Window Safety – Kids Can’t Fly

Windows play a vital role in home safety, serving as a secondary escape route in the event of a fire or other emergency, but they also pose a risk for a fall if safety measures are not followed. Safety tips to help prevent window-related injuries in the home:

• Never rely on window screens to keep children from falling out of windows. A screen is not a safety device - - it is designed to keep insects out, not to keep children in.


• Keep furniture such as sofas, beds and dressers away from windows. This will discourage children from climbing near any windows.


• Keep windows closed and locked when they are not being used.


• When windows are open for ventilation, take advantage of all safety features. If possible, open windows from the top and not the bottom if you have double-hung windows – the kind that can open down from the top as well as up from the bottom.


• Install safety devices such as window guards or window stops to help prevent falls.

Window falls can happen quickly and, in some cases, can be deadly. When keeping your kids safe, MCFRS reminds parents that no device can replace active supervision. For more safety tips, visit our website at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe.

Deck and Balcony Safety

Decks and balconies pose several hazards — the most serious being that your child could slip through the railings and fall, or become wedged in the railings and suffocate. Fortunately, with supervision and a few simple steps, you should be able to prevent these accidents.

Example of safe spacing on deck railing

If the railings on your deck or balcony create any gaps that are wider than 4 inches, you'll need to make some modifications to stop your child from squeezing through and to “child proof” the area. There are a number of options on the market to do this --cover the railings with plastic garden fencing, shade cloth, a sheet of clear plastic, or rigid sheets of Plexiglas.

Get in the habit of keeping patio furniture away from the railings -- this should include potted plants or other climbable objects.

Be aware of furniture light enough for a child to drag to the balcony's edge. You don't want to give your child a chance to climb up and go over the edge. 

Consider adding latches to any doors or windows that lead out to your balcony or deck. These latches should be installed well out of your child's reach.

Ensure children are always SUPERVISED.

Don't Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

Just a reminder that September is National Preparedness Month.  This years theme is: Don't Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

Please take a minute to watch the powerful video below from FEMA.  Then make time to sit down with your loved ones to talk about (and develop a plan) how to prepare for a variety of emergencies that could occur right here in Montgomery County.

'Cat Stuck In A Tree' Call

By: Lieutenant Rob Furst

On September 16th, 2015, a concerned resident called Fire Station 12. They spoke with the officer in charge stating that they knew that this was an "old school" request, but they would like help getting their cat down out of a tree. 

PE712 proceeded to the address to find a distraught resident whose cat had been missing for a day. The distressed feline was located approximately 30 feet off of the ground in the bifurcated trunk of a tree. The crew of PE712 and the resident were able to persuade the cat to come down to an area that was accessible with a roof ladder. Upon returning to the ground, the cat was reunited with its grateful owner.

Although these service calls are not common, we strive to be a customer service driven organization.

Related Story: Puppy stuck in pipe for hours freed by MoCo responders

Mark Your Calendars - Upcoming Fire Department Open Houses

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

Germantown VFD - Saturday, September 19; from 11-3 at Station 29
20001 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD

Bethesda FD - Saturday, September 26; from Noon - 3:30pm at Station 6
6600 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad - Saturday, October 3; 11 am - 4 pm
5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814

UPDATED Burtonsville VFD - Saturday, October 17; from 12 – 3 pm at Station 15
13900 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD

CANCELED Sandy Spring VFD – Sunday, October 4 at Station 40
16911 Georgia Ave., Olney, MD

Takoma Park VFD - Sunday, October 4; from 10 am - 5 pm at Station 2
7201 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912

Upper Montgomery County VFD - Sunday, October 4; from 1 to 4 pm at Station 14
19801 Beallsville Road, Beallsville, MD

Chevy Chase FD - Saturday October 10; from 10am to 3pm at Station 7
8001 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD

Cabin John VFD – Sunday, October 11; from 10-4 at Station 10
8001 River Rd. Bethesda, MD 20817

Gaithersburg - Washington Grove VFD - Sunday October 11; from 1000 to 1600 at Station 8
801 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD

Kensington VFD - Sunday, October 11; from 12-4 at Station 5
10620 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD

Glen Echo FD - Sunday, October 18; 11 am to 2 pm at Station 11
 5920 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD

Hillandale VFD - Sunday October 18; from 12pm-4pm at Station 12  Station 24 
13216 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD

Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad - Sunday October 18 from 1100-1600
2400 Arcola Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902