Remember!

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Honoring those who lost their lives 8 years ago today.

September is National Preparedness Month

Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month?  We here at Montgomery County Fire and Rescue encourage all of our community members to focus on individual and family preparedness at home, at work, and at school.

I would encourage all of you to take a moment and look at the links below to see what you and your loved ones can do to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies.  It could be as simple as testing your smoke alarm and making sure you have a home escape plan!

Do you use battery powered lighting equipment instead of candles when the power is out?  You should!

Many more tips and information can be found here:

Be Ready!

Montgomery County Emergency Preparedness Information

Make Sure Your Child Is Prepared For A Fire

Home Safety Check List

Be SAFE!

Bill Delaney
Program Manager - Community Safety Education

Division of Community Risk Reduction Services
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue

Chief James Seavey Sr. Named Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief James Seavey Sr. of the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department was recently named the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Chief Seavey was cited for having "led his department heroically in times of crisis, including administering the department’s staff and operations while his apparatus responded to the Pentagon following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks." In addition, he has cultivated a relationship with the Halsenbek Volunteer Fire Department just outside of Hamburg, Germany, that has created an opportunity for cultural, educational, and technological exchanges between U.S. and German fire services.

At the age of 16, Chief Seavey started his career in the fire service as a volunteer at his neighborhood fire station, the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County. While attending High School at Walt Whitman, he completed almost every class the Public Service Training Academy (PSTA) had to offer. When he became a student at Montgomery College he applied for a job as a part time fire fighter. In April 1979 he was hired by the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department (CJPVFD) to work at station 30 on Falls Road at a rate of $2.10 per hour.

Eventually he was hired as a full time fire fighter in the District of Columbia where today he is a Lieutenant at Engine 17. On December 10th 1991, he was elected as Chief of the CJPVFD. After 33 years of service, Chief Seavey continues to serve his community proudly as a volunteer in this position. Now, it has become a family affair as Chief Seavey is proud to serve with his son who is a volunteer fire fighter at CJPVFD. Through the years he has served in many positions both county and state wide.

You can volunteer as a fire fighter, emergency medical technician, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), or a department support member. No experience is necessary and all training is free. We are looking for volunteers for just a few hours up to one shift a week or more. If you or anyone you know is interested in following in Chief Seavey’s foot steps and helping out your community, please take the next step and learn more by calling 240-777-2238 or email fire.recruiting@Montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County Fire Fighters are helping MDA "Fill the Boot" for Jerry's Kids!

Beginning today and running through Thursday and Friday September 3 & 4 Montgomery County Fire Fighters are helping MDA "Fill the Boot" for Jerry's Kids! You will see many of our fire fighter’s at various intersections throughout the county, fire boot in hand, accepting donations for this very worthy cause.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary that the Montgomery County Fire Fighters have collected for, and supported, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Jerry’s Kids. Last year we collected over $206,000.00 and placed number 9 in the country for funds raised by fire fighters. Our goal this year is to collect $250,000.00.

Collection times will be between 8 AM and 8 PM each of the three days.

Kitchen Fire Safety

Over the last several weeks, I have noticed what appears to be a high number of kitchen/ cooking related fires here in the County. Kitchen/cooking related fires are the leading cause of fires both locally and nationally so this should not come as a total surprise.

As with most fires, these types of fires are almost ALWAYS easily prevented! Most of the time the kitchen fire starts because someone left a pot or frying pan on the stove cooking and then left the kitchen or the house to go do something else. With no one there to “watch what you heat,” a fire is soon allowed to start and grow.

I thought it would be a good opportunity to remind everyone out there of ways to prevent the kitchen/ cooking related fire as well as to watch just how fast a fire can, and does, grow. The short video is from the spring of 2007 and it is still very relevant today! It was shot at our Public Safety Training Academy and done with our great friends in fire and injury prevention – The Home Safety Council.

As always, please BE SAFE today and please help us to prevent the 9-1-1 call!

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
Program Manager – Community Life Safety Education