Let summer begin!

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It’s finally here … the official first day of SUMMER! Fire Chief Scott Goldstein is kicking off the department’s 2019 “Summer of Safety” campaign and inviting you to follow along. Each week throughout the summer MCFRS will be highlighting a different safety topic.

 DYK that summer is commonly referred to as “trauma season” among public health and medical professionals because unintentional deaths and serious injuries increase dramatically among children? With children out of school and crossing streets without the help of crossing guards or adults, it is no surprise that they are at higher risk of being injured by motor vehicles in the summer months. That bike helmet somewhere in the garage? Not optional equipment. It can keep a fall from causing a fatal brain injury. A four-sided fence can help prevent a toddler from entering a pool and drowning. And a correctly installed car seat can help keep a child alive during a car crash. 

At MCFRS, it's simple. Nothing is more important than your safety. Whatever your plans are this summer we’re here to help keep your adventures as safe as they are fun. Stick with us all summer and see what you learn. It might just save a life!

What You Need to Know About Fireworks

With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein is reminding residents that ALL fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County and that the County will be continuing its ‘zero tolerance’ policy regarding illegal fireworks.

  

In an effort to stress the seriousness posed by the use of dangerous and illegal fireworks, Fire Officials across the region launched a comprehensive effort several years ago to inform and educate the public about illegal fireworks. “The law in Montgomery County is clear and the safest, and smartest, way to enjoy fireworks is at one of the many public displays in the area,” said Fire Chief Goldstein. Here’s what you should know:

The Law: 

It is illegal for any person to manufacture, possess, store, offer for sale, sell, discharge, use, burn or explode any fireworks in Montgomery County, Maryland, except that an authorized display may be conducted by a licensed pyrotechnic professional with a permit. Penalties for violations of the law include a fine up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail. All fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and the City of Baltimore. Montgomery County Fire Safety Code: Section 22-70: Fireworks.

What fireworks are legal?

In Montgomery County, ALL fireworks are illegal to possess or discharge including gold label sparklers. Snap-and-pop noise makers, snakes and party poppers are the only exception to this law.

Can I receive fireworks at my home through the mail?

No. Use of the mail for the transportation of fireworks for use in the State of Maryland is illegal.

Can I have a private fireworks display at my residence with proper permits?

No. You can not have a private display; however, you can apply to have a public display with proper permits and insurance.

Can I receive fireworks at my residence delivered by a public carrier?

No. It doesn't matter where the fireworks are purchased or how they are brought into Maryland.  Fireworks are still illegal in Montgomery County.

Where do I report violations involving fireworks?

Residents should call 301-279-8000. Do NOT call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help. Non-emergency 911 calls can delay getting assistance to people with actual emergencies.

Where can I go in Montgomery County to see the fireworks?

The Fire Chief and safety experts agree that the best way to celebrate is to enjoy one of the many free, public fireworks displays in the area on July 4th.  Public fireworks displays, conducted by trained professionals, are the smartest and safest way to view fireworks because they are established under controlled settings and safety regulations and monitored by public safety organizations.

Jason Pierre-Paul and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission teamed up to file a PSA on fireworks safety. Pierre-Paul suffered severe damage when a firework accidentally exploded in his hand in 2015. Think about what Pierre-Paul said: "I saw 12 people in the hospital and my hand was the best one. If there were that may fireworks-related injuries in one hospital last July, how many were there across the country?"

Please - leave the fireworks to the professionals.  

Oh Baby!

You have a new baby in the house and there’s no better time to make fire safety a top priority. Kids under the age of five are at twice the risk of dying in a residential fire than those in other age groups, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Click on the graphic below to find a check list to help get you started:

Summer of Safety - Smoke Alarms and Child Passenger Safety Seats

As part of Montgomery County's Summer of Safety, this week we will be providing information as it relates to smoke alarms and child passenger safety seats.

Speaking of smoke alarms; have you tested your lately?  If not, why not?  Ideally, smoke alarms should be tested at least once a week to ensure they are working.

In addition, if your smoke alarm is 10 years or older it needs to be replaced - regardless of whether it works, or not, when you push the test button.

For more information on smoke alarms, please find a very comprehensive list of information on the County's Summer of Safety web site.

Vacation Fire Safety

Getting ready to go out of town? Holidays and the summer months are not the time to take a vacation from fire safety. Be sure to check your home before leaving to minimize the risk of fire while you are away and review these important safety tips:

Your Home

• All stoves and electrical appliances should be turned off or disconnected.
• Unplug all television sets, computers and radios. Lightning storms or sudden electrical surges can damage or even cause a fire in these types of equipment.
• When you return, check to make sure all smoke alarms are working.
• Tell a trusted neighbor your departure and return dates. Supply an itinerary with phone numbers where you can be reached in the event of an emergency.

If you are staying in a hotel/motel

When you are traveling away from home and staying in a hotel or motel, it is important to know what actions to take in the event of a fire. While hotel fires account for only a small number of fire fatalities, they present a unique fire risk. Fire can spread quickly in hotels and guests are typically in unfamiliar surroundings. While sprinklers, smoke alarms and fire walls are required in many parts of the world, do not assume that all hotels will have the same safety features you may be accustomed to. The more you know in advance about dealing with a fire emergency, the better your chances for survival.

• Select a hotel/motel that, at a minimum, has smoke alarms installed. It is recommended to select lodging that also has a fire sprinkler system installed. If you must stay in a hotel/motel without alarms or sprinklers, or have mobility limitations, request a room on the first or second floor.
• When you arrive, review the fire safety information provided. It is typically posted near or on the back of the entry door. Just like in your home, you need to plan your escape ahead of time. Locate the two exits nearest your room. Walk the potential escape routes, counting the number of doors between your room and the exit. Make sure that the fire exit doors work and are unlocked. In a real fire, the hallway may become dark with smoke making it hard to see.
• Put your room key, flashlight, cell phone, eyeglasses and shoes, near the bed. You don't want to waste any time looking for things during a fire and keeping everything together can make your escape easier.
• Learn what number to call in the event of an emergency - not all locations use 9-1-1.

If the alarm does sound:

• If you feel conditions in the hallway are safe, go to your nearest exit and proceed downstairs to the first floor and exit the building. Make sure to close all doors behind you as you exit.
• Be sure to take your room key. In some cases, your room may end up being the safest place to be and you may need to return if your exit is blocked.
• If there is any smoke in the hallway, crawl low - under smoke - to the fire exit and safety.
• If a fire starts in your room, leave immediately and close the door behind you to confine the fire and smoke to the room. Activate the fire alarm and call the fire department once you are safely out of danger.
• NEVER use an elevator under fire conditions. Elevators may malfunction, cables could melt, the elevator car may heat up to lethal temperatures or open on the floor where the fire is. Always take the stairs when exiting from a high-rise building.

Every fire is different. While these guidelines may help you survive a fire, there are situations where you will need to do things differently. Taking the time to prepare in advance can save your life.

It's Home Escape Planning Week! Learn How to Plan Exit Drills in the Home (E.D.I.T.H.)

As part of our Summer of Safety program, this week is Home Escape Planning week. Please take a moment to review below and learn how to develop, and practice, a Home Escape Plan!

Being ready is the key to surviving a home fire.

There are three things YOU can do to protect your family. They are simple, but they are very important. Do them now, before fire strikes.

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.
2. Test smoke alarms monthly to be sure they are working and replace batteries at least once a year. If your smoke alarm makes a "chirping sound" - replace the battery immediately.
3. Plan and practice home fire drills.

Make a Home Escape Plan!

Fire strikes quickly, often in the middle of the night while your family is asleep. Establish a plan now for evacuating each member of your family. Then, if fire does strike, everyone will know what to do and where to go.

One of the ways to keep your family safe is by practicing E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drills In The Home). Many injuries are caused by people of all ages reacting improperly when there is a fire in their home. They may be affected by smoke, disoriented by being awakened abruptly and frightened.

It is critical that every household have a step-by-step plan for escaping a fire and practice it by having a "Home Fire Drill" at least twice a year.

Remember, your primary route should be the quickest, most direct way out. For example, through the front door to your meeting place or through a window to a roof or balcony where you can safely wait for help. The secondary route should be the next safest, most direct path out. For example, through the window of the room next door. Unless your children are infants, don't have them wait for your help. In a fire, parents may be blocked from their children's bedrooms by smoke or flames. As soon as they are able, each child should know how to escape a fire and be taught to do so as soon as he or she smells smoke or hears the sound of the smoke alarm.

Practice your plan with a HOME FIRE DRILL.

Make sure everyone understands what to do and assess each escape route realistically to be sure it can be used in an emergency. Walk through the primary and alternative escape routes, ensuring that all exits are accessible to all members of your household. For example, will windows open easily? Are ropes and ladders required to escape from second-story windows? (If you choose to have escape ladders, always practice using a ground floor window). Practice your plan at night because things look very different in the dark.

If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have quick-release mechanisms operational from the inside so that they can be opened immediately in an emergency. Quick-release mechanisms won't compromise your security, but they will increase your chances of safely escaping a home fire.

Go outside to see if your house number is clearly visible from the street.

Numbers must be visible to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home. In Montgomery County, Maryland existing residential home numbering can be 3 1/2 inches high, however new residential homes must be at least 5 inches high and if you replace existing numbers they must be at least 5 inches high. Numbers should be placed on a contrasting background, with a reflective coating on the numbers for easy visibility at night.

Escape first and then call 9-1-1 from a neighbor's house.

In the event of a fire, do not stop for anything. Do not try to rescue possessions or pets. Closing doors on your way out slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely escape. Go directly to your meeting place and then call the fire department from a neighbor's phone. Every member of your household should know how to call the fire department.

Get out and stay out.

Once you are out of your home, do not go back for any reason. If people are trapped, firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. The heat and smoke of a fire are overpowering. Firefighters have the training, experience and protective equipment needed to enter burning buildings.

Establish a meeting place outside your house and everyone should proceed to this location immediately to take attendance and make sure everyone has escaped.

Crawl low under smoke.

Smoke contains deadly gases and heat rises. During a fire, cleaner air will be near the floor. Teach your family that in a fire they must stay low to the floor to avoid smoke and intense heat. If you encounter smoke when using your primary exit, use your alternate escape plan. If you must exit through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees keeping your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor.

Revise your escape plan as circumstances change in your household. Make sure everyone including young children, older adults and people with disabilities are included.

Remember - children sleep very deeply.

Adults need to make sure that children know the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do if they hear it. You can find out who can hear the smoke alarm if you have a fire drill when everyone else is sleeping. If anyone in your home does not wake to the smoke alarm or requires assistance getting out, plan to designate an adult to help them escape.

Home Smoke Alarm Basics

As part of our Summer of Safety outreach this summer, the theme this week is "Get Alarmed Montgomery!" This week highlights the importance of having and maintaining working smoke alarms in your home.

Below is a video from our partners in safety at the NFPA that provides some great basics.

Safety Saturday!

This may be a sight you will see in your neighborhood later today. Our Firefighters going door to door to hand out safety tips and offer to check smoke alarms! ‪

This is part of our Summer of Safety program.  Have a great, and SAFE, weekend!

It's Home Escape Planning Week! Learn How to Plan Exit Drills in the Home (E.D.I.T.H.)

As part of our Summer of Safety program, this week is Home Escape Planning week. Please take a moment to review below and learn how to develop, and practice, a Home Escape Plan!

Being ready is the key to surviving a home fire.

There are three things YOU can do to protect your family. They are simple, but they are very important. Do them now, before fire strikes.

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.
2. Test smoke alarms monthly to be sure they are working and replace batteries at least once a year. If your smoke alarm makes a "chirping sound" - replace the battery immediately.
3. Plan and practice home fire drills.

Make a Home Escape Plan!

Fire strikes quickly, often in the middle of the night while your family is asleep. Establish a plan now for evacuating each member of your family. Then, if fire does strike, everyone will know what to do and where to go.

One of the ways to keep your family safe is by practicing E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drills In The Home). Many injuries are caused by people of all ages reacting improperly when there is a fire in their home. They may be affected by smoke, disoriented by being awakened abruptly and frightened.

It is critical that every household have a step-by-step plan for escaping a fire and practice it by having a "Home Fire Drill" at least twice a year.

Remember, your primary route should be the quickest, most direct way out. For example, through the front door to your meeting place or through a window to a roof or balcony where you can safely wait for help. The secondary route should be the next safest, most direct path out. For example, through the window of the room next door. Unless your children are infants, don't have them wait for your help. In a fire, parents may be blocked from their children's bedrooms by smoke or flames. As soon as they are able, each child should know how to escape a fire and be taught to do so as soon as he or she smells smoke or hears the sound of the smoke alarm.

Practice your plan with a HOME FIRE DRILL.

Make sure everyone understands what to do and assess each escape route realistically to be sure it can be used in an emergency. Walk through the primary and alternative escape routes, ensuring that all exits are accessible to all members of your household. For example, will windows open easily? Are ropes and ladders required to escape from second-story windows? (If you choose to have escape ladders, always practice using a ground floor window). Practice your plan at night because things look very different in the dark.

If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have quick-release mechanisms operational from the inside so that they can be opened immediately in an emergency. Quick-release mechanisms won't compromise your security, but they will increase your chances of safely escaping a home fire.

Go outside to see if your house number is clearly visible from the street.

Numbers must be visible to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home. In Montgomery County, Maryland existing residential home numbering can be 3 1/2 inches high, however new residential homes must be at least 5 inches high and if you replace existing numbers they must be at least 5 inches high. Numbers should be placed on a contrasting background, with a reflective coating on the numbers for easy visibility at night.

Escape first and then call 9-1-1 from a neighbor's house.

In the event of a fire, do not stop for anything. Do not try to rescue possessions or pets. Closing doors on your way out slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely escape. Go directly to your meeting place and then call the fire department from a neighbor's phone. Every member of your household should know how to call the fire department.

Get out and stay out.

Once you are out of your home, do not go back for any reason. If people are trapped, firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. The heat and smoke of a fire are overpowering. Firefighters have the training, experience and protective equipment needed to enter burning buildings.

Establish a meeting place outside your house and everyone should proceed to this location immediately to take attendance and make sure everyone has escaped.

Crawl low under smoke.

Smoke contains deadly gases and heat rises. During a fire, cleaner air will be near the floor. Teach your family that in a fire they must stay low to the floor to avoid smoke and intense heat. If you encounter smoke when using your primary exit, use your alternate escape plan. If you must exit through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees keeping your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor.

Revise your escape plan as circumstances change in your household. Make sure everyone including young children, older adults and people with disabilities are included.

Remember - children sleep very deeply.

Adults need to make sure that children know the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do if they hear it. You can find out who can hear the smoke alarm if you have a fire drill when everyone else is sleeping. If anyone in your home does not wake to the smoke alarm or requires assistance getting out, plan to designate an adult to help them escape.

Summer of Safety - Keeping Our Seniors Safe

By: Master Firefighter Tim Burns

Yesterday afternoon members from Company 16 - A Shift engaged with residents of the Oaks apartments in Silver Spring as part of the MCFRS Summer of Safety program. Fire Station 16 did blood pressure checks, handed out safety literature, assisted residents with completing a "File-of-Life," and were available to check smoke detectors as needed.

The Oaks has a high concentration of seniors, one group that MCFRS has identified as a target for this safety program.

To schedule something similar for your building and/or organization, contact your local fire station.

Battalion Chief Howard-Richards Appears on Today Show Promoting Summer of Safety Tips

This morning MCFRS’ own, Battalion Chief Dee Howard-Richards, appeared on NBC’s Today Show promoting a wide variety of summer safety tips.  The tips fit in nicely with our “Summer of Safety” outreach initiative all of our fire stations are currently engaged in.  Learn more here: Fire Chief Steve Lohr Kicks Off a “Summer of Safety”

In case you missed it this morning, we have taken the liberty of posting Chief Howard-Richards appearance below.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Don't Become a Fireworks Casualty This July 4th

Below is a quick and friendly reminder from our partners in safety at the National Fire Protection Association. Remember, all fireworks are illegal in Montgomery County.

Please do not become a statistic this year! Leave fireworks to the professionals!