Vehicle Fire at Springbrooke Nursing Home

BY: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Shortly after 6:30 am this morning, units from Fire Stations 12 and 24 were alerted for a truck on fire next to a building. Units arrived on scene to find a pick-up truck on fire next to a nursing home. The fire was beginning to extend to a trash enclosure but was stopped as soon as the first fire hose was placed in operation by firefighters. 

The nursing home staff did a great job of sheltering the occupants in place and evacuating the dining room area - which was the part of the structure most threatened by the fire. 

Of special note: There is an increase in vehicle fires during these heavy snow events - the vehicles often overheat because of snow blocking the normal air flow paths to the motor and drive train. Trucks plowing heavy snow often get into trouble when hydraulic components overheat or fail and hydraulic fluid ignites. 

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.

Patriotism and Pride at the 12 House

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Some old fire hose and a bunch of "know how" created this great patriotic master piece for the day room of Station 12 (Hillandale). Many thanks to Firefighters Dan Rothermal (24B) and Bill Naugle (2B) for taking on this project and keeping the "company pride" going in the 1st Battalion! Excellent work fellas!

A pretty awesome work of art that is also dimensionally correct in terms of length, width, and star size.

1st Battalion Donation to The Don't Panic Foundation

July 13, 2013 - Battalion Chief Mark Davis (BC701-A Shift) presents Captain Jason Giza with a $450.00 donation for The Don't Panic Foundation. Captain Giza is President of the foundation. The funds were raised through the sale of the 1st Battalion Leads The Way framed photographs as well as the sale of 1st Battalion patches and window decals. This is the second of such donations to The Don't Panic Foundation this year, bringing the total to $750.00.  Photo and story courtesy of BC Mark Davis. 

Inspiring The Next Generation While Keeping The Community Safe

Master Firefighter Damian Langston walks some
children around Paramedic Engine 724

By: Lieutenant Robert Furst

Every Saturday afternoon, firefighters and EMTs in the 1st Battalion canvas the community to hand out informational materials and check residences for working smoke alarms. Occasionally, this leads to one of the most enjoyable moments of our work days: showing children the fire truck.

Children marvel over the size of the apparatus along with the shiny and clean condition of the equipment. To be frank with you, most of the personnel of The 1st were the same way when we were kids, and we like to reminisce about those times. It is our hope that we can brighten the day of the children and maybe lead some of them down the path to becoming the next generation of 1st Battalion Firefighters.

Rescue Squad Operations

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis
MCFRS Battalion 1


Crews from Company 15 and 12 are shown going to work Oct. 16 at a vehicle collision involving a rollover with entrapment on Route 29.














When vehicles are rolled over, the greatest concern is stability. In most cases, the vehicle is not found "teetering" on an edge. But, the mere fact that an arm or leg or worse could be pinned under the vehicle directs folks from the heavy rescue squad to stabilize the vehicle before attempting any patient removal.










The "tie-back" operation is a commonplace method of securing an overturned vehicle. The methods uses some basic laws of physics to provide stability. So for our non-FD friends - this is just one more example of how math and science helps you in your adult life. Much of heavy rescue work is about understanding physics and the laws of gravity and force.










Rescue Squad 715 is designed with numerous anchor points on all four sides of the rig - making it quite versatile in these type of events.











Once again, crews from the 1st Battalion did a great job of vehicle stabilization, extrication, and patient care. Fortunately, the driver of the overturned vehicle was not seriously injured and this event reinforces the importance of wearing your seat belt!

Montgomery County Firefighters to Join Area Students in Annual Walk to School Day Events on October 3, 2012

Montgomery County, MD - - -  Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel will be joining students around the County to celebrate Walk to School Day to raise awareness and promote pedestrian safety. Thousands of students from schools in Montgomery County will be participating in this year’s event. Walk to School Day events raise awareness and create safer routes for walking and bicycling while emphasizing the importance of increasing physical activity among children and promoting pedestrian safety.

While many schools in the area will be participating in Walk to School programs, a number of local and elected officials will be joining students at Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park and Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari and other national, state and local guests will join a group of Piney Branch Elementary students in Takoma Park, Md., on Wednesday morning as a part of Montgomery County's Walk to School Day celebration. Media are invited to join in the programs on Wednesday, October 3, 2012:

         Where: Piney Branch Elementary School
                       7510 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park

         Time:    8:45 a.m. – Walkers will meet at 7620 Maple Avenue       

                       9:05 a.m. – Walk along Maple Avenue to Piney Branch Elementary School

                       9:20 a.m. – School-wide assembly and award presentation


         Where:  Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School

                        1200 Swingingdale Drive, Silver Spring

         Time:     8:40 a.m. – Walkers will meet at the Good Hope Community Center

                        9:05 a.m. – Walk to Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School
                        9:25 a.m. -   School-wide assembly

Sponsors of this year’s event include Safe Kids Montgomery County, Federal Express, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Foundation for Safety and Education, Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Montgomery County Police, Maryland Safe Routes Network, Maryland Highway Safety Office and Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Event will be held rain or shine. The assembly portion of the program will be moved indoors if the weather is inclement.   

Below was shot today, October 3rd, by Battalion Chief Charles Bailey as Station 24's crew participated in Walk to School Day at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School.                                                    

In The Community

Last night Engine 712 (Hillandale) participated in the Broad Acres Elementary School Community Picnic.  Also dropping by the event was County Executive Leggett who took a moment to stop by and say hello to the Engine Crew.  In the photo with Mr. Leggett is Captain Eric Couse, FF Desmond White and FF Carl Feaster. 

Photo Courtesy of Captain Eric Couse

Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming Fire Department Open Houses

Rockville, Maryland - - -  The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service will be hosting ‘Open House’ events at fire stations around the County during Fire Prevention Month. The National Fire Protection Association has designated this year’s theme “Protect Your Family from Fire” and firefighters and safety advocates will focus efforts on the importance of developing a home escape plan, practicing a home fire drill and checking smoke alarms to ensure they are working.

All Open House events are free and will feature many exciting activities including tours of the station, fire safety activities, information/handouts, demonstrations of emergency equipment and
much more. . . please visit the fire station’s website or call for a comprehensive listing of activities planned.

October 8        Chevy Chase Fire Department, Station 7                              10:00  – 3:00 pm
                        8001 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD  

                        301-652-0707

October 9        Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department, Station 24              12:00 – 3:00 pm

                        13216 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD

                        240-773-4724

October 22      Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department, Station 15           12:00 – 4:00 pm
                        13900 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD

                        240-773-8957

October 29      Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, Station 10   10:00 – 5:00 p.m.
8001 River Road, Bethesda, MD
301-379-9387

November 12  Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department, Station 11                        TBA               

                        5920 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD 

                        301-229-3200