Cool Your Ashes!

MCFRS responded to another house fire last night related to improperly discarded fire place ashes. Please take a moment to review the info graphic below to learn how to SAFELY dispose of them.  

Heating Your Home Safely - Space Heaters

Looks like things are starting to get a little "chilly" around here!

With cold weather upon us, it is a good time to remind everyone of some simple steps to help prevent a heating related fire in your home.  Portable space heaters can quickly warm up a cold room, but they have been the cause of many serious home fires. Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn and follow all manufacturer instructions.

Below, please find a short video as well as safety tips related to space heaters.  According to the United States Fire Administration, space heaters cause one-third of home heating fires and 4 out of 5 home heating fires deaths.

Electric Space Heaters

• Place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture and drapes. Never use heaters to dry clothes or shoes. Do not place heaters where towels or other objects could fall on the heater and start a fire. 
• If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Only use extension cords which have the necessary rating to carry an amp load. TIP: Choose an extension cord the same size or larger than the appliance electrical cord. 
• Be certain that your heater is placed on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets. 
• Use heaters on the floor. Never place heaters on furniture, since they may fall, dislodging or breaking parts in the heater, which could result in a fire or shock hazard. 
• Keep all heaters in safe working conditions. Never operate a defective heater. 
• Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come in contact with water. 

While we do not recommend using Kerosene or propane fueled space heaters we provide the below tips: 

• Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in the event the heater is tipped over. 
• Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane, for example) can produce deadly fumes. 
• Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. NEVER introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type fuel. 
• Keep kerosene, or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas, outside of the house. 
• NEVER fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling. DO NOT use cold fuel for it may expand in the tank as it warms up. 
• Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). Keep children, pets and clothing away from heaters. 
• When using a fuel burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide.

House Fire On Norwood Road in Olney

On Friday, February 27 at approximately 5:30 a.m. MCFRS Units were dispatched for a reported house fire at 17734 Norwood Road in Olney. Firefighters from Sandy Spring Fire Station #4 were first to arrive and reported a fire in the attic of a large single-family home.

The only occupant of the home, an adult female, was quickly located and indicated that she was awakened to the smoke alarms sounding and discovered moderate smoke in the house. She told Fire Investigators she heard the sound of something cracking and at that point initiated the 911 call for assistance.  

First arriving Firefighters began an aggressive interior fire attack to extinguish the visible fire. At this point the fire had extended throughout the attic and through the roof. Additional fire/rescue resources were requested and dispatched to the scene which eventually escalated to a 2nd Alarm with approximately 100 fire/rescue personnel on scene.

The bulk of the fire was brought under control quickly although firefighters spent several hours working on extinguishing remaining “hot spots" and overhaul. In addition, personnel dealt with cold weather issues and frozen fire hydrants as temperatures hovered around twenty degrees.  The MCFRS Medical Ambulance Bus (MAB) was utilized on scene and assisted with warmth & rehab for firefighters. 

One firefighter did sustain a minor shoulder injury.  As well, the occupant of the home, an adult female, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries as a result of smoke inhalation.         

Fire Investigators arrived on scene to conduct a cause and origin investigation.  Preliminary, the fire appears to have started in the attic over the fireplace.  Investigators determined that the cause appeared to be a compromised flue in the chimney/accidental.

Damages were estimated at $350k to the structure and $150k to the contents.

Heating Your Home Safely - Space Heaters

Looks like things are going to get a little "chilly" around here the next several days!

With cold weather upon us, it is a good time to remind everyone of some simple steps to help prevent a heating related fire in your home.  Portable space heaters can quickly warm up a cold room, but they have been the cause of many serious home fires. Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn and follow all manufacturer instructions.

Below, please find a short video as well as safety tips related to space heaters.  According to the United States Fire Administration, space heaters cause one-third of home heating fires and 4 out of 5 home heating fires deaths.

Electric Space Heaters

• Place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture and drapes. Never use heaters to dry clothes or shoes. Do not place heaters where towels or other objects could fall on the heater and start a fire. 
• If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit. Only use extension cords which have the necessary rating to carry an amp load. TIP: Choose an extension cord the same size or larger than the appliance electrical cord. 
• Be certain that your heater is placed on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets. 
• Use heaters on the floor. Never place heaters on furniture, since they may fall, dislodging or breaking parts in the heater, which could result in a fire or shock hazard. 
• Keep all heaters in safe working conditions. Never operate a defective heater. 
• Avoid using electrical space heaters in bathrooms or other areas where they may come in contact with water. 

While we do not recommend using Kerosene or propane fueled space heaters we provide the below tips: 

• Be sure your heater is in good working condition. Inspect exhaust parts for carbon buildup. Be sure the heater has an emergency shut off in the event the heater is tipped over. 
• Never use fuel burning appliances without proper room venting. Burning fuel (coal, kerosene, or propane, for example) can produce deadly fumes. 
• Use ONLY the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. NEVER introduce a fuel into a unit not designed for that type fuel. 
• Keep kerosene, or other flammable liquids stored in approved metal containers, in well ventilated storage areas, outside of the house. 
• NEVER fill the heater while it is operating or hot. When refueling an oil or kerosene unit, avoid overfilling. DO NOT use cold fuel for it may expand in the tank as it warms up. 
• Refueling should be done outside of the home (or outdoors). Keep children, pets and clothing away from heaters. 
• When using a fuel burning appliance in the bedroom, be sure there is proper ventilation to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide.

Arson Awareness Week May 5-11; “Reducing Residential Arson”

This week is Arson Awareness Week and the theme this year is “Reducing Residential Arson.”  Below please find some information from our partners in fire safety, the United States Fire Administration, that will provide more background as well as safety tips on how you can help to safeguard your home against the crime of arson.

Protecting Homes Against Arson

Tips for Safe Disposal of Ash from Fireplaces and Woodstoves From County’s Division of Solid Waste Services, Fire and Rescue Service

As the winter season officially arrives, residents are reminded that fireplace and woodstove ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days after a fire. The rule to remember is: never put ashes in a paper or plastic bag, cardboard box or plastic bucket.

“Embers often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes, can remain hot enough to rekindle a fire for several days,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “We want residents to enjoy their fireplaces, wood stoves and grills but to always take care to dispose of the ashes wisely.”

The Division of Solid Waste Services (Dept. of Environmental Protection) joins the Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service in reminding residents never to put out ashes from fireplaces for collection with their regular household trash unless they have been thoroughly soaked with water in a metal ash bucket with a tight fitting metal lid and designed for that purpose, or held in place for at least a week to ensure there are no residual embers.

Store any container holding ash outside, away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials. Ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days after a fire.

Cooled ashes may be brought to the Shady Grove Road Processing Facility and Transfer Station for disposal in specifically-designated ash containers. The Transfer Station is located at 16101 Frederick Rd., Derwood (off Rt. 355 at Shady Grove Rd.).

When delivering ash, residents are asked to use the Frederick Rd. (Rt. 355) entrance just south of Shady Grove Rd. The Transfer Station's Public Unloading Facility (PUF) -- also called the "Car Ramp" -- has several steel drums marked specifically for ash disposal. The drums are located between trash drop-off bays. Contractor staff verifies that the ash has cooled off before taking it to the rubble drop-off area for disposal.

“Hot ashes that are not properly cooled and disposed are significant fire hazards, capable of starting fires when mixed in loads of waste in refuse collection trucks, on rail cars on their way to waste disposal facilities or while waste is actually being processed at the County’s Transfer Station,” said Dan Locke, chief of the Division of Solid Waste Services.

MCFRS and DSWS both want residents to be aware that the risk of fire becomes even greater when it is windy. The wind can reignite embers and potentially send them toward nearby combustibles, such as homes.

Two other helpful ash safety hints from MCFRS are: never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes and always have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and test them monthly.

For more information, including photos of the Transfer Station disposal site, visit the DSWS website

What Every Family Needs to Know - take a couple of minutes to talk to your family about fire safety today!

No one wants to think about having a fire at home. But thinking about it and being ready for it can and does save lives. Having working smoke alarms in your home provides early warning if there is a fire. Planning and practicing a home fire drill can prepare you to get out safely. If you think your home is not at risk for a home fire, consider these statistics: every 60 seconds there is a fire in the United States, approximately 4,000 people die in fires annually, and about 80 percent of these deaths occur in the home.

Please take a couple of minutes to talk to your family about fire safety today!  Learn more here: Keep Your Family Safe!

Sincerely,

Chief Bowers and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

MCFRS Significant Fire & EMS Incidents From May 9 through May 15

Battalion 1 Incidents

• Gas Leak Dale Dr. & Mansfield Rd. - 6" natural gas line leak. Fire Units stood-by while Washington Gas clamped the line.

Battalion 2 Incidents

• BUILDING FIRE in the 5500 block of WISCONSIN AVE - Fire Units arrived with no sign of smoke or fire and, after further investigation, found a short in a wall outlet with extension to a sonogram machine. No injuries and a loss of $50K Contents and $200 to the Structure.

• Hazardous Materials Incident in a Commercial office building – Fire and Hazardous Materials Units responded for an unknown powder in an envelope. Investigation revealed a non-harmful powder. Scene remanded to MCPD. No damage or injuries.

• Injured Hiker on the Billy Goat Trail. Fire Units dispatched for an injured hiker. Units located and transported a 49 year old female w/ an ankle injury to a local hospital.

Battalion 3 Incidents

• House Fire in the 12400 block of Wisteria Dr - Fire Units arrived to find a fire outside of a townhouse along a fence with slight damage to structure.

• BUILDING FIRE in the 500 block of LAWSON WAY , Fire Units arrived on scene and found a fire that had been extinguished by the fire sprinkler system. Cause was possibly electrical in nature. There was $50K in damage to the structure and $5K contents. 2 occupants were displaced and there were no civilian or FD Injuries.

Battalion 4 Incidents

• House Fire off of Charles Rd. Fire Units arrived on scene with a 2-story house that was fully involved in fire. All occupants were out and defensive fire fighting operations initiated. House was a total loss along with detached shed in back yard and box truck in driveway and damage to one other auto. Vinyl siding melted off of both houses on either side. One Fire Fighter treated for dehydration and transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

• Vehicle Collision at Rt 108 & Volunteer Drive – Fire Units arrived on scene to find a single vehicle collision with 4 patients. 2 Priority One Trauma codes were transported to area hospitals. One seriously injured patient also transported to a local hospital. One patient was deceased on-scene.

Battalion 5 Incidents

No significant incidents.

Investigators Seek Information in Brookeville Fire

Rockville - - - Montgomery County Fire and Explosive Investigators are looking for information from the community regarding a two-alarm fire that destroyed two historic houses in the Brookeville/Olney area of Montgomery County. On Monday, March 28, 2011 firefighters were dispatched to the 300 block of Market Street for the report of a house fire.

Investigators are urging anyone with information to assist in the investigation to call the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Tip Line at 240-777-2263. Additionally, investigators would like to speak with anyone who may have been in the area from 11:00 p.m. Sunday night through 1:00 a.m. Monday morning and observed anything that may be beneficial to the investigation.

The Tip Line is a non-emergency number and callers can leave information anonymously or speak with an investigator.

Two-Alarm Apartment Fire & Space Heater Safety

With cold weather usually, unfortunately, come home fires. A little after mid-night this morning was no exception as MCFRS personnel responded to a two-alarm apartment fire in the 2900 Block of Hewitt Avenue.


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One resident was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Damage to the building was $250K and $100K for contents of the impacted apartments. Preliminary findings indicate that a space heater, placed too close to items that can burn, MAY be a contributing factor to this fire.

If you scroll back the last several days of this blog, you will notice we hit on the topic of cold weather fires and the usual suspect causes. The common theme is that a vast majority of these fires are preventable incidents. In other words, they did not have to happen.

Please remember that space heaters need SPACE! There should be nothing within a 3 foot radius of the space heater that can burn! Clothes and other burnable items should not be placed in and around the space heater to dry out or warm up! A vast majority of space heater related fires we respond too are not caused by a malfunction of the space heater.
Please take a moment to review the below tips for more information. Also, PLEASE feel free to forward to friends and family members. Help us to help you and your loved ones from having to place a 9-1-1 call because your home is on fire.

For portable space heaters:

o Fuel-fired space heaters are only permitted in single-family dwellings (houses and townhouses) in Montgomery County.

o Space heaters need space. Portable space heaters need a three-foot clearance from anything that can burn.

o When buying heaters, look for devices that are UL (Underwriters Laboratory) listed with automatic shutoff features that shut the unit off if it is tipped over. Be sure any heating device is placed in a room with adequate ventilation.

o Portable kerosene heaters should be fueled outside, free of flame and other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer for that device.

o Place them on a solid, flat surface.

o Turn them off when you go to bed or leave the room.

o Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.

o Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections; replace before using.

o Follow manufacturer recommendations when using space heaters.

Friday Home Fires Highlight Danger of Combustible Materials Too Close to Lamps/Lights

A couple of fire calls this past Friday caught my eye and I wanted to share them with you. The cause of the fires may actually surprise many of you. It certainly highlights the fact that many of the fires MCFRS Fire Fighter’s respond to are PREVENTABLE incidents.

In one instance the fire originated in closet by the front door due to combustibles too close to light fixture.

The next fire was due to bedding materials on a lamp.

Hopefully all of you caught on to the fact that the light bulbs in the lamp and light fixture were the “spark” that started each fire. They were allowed to be the “spark” because materials that can burn were placed close enough to each device that the materials heated up to the point where they caught fire.

None of the people who lived in these homes meant for this to happen. No doubt many of you reading this right now are saying to yourselves, “Wow! I did not realize a fire could start this way!”

But it can and it did! My hope is that many of you will read this and perhaps pay a little more attention to where you may be tossing your clothes, towels, bed sheets/blankets, jackets, etc. This is the time of year where we also see many folks using space heaters to dry out or heat up wet clothes – which can result in the same set of circumstances that occurred Friday.

So, please, understand that your lamps and light fixtures are a potential source of heat that can start a fire if you are placing things that can burn too close to them.

For more safety tips, please go to our Safety In Our Neighborhood site.