Saturday Morning Rockville House Fire

On Saturday, April 23 at approximately 4:24 a.m. MCFRS units were dispatched to the 300 block of Carl Street in Rockville for a report of a house on fire. Units arrived on scene to find a two-story single family home with fire on the exterior of the home that had extended to the interior.

A smoke alarm had alerted six occupants of the home and all escaped uninjured. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control and extinguished. Command on scene requested an additional two engine companies and one truck company to assist.

Fire Investigators responded to the scene to conduct a cause and origin investigation. The cause is currently under investigation.

Damages were estimated at $10,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the contents. Six people have been displaced as a result of the fire and Red Cross is assisting. There were no injuries to civilian or fire and rescue personnel.

MCFRS would like to remind all residents that smoke alarms save lives! Check yours today and make sure you have a home escape plan in case of fire.

27 Pinneberg Volunteer Fire Brigade Members Arrive in Rockville

27 Pinneberg Volunteer Fire Brigade Members Arrive in Rockville

Rescue Squad Driver Training

By: Firefighter Ryan Linville

To be allowed to drive any fire truck in MCFRS, you need to complete various classroom and practical training and tests as it relates to a particular type of fire truck.  Currently, I am working on my driver’s training portion for the Rescue Squad.  Captain Mike Green is my trainer and officer on my shift and has helped push me further to be a top notch firefighter.

On the practical portions, Captain Green goes the extra mile and sets up drills for me instead of just having me complete a basic skill. What you see in the pictures below is us lifting a four thousand pound van off a car using hydraulic jacks and then air bags. With these scenarios we have to use paratech struts and massive amount of cribbing to make the drill complete.

All the techniques are very basic to very complex. He tests my ability to know all inventory and all capacities of equipment to the smallest detail. In short, once I'm done with his training the drivers training book will be child's play.

Many thanks to all of the people involved in this drill on my shift, 3-C, to help me complete my training.  We are a very tight knit shift and I feel as though everyone on it wants to see me succeed and become a Squad driver.

                                                                                             

                                                                                                   

                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Real Life Experience Minus The Real Life Risk – Every 15 Minutes Program

By: Bill Delaney

MCFRS

As those of you with a high school aged child know, the prom season is upon us.  With that also come many concerns as it relates to the safety and well being of your child.  Paramount among those concerns are impaired driving whether it be related to drugs, alcohol, or even texting.

In an effort to help educate students to make good choices many Montgomery County High Schools, partnering with the local volunteer fire department and MCFRS, put on the Every 15 Minutes program.  The program is an event designed to dramatically instill teenagers with the potentially dangerous consequences of impaired driving in a real life setting minus the real life risk.

A great example of this program was conducted at Rockville High School a couple of weeks ago.  Below, please find a tremendous student produced video that documents the program.  It is roughly 16 minutes in length and well worth the watch.  

MCFRS will be participating in a few Every 15 Minutes programs over the coming weeks.  Hope that everyone experiences a happy and SAFE prom season!

Volunteer Firefighter Of The Year Award

By: Lieutenant Sam Villani

Every year the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire/ Rescue Association bestows the  George Hillard Award for Firefighter of the Year to the Volunteer Firefighter that exemplifies excellence and dedication. Master Firefighter Robert ‘RJ’ James from Rockville Volunteer Fire Department received this distinction for 2012. Master Firefighter James was recognized for his dedication to training, including his design and development of forcible entry props and drills.

Well done RJ!