Congratulations to Our Newest Firefighters and EMT's

This past Friday evening a graduation ceremony was held at our Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA) for Twenty-One (21) newly certified volunteer Firefighters and Fifty-Nine (59) newly certified volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's).

Each person went through rigorous training and a challenging course load throughout the summer months to attain the certifications.  Family and friends packed the PSTA to honor and cheer on their loved ones as they received recognition for this tremendous achievement.

Congratulations to all!

Videos and photos from the ceremony below.

Tied Up In Training

By: Firefighter Dan Rothermel

Fire Station 24-B Shift

Members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) constantly train to keep their skills sharp. Here, members of Fire Station 24 (Colesville) are working with their Tower Ladder and ropes to simulate an above/below grade rescue with a stokes basket.

It is important for firefighters to practice all skills they possess for any possible fire or rescue situation. In this scenario, the wrong or improperly tied knot could mean injury or death to both the person being rescued and the firefighter.

Constant training and practice ensures the women and men of MCFRS will be ready and able to perform flawlessly when called into action.

Practice Makes Perfect

By: Lt. Robert Furst

Company 19-A took some time this past Tuesday to practice a basic fire service drill of hose line deployment and management. The crew deployed and repacked the #2 crosslay a few times. During the drill, Lieutenant Cliff Billingslea and Master Firefighter Joe Skinner displayed a few tricks of the trade to the crew.

This drill was put into play less than an hour later. PE719 and AT719 were dispatched on a box alarm in Company 18 (Glenmont) for a building fire. The first arriving units found a small fire on the rear balcony of an end of group townhouse controlled by a sprinkler. PE719 was the Rapid Intervention Company Engine and AT719 was the second due aerial service. 

Probationary Firefighter Training

By: Lieutenant Pedro Meneses, Jr

Silver Spring Fire Station #19

FF Joseph Forsythe is our newest addition to Company 19, on the C shift, located in Silver Spring MD.  Firefighter Forsythe is a probationary firefighter who recently completed fire recruit training at our Public Safety Training Academy and will be assigned to our firehouse for a one year period.

He will be expected to learn the rules and tricks of the trade and will be assessed periodically. After one year, he will be taken off of probationary status if he has successfully completed all assigned training tasks and has shown himself to be a good employee. 

Besides training any probationary firefighters, we take advantage of every shift to practice the basic skills and keep sharp so that we may perform our jobs more efficiently.

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. 

Practice Makes Perfect!

By: Lieutenant Pete Hageman
       Fire Station #3 D-Shift


During the week of May 22-24 Station 3A,B,C and D Eng3ine, Res3cue, Lad3der trained on the City of Rockville climbing wall at 860 Avery Rd. With 2 Rock climbing walls in the first due, personnel increased their operational awareness on Rescues from difficult climbing techniques, personal rope skills, top belay, grigri belay, ATC belay and pick offs. All enjoyed the alternative rope training. Thank you to the City of Rockville for allowing us to utilize their recreational facility.