Lifeguards Honored with Everyday Hero Award For Saving Drowning Child

As summer temperatures rise and area pools see increased traffic, swimmers in distress are not always easily identifiable. Lifeguard Abigail Baruch Fry and Pool Manager Colleen Hamm were honored by officials from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service this past Saturday for their quick, decisive and life-saving actions on May 29th

when a 12-year old guest at the swimming pool was rescued from the bottom of the pool. The lifeguards immediately initiated the rescue, revived the child with CPR and the child was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and has since been released.  

Lifeguard Abigail Fry is a rising junior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and Colleen Hamm is a pool manager with Bethesda Aquatics who is currently applying to medical schools when she’s not saving lives. The 12-year old recently returned to the pool to receive swimming lessons, courtesy of his rescuers. Lifeguards from Bethesda Aquatics and Little Falls Swim Club receive extensive training to ensure they’re ready should duty call.  Video below is from WJLA Channel 7 report.

A-Shift Shares July 4th with the Local Community

A-Shift Shares July 4th with the Local Community, a set on Flickr.

A-Shift Shares July 4th with the Local Community

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Station 16 - Engine 716, Truck 716, and Ambulance 716 participated in the Woodmoor Community's July 4th parade. Woodmoor is one many neighborhoods in the 1st Battalion and they have a July 4th parade every year - of which the local fire station takes part in.

After the parade, the kids (and grown-up kids) get to look over the rigs. Led this year by Captain Dee Richards, the men and women of Station 16 A-Shift did another great job of community outreach - and had fun doing it!

Happy 4th of July! Leave Fire Works to the Professionals!

Recruit Class 37 – Coming To A Fire Station Near You Soon!

Recruit Class 37 – Coming To A Fire Station Near You Soon!, a set on Flickr.

By: Captain Jason Blake

Recruit Class 37 is finishing their training at the academy and have received their station assignments. The "Grand Finale" of their fire/EMS training occurs over a long and physical demanding day that the recruit's family gets to see them in action. Recruits are assigned to riding positions on engines, trucks, ambulances and rescue squads with lieutenants and captains from the field. They are dispatched and respond to calls on the 56 acres of the academy. A wide variety of calls occur over an eleven hour time frame with everything from building and car fires, to sick people and assaults. Recruits even deliver a baby in a car. There are over 50 scenarios that occur and are very realistic with smoke, fire and moulage of victims that make the most seasoned firefighter to look twice.

Thank you to Chief Clemens, Captain Carter, Lt. McDonald, Academy Staff and Adjuncts for training the largest recruit class in the history of the department.

MCFRS Significant Incident Map

This map is for incidents last week Sunday, June 23 – Saturday, June 29.

View MCFRS Significant Incident Map in a larger map