wide variety of fire service training topics. There are days when there is an equivalent of a battalion of people training at the academy.

The MCFRTA does initial training for new members of our career and volunteer fire service and refresher/recertification/update training of all of members. Basic and advanced emergency medical training is required of all our personnel and you will find a wide variety of experience and rank in our classes. Assistant Chiefs and Battalion Chiefs, with years of experience, running scenario based training with firefighters with 3-5 years on the job.

The department’s specialty teams, (Hazardous Materials, Urban Search and Rescue, etc) train at the academy to keep their skills proficient.

The MCFTRA hosts regional and national classes on a regular basis to keep our personnel up to date, and proficient, on all of the latest information and skills as it relates to making sure we are ready to respond to any type of emergency situation. The classes include Fire, EMS, Rescue and Management course given through the National Fire Academy, International Association of Firefighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs or vendors. 

MCFRS Hosting a Fire & Life Safety Expo and Open House

On Saturday October 29^th from 10am to 4pm – MCFRS will host a Fire & Life Safety Expo and Open House for the general public at the Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville.

The event will feature emergency equipment from throughout Montgomery County, as well as live fire and rescue demonstrations, moon bounce, fire truck displays, our specialty team K9’s, educational activities for all ages and other interactive activities for the whole family!  Food vendors will also be on site.

The women and men of Montgomery County Fire & Rescue look forward to meeting you on:

When:              Saturday October 29^th

Where:             Public Safety Training Academy

                        9710 Great Seneca Highway

Rockville, MD. 20850

                       

Time:               10 AM to 4 PM

As always, please remember to check your smoke alarms to make sure they are working and have a home fire escape plan that identifies two ways out of each room and a family meeting place outside in case of fire.

 

NEWS RELEASE: Major Residential Fire Study to be Issued Today

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland will issue the results of a multi-institutional landmark national study on the effects of firefighter staffing levels and crew arrival times on residential firefighting operations. The report provides scientific data that will help inform fire chiefs and public officials make decisions on firefighting budgets, crew sizes and placement of fire stations. The field experiments were conducted at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville, Md. Fire crews from Montgomery County, Maryland and Fairfax County, Virginia responded to live fires during the field experiments within this facility.
Speakers will include principal investigators from NIST and the International Association of Fire Fighters. A public stakeholder meeting follows immediately.

When: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 9:00 a.m. EDT

Where: Washington Hilton, Jefferson East (Concourse Level) 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20009 202-483-3000

Teleconference Call in Number for Reporters: after 8:45 a.m. (800) 857-9638 Passcode: 29459

Background: For an earlier report on the study see a February 10, 2009 article at http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2009_0210.htm#fire

Note to Editors: B-roll video is also available upon request.

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