Driving in Fog - Safety Tips

The below is from Weather.com and I thought it appropriate for tonight and tomorrow mornings commute. Stay Safe - Bill 

Fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated), and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions. If you can't postpone your trip until dense fog lifts -- usually by late morning or the afternoon -- follow these tips: * Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. * Reduce your speed -- and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. * Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better. * Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility. * Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide. * Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic. * Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled, turn your vehicle's lights off, and take your foot off of the brake pedal. People tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury. Sources: National Weather Service, Wisconsin Department of Transportation

 

Can we find you in an EMERGENCY?

In an emergency, police, fire and rescue workers depend on house numbers to find YOU as quickly as possible. Finding your home - especially at night - can be challenging if address numbers are unreadable, hidden, unlighted or have missing numbers and may delay emergency responders from getting to you as quickly as possible.

Are your house numbers visible from the street? Are they set on a background of contrasting color? If your house is hidden from the street, are your numbers attached to a visible fence, mailbox or gate? Is your mobile home identified with your house number? If you live on a corner, does your house number face the street named in your address?

If you've answered "no" to any of these questions, please follow the guidelines below to make sure your house number is easy to read:

1. Numbers must be visible from the street. 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.
2. Numbers should be placed on a contrasting background, with a reflective coating on the numbers for easy visibility at night.
3. Repair or replace aging address number placards, especially on mailboxes that are a distance from the front of the residence.
4. Prune any bushes, tree limbs or other growth that has covered your house numbers.
5. Numbers should be placed on or beside the front door. If your door is not easily seen from the street, put the numbers on a post, fence or tree at the driveway entrance so they can be clearly seen from the street. In addition to numbers on the front door of your house, if you have a rural-style mailbox, reflective and contrasting numbers should be placed on both sides of the box so they can be seen by an emergency vehicle approaching from either direction.

Montgomery County Code on Addresses

1. The owner of any structure presently existing or constructed in the future must display Arabic numbers designating the address assigned to the structure by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, or by the municipality in which the structure is located. Numbers must be at least five (5) inches high for single-family detached and attached residences and at least six (6) inches high for commercial, industrial or multifamily structures. However, if the numbers designating the address of a single-family residence on April 5, 1988, were at least three (3) inches high, those numbers comply with the size requirement of this section as long as they remain in place. Address displays must be posted on a contrasting background displayed in a conspicuous place that is unobstructed and clearly readable from the street named in the official address of the structure. Where a structure has more than one (1) address or where more than one (1) structure shares a common entry or driveway, numbers must designate the addresses in sequence.
2. An agency of the county must not require a permit for a sign containing only the address of a residence if the sign is smaller than a maximum size set by the county executive by regulation.

Unique and Exciting Intern Position Available With MCFRS

MCFRS is seeking a highly motivated and creative individual as an intern who excels at working in a diverse and non–traditional work environment.  We want those candidates who are team players and enjoy working as part of a multi-discipline team.  The department also seeks those who can think on their feet and are able to complete assignments with little or no supervision.

It is the desire of MCFRS to provide this internship opportunity in the spring of 2013 to college undergraduates in their Junior or Senior year of study or those in graduate degree programs.  Based upon its potential success, MCFRS would like to extend the program into future semesters providing this valuable prospect to additional candidates. The number of hours per week will range from 10-20 based upon the degree and frequency of work.

The successful candidates will assist with the research and development of documents related to the agency accreditation process. The candidates will assist with reviewing, analyzing and collating data in an effort to identify conclusive trends and patterns related to resource deployment and emergency response. The candidates may assist with correspondence with other regional and national jurisdictions as well as members of the Commission for Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). One of the current projects that are under way is the development of a revised Standard of Cover document. This document will assist our agency in identifying a number of criteria:

• assessing community fire and non-fire risk
• defining baseline and benchmark performance objectives
• planning future station locations
• determining apparatus and staffing patterns
• evaluating workload and unit utilization
• measuring service delivery
• supporting strategic planning and policy development relative to resource procurement and allocation

The perspective candidates will possess the following skills and abilities:

• strong technical writing background
• strong research skills
• background in data analysis
• ability to develop and present graphical analysis with the use of Microsoft Excel
• strong written and verbal communication skills
• well organized
• ability to work independently
• Undergraduates in their Junior or Senior year of study or those in graduate degree programs

This is a non-funded internship.  This is a fantastic opportunity for those seeking to earn credit towards an undergraduate/graduate degree or just looking to enhance a Resume for future employment opportunities. 

If interested, please email Battalion Chief Derrick Anthony

About:

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) is an “all hazards” emergency services agency protecting Montgomery County, Maryland that is located just north of Washington, D.C. The county is comprised of approximately one million residents protecting an area of nearly 500 square miles and responds to 105,000 emergency incidents each year. Fire Chief Richie Bowers is responsible for MCFRS and has full operational and administrative authority over all facets of the service. The department is comprised of 1000 career firefighters and approximately 1100 volunteers who deliver service from over 40 work sites and 19 Local Fire and Rescue Departments (LFRDs). Go to our website to learn more about MontgomeryCounty Fire and Rescue Services. 

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Reimbursement Law

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Reimbursement Law, effective January 1, 2013, gives Montgomery County the authority to bill insurers for emergency medical transports.

• County residents who call for an ambulance will never receive a bill or pay a fee, co-pay, deductible or out-of-pocket expenses. For County residents without health insurance, the ambulance ride is covered because they are taxpayers.
• Whatever private insurers, Medicare or Medicaid pay for emergency medical transports will be considered payment in full.

County Executive Isiah Leggett's December 3 Letter to Residents about the new EMS Law.

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Probationary Firefighters Of The 1st Battalion

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

 

The 1st Battalion has seen its share of Probationary Firefighters over the years - many have gone on to become outstanding officers, Master Firefighters, and paramedics. Presently, there are SEVEN Probationary Firefighters assigned to the ...1st Battalion's A-Shift...and we took a moment the other day to get them all together for a group photo at Station 12.

It has been many years since we have had so many rookies on one shift in the 1st Battalion. When a new recruit firefighter graduates from recruit school - they must serve one year as a Probationary Firefighter (PFF). During that year they are assigned a preceptor who helps guide and mentor them through numerous practical skill and written assignments.

At the end of their probationary year, the PFF's must pass a comprehensive written and practical skill exam. When successful - they are granted "Merit System Status" and full employment.

The 1st Battalion is considered a "premier" probationary assignment because of the level of fire and EMS activity in the battalion and because of the comradarie of the men and women assigned there.

(L to R) Front Row: PFF Jeffrey Broyles (16A), PFP Aaron Branch (1A), PFF Matthew Machala (2A) - all three are graduates of Recruit Class 35. Back Row: PFF Jeffrey Henckel (15A), PFF Robert Travers (24A), PFF Paul Welsh (19A), and PFF Alex Akman (12A) - all four are graduates of Recruit Class 36.

Many thanks to Captain Couse (12A) for organizing and taking the photo.