Silver Spring House Fire

Montgomery County, MD - - -  At approximately 9:05 AM on Sunday, January 11 fire and rescue units from MCFRS were dispatched for a house fire at 9711 Admiralty Drive, Silver Spring. First arriving units reported fire and smoke showing from the basement windows of a one story single family home.

As the fire appeared to be well advanced, due to portions of the first floor having already been burned through, Incident Command requested that a Rapid Intervention and Task Force assignment be dispatched bringing additional units and personnel to the scene. Approximately 75 firefighters total responded to the scene.

Fire Investigators proceeded to conduct an origin and cause investigation that determined the fire originated in the ceiling void space of the basement. This continuous void space in the ceiling area allowed for extensive fire spread prior to the fire being discovered by a neighbor, as the occupants were not home, who noticed smoke coming from the house.

The cause of the fire is listed as accidental. Three adults were displaced as a result of the fire which caused $200K of damage to the structure and $50K to the contents. Two cats were missing an unaccounted for.

Photos of fire can be found HERE

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Damascus House Fire

Montgomery County, MD - - -  On Saturday, January 10 at around 4 PM, units from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue as well as Frederick and Carroll County’s were dispatched for a report of fire in the basement at 28408 Kemptown Rd., Damascus.

First arriving units encountered heavy fire in the basement and first floors of a two-story, single-family house. The fire had entered the interior walls and extended upwards creating a stubborn fire behind both vinyl and wood siding. After significant effort, the fire was eventually brought under control and then extinguished.

MCFRS Fire Investigators were requested and the resulting examination revealed that the fire was caused by a propane fueled construction heater. The homeowner, while upstairs, heard a loud noise in the basement and upon entering the basement discovered the fire and attempted to extinguish it. He received minor burns to his face for which he refused any treatment.

The cause of the fire was accidental. Damage is estimated to be $200K to the structure and $100K to the contents. Two adults and one dog were displaced as a result of the fire. Approximately 75 Firefighters from Montgomery, Carroll and Frederick were on scene. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for an injured leg after slipping on the ice. The home did have a working smoke alarm.

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MCFRS Gives Tips on Winter Water Safety

Md. Fire Department Gives Tips on Winter Water Safety « CBS DC

Preventing Frozen Fire Sprinkler Pipes

Automatic fire sprinkler systems have enjoyed an enviable record of protecting life and property for over 100 years.  Since early 2004, Council Bill #25-03 requires fire sprinkler systems be installed in all new single-family homes in Montgomery County.  Several years prior required fire sprinklers in newly built apartment/condo type residential homes as well as townhouses.  

Because of this critical life safety initiative, MCFRS knows there are a good number of single and multi family homes, along with commercial buildings, that are equipped with life-saving fire sprinkler systems. 

All people who live in homes with fire sprinklers, along with apartment/commercial building owners and management companies, need to take time ensure that these systems are protected against pipes freezing.  

Preventing Frozen Fire Sprinkler Pipes 

• If fire sprinkler piping is exposed to outside temperatures, it should be heated or adequately insulated. 
• Keep doors, garage doors, windows and vents closed when not in use as resulting drafts might allow cold air to contact the piping. Repair any broken windows, doors or any cracks in exterior walls that may be near any fire sprinkler piping.
• Most fire sprinkler pipes are within the walls and/or ceilings of a home. Cold air can possibly enter these hidden spaces through small gaps in the exterior sheathing and insulation and find its way directly onto the fire sprinkler pipes. Try to find and repair these gaps.
• In attics, the pipes should be as close to the ceiling as possible with insulation placed over the top of the sprinkler pipe.  Inspect the sprinkler pipes that are in the attic and if you see pipes exposed then they need to be insulated immediately.
• Adequate heat should be provided to all areas by use of the existing heating system of the home rather than other means such as space heaters.
• Do not use temporary heating equipment such as kerosene space heaters or other un-vented portable fuel-burning space heaters as these heaters can increase the risk of fire and potential health hazards such as Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
• Do not use torches or other open flame devices to thaw pipes or other equipment.
• In case a pipe bursts ensure all family members know the location of the water shut-off valve and the proper method to turn it off to minimize damage.
• A lot of times expanding ice within the pipe can cause a crack but the ice will block the flow of water while it is frozen. In this situation, the water damage may not be apparent until after the ice melts and water is able to flow out of the cracked portion.

Is it Flu or Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Winter is here and thousands of adults and children will experience "flu-like" symptoms. But not all such cases are caused by the flu virus. Some victims actually have been unknowingly exposed to carbon monoxide (CO), which can result in serious injury or even death.

From CPSC web site

In fact, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be quite similar to flu symptoms, which can sometimes even mask a CO poisoning. The longer CO symptoms are overlooked, the more difficult it becomes to treat victims effectively.

The symptoms of CO generally progress as exposure increases. If exposure is prolonged, symptoms can become life-threatening, including increased heart rate, loss of consciousness, convulsions and seizures. Coma, brain damage and death can result if exposure is severe.

Carbon monoxide cannot be detected by human senses. The only safe way to detect it is to properly install CO alarms in the right locations in the home. Surprisingly, 75 million American homes do not have CO alarms. In addition to installing CO alarms, watch for these symptoms of CO poisoning:

MINOR SYMPTOMS

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Irritability
• Blurred vision

MODERATE SYMPTOMS (in addition to minor symptoms)

• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Severe headache
• Difficulty thinking

SEVERE SYMPTOMS (in addition to moderate symptoms)

• Increased heart rate
• Loss of consciousness
• Convulsions/seizure

During winter the chance of CO poisoning increases so please make sure to ask the question "Is it flu or CO poisoning?" Don't wait until it's too late to install CO alarms. For more information, visit www.knowaboutCO.com