A Little Ingenuity

By: Captain Dave Carter

       Fire Station #4

On Tuesday, January 26, units from Sandy Spring Fire Station #4 were dispatched for a report of a person who was having difficulty breathing on Shenandoah Drive.  

Due to road conditions, Medic (M) 704 was unable to make it up Skyline Drive so they backed down to Patuxent Drive and let Paramedic Engine (PE) 704 go first.  PE704 was able to make it up Skyline to Shenandoah Court and staged just past Shenandoah Court to allow the medic and responding plow from Fire Station #25 access to Shenandoah Court.

M704 was still unable to make it up Skyline Drive.  The paramedic and officer from PE704 went to the dispatched address on foot through the snow while the driver of PE704 went to assist and dig out M704.

The patient was assessed and it was determined that she should be transported to a local hospital.

Plow725 arrived on scene but got buried at the bottom of the hill just past the address.  They were not able to clear a passable path.

Additional resources were called for; a second transport (M704 threw and chain which was wrapped around the axle), a 4x4 to get the patient to the transport unit and a larger plow.

A second big private plow attempted to come down the hill as well and got stuck.  We placed the patient in the family SUV and the son attempted to drive up the hill to then transfer the patient to a soon be waiting 4X4 (Brush Truck 724), but was unsuccessful.

Personnel then acquired a kids sled, put the patient on the sled and pulled her up the hill using ropes from PE704.  Halfway up the hill a local resident arrived with a John Deere tractor which was then used to drag the sled the rest the way up the hill. 

Firefighters stayed with the patient, pushing and keeping balance on the sled.  We got the patient

to M704 for warming and further assessment while crew attempted to complete the removal of the broken snow chains.

Eventually a backup ambulance from Howard County arrived and patient care was transferred to them. The patient was then successfully transported to a local hospital. 

This was a challenging call that required some ingenuity on the part of the crew to get the patient successfully to the hospital. 

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.

MCFRS Significant Incident Map

Sunday, March 31 – Saturday April 6, 2013

View MCFRS Significant Incident Map in a larger map

Early Morning Fire in Olney

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 4, 2013

Early Morning Fire in Olney

Montgomery County, MD - - -  Montgomery County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched shortly before 2:30 this morning for the report of a house fire in the 18400 block of Queen Elizabeth Drive in Olney.  First arriving units encountered heavy fire conditions in the area of the home’s carport and requested additional units. Firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and quickly controlled the fire.

Investigators were requested to the scene and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. An occupant in the home reported smelling smoke and then seeing flames in the carport area and quickly evacuated everyone from the home. Once outside, they called 911. The occupants reported that the smoke alarm activated.

Damage estimates are $200,000 ($150K to the structure/$50K to the contents). Four occupants of the home were displaced and Red Cross was contacted to assist them.

Fire officials remind residents of the following important safety tips:

-  Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home including basements and in all
sleeping areas. If your alarms are hard-wired, be sure they have a battery back-up.

-  All smoke alarms have expiration dates and should be replaced every ten years, even if they appear to be working. Follow manufacturer recommendations.

-  Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries changed annually, according to manufacturer recommendations. A “chirping” sound may indicate that your battery is low and needs to be changed right away.

-  Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street so that police and fire/rescue personnel can easily see your address in the event of an emergency.

-  Establish a meeting place outside your home. Every family member should participate in practice escape drills at least two times per year. And in the event of an emergency, always call 911 from a safe place.

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Significant Fire & EMS Incidents From July 11 through July 17

Battalion 1 Incidents

• House Fire in the 10600 block of Greenacres Drive - Fire units arrived to find smoke showing from home. Investigation revealed a defective dryer with lint that caught fire in the hose with smoke in the house.

• Building Fire in the 800 block of Roeder Rd - Report of smoke on the 9th floor. Fire units found element in A/C unit burned up & extinguished prior to FD arrival with no extension. No reported injuries, dollar loss or displacements.

Battalion 2 Incidents

• House Fire in the 5 block of West Lenox St – Report of House Filling Up w/ Smoke. Fire units arrived w/nothing showing on the outside but found a slight haze inside. Units determined an overheated light fixture. .

Battalion 3 Incidents

• House Fire in the 12027 block of Whippoorwill Lane – Fire units arrived to find a large house with a fire in the attic. Second alarm called to assist. No dollar loss or cause reported at this time.

• Motor Vehicle Crash in the 23500 block of Mt Ephriam Road – Fire units arrived to find one person ejected from a car that was on fire with electrical wires down. Occupant was DOA and scene turned over to MC PD.

• Stranded Boat at Whites Ferry - Stranded Boat North of Ferry on rocks - Boat714 assisted boat off of rocks.

Battalion 4 Incidents

• Motor Vehicle Crash Norbeck Rd near Hannahs Way – Fire units arrived to find an adult male w/trauma injuries. Patient was being transported to a local hospital when he became violent. MCPD on-scene to assist.

Battalion 5 Incidents

• Hazardous Materials Incident in the 23000 block of Turtle Rock Terrace – Fire units arrived and found an outside gas leak. 2" broken outside gas service. Scene secured until arrival of gas company.

• Hazardous Materials Incident RT121 @ I270 – Fire units arrived and found an 8" broken gas line leaking. I270 shut down for several hours, Clarksburg jail without gas.

• Motor Vehicle Crash Muncaster Mill Rd near Avery Rd – Fire units found an adult female patient with trauma injuries. Transported to a local hospital.

• Town House Fire in the 10200 block of Ridgeline Dr. – Fire units arrived and found a 2-story Town House w/smoke on the 2nd floor. Fire Fighters found a defective HVAC unit that caught sub-flooring on fire. Damage of $6K to the structure w/1 adult & 3 children displaced.

• Pedestrian Struck by a Train at W. Diamond Ave under Rt 355 – Fire units found one person who was DOA and turned over scene to MCPD.

MCFRS Significant Fire & EMS Incidents From May 16 through May 22

Battalion 1 Incidents

• House Fire in the 8600 block of Lynbrook Dr- Fire units responded for a house fire and arrived on scene to find a smoking toaster oven.

• Apartment Fire in the 700 block of Northampton Drive - Report of smoke from the garden apartment. Fire units arrived to find food on the stove with no extension. No reported injuries, displacements or dollar loss.

• Apartment Fire in the 11400 block of Cherry Hill Rd., (Mutal Aid to P.G. County) - 4 Story apartment building. Units arrived to find fire showing from the front, first floor window that was extending up to 2nd floor. Fire put out with $50,000 in damages.

Battalion 2 Incidents

• STABBING in the 7000 block of CLARENDON RD – Fire and Rescue Units found 1 adult with a stab wound and transported to a local trauma center.

Battalion 3 Incidents

• BUILDING FIRE in the 5000 block of NICHOLSON – Fire units arrived on scene to find fire and smoke from the duct work on the roof. Fire crews extinguished the fire and scene secured for Code Enforcement and health inspector.

• House Fire in the 2 block of Reach Ct - Fire units arrived and found a fire on the stove. Fire put out.

Battalion 4 Incidents

No significant incidents.

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.

Keeping the Community Safe One Home at a Time

As many of you are aware, each Saturday the women and men of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue go door to door in their various communities handing out fire safety tips as well as offering to check smoke alarms to ensure they are working. Having working smoke alarms in your home/apartment can help you and your loved ones escape a deadly home fire by providing a vital early warning.

If during the check we find a smoke alarm is not functioning, we take immediate steps to correct this life safety issue by installing a new battery and/or smoke alarm.

The door to door program was initiated by Fire Chief Richard Bowers two years ago after a tragic year in which we lost 13 of our fellow residents in home/apartment fires. That, sadly, was our largest one year loss of life in over 30 years! In many instances there were no working smoke alarms in the home/apartment.

Below, you will find the number of homes we visited during September and October as well as the totals for the last two years. Pretty impressive!

September
Homes Visited: 492
Smoke Alarms Installed: 18
Batteries Installed: 11

October
Homes Visited: 734
Smoke Alarms Installed: 34
Batteries Installed: 40

Grand Totals since program implementation:

Homes Visited: 37,653
Smoke Alarms Installed: 1,158
Batteries Installed: 1,307

Clothes Dryer Fires

Yesterday, Sunday, MCFRS personnel responded to two separate fires in clothes dryers in local homes. Over the last several months, MCFRS has responded to a noticeable number of this type of home fire.

As I mentioned in a Blog Posting on May 13, 2010 (read here) a vast majority of these fires are not due to an electrical malfunction of some sort but by actions we take or FAIL to take. A lack of maintenance, buildup of lint, placing inappropriate items in the dryer and inadequate venting are frequently cited as contributing factors.

Preventing this type of fire from starting in your home is relatively simple. Please take a moment to go to our web site and learn some “Do’s” and “Don’ts” as it relates to dryers: Clothes Dryer Fire Safety Tips

In addition, please take a moment to read an interesting document from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding Clothes Dryer Maintenance.

Please spread the word, and these safety tips, to all friends and family!

As always, please stay safe!

Bill