Better Safe and Ready, Than Sorry and Unprepared!

Hopefully by now all of you are aware of Hurricane Earl which is fast approaching the eastern sea board. Current projections indicate our immediate area will receive a brushing with very little impact on our community.

However hurricanes are very unpredictable and can alter course for better, or for worse, at a moments notice. With this in mind, the leadership of MCFRS are preparing as though Earl will alter course and head straight for us. Better safe, and ready, than sorry and unprepared!

The big question in my mind: will our resident’s adopt the same attitude? I certainly hope so as a large scale disaster will tax our department to the point of only being able to do so much for so many. The better prepared and able to help yourself during an emergency, such as a hurricane, the better off you and your loved ones will be and will allow us to focus on those who are experiencing true life threatening emergencies during and after a significant storm.

Please take a moment to learn more about being prepared for emergencies. Use this opportunity to prepare a Family Disaster Supply Kit if you do not have one. You may not need it now but you could at a moment’s notice in the future!

Follow the track and updates on the storm: Hurricane Earl

See below links that you might find helpful:

Preparing for Emergencies: A Checklist for People with Mobility Problems

Emergency Preparedness Checklist

Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness for the Disabled and Elderly (pdf - 1.34mb)
(American Red Cross)

Disaster Preparedness for Pets

Stay Safe!

Bill Delaney

Our Social Media Platforms Continue to Grow!

Today we passed the 1,000 follower mark for Twitter! Our Facebook fans/likes are approaching 3,000. Through Google Analytics, I am able to see that more and more folks are visiting each day.

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who do keep up with MCFRS. We would like to think we have a lot of diverse information that is of benefit to all of you. From safety tips to updates on significant emergencies, there is a little something here for everyone.

Thanks again and please encourage friends and family to check in on us.

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney
MCFRS Life Safety Education

Darnestown House Fire

At approximately 9:32 AM, MCFRS personnel from Cabin John, Clarksburg, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Laytonsville, and Rockville along with NIST (Federal Fire Station), were dispatched for a reported house fire in the 15000 block of Plainfield Lane in Darnestown.

First arriving units reported smoke evident from a second floor window. Two adult occupants of the home had already safely evacuated prior to fire-rescue arrival. A smoke alarm in the home did activate and alerted the homeowners of the fire. Fire Fighters quickly extinguished a fire that was in a bedroom in the front of the home (see photos).

Cause is currently under investigation and damage total is pending.

Home Fire Escape Planning At the Fair

Fire Fighter Stottlemyer is helping many kids develop a Home Fire Escape Plan here at the Fair. When the kids complete a plan, they are then rewarded with a plastic fire helmet!

Stop on by and see us if you are headed to the fair!
Stay Safe,

Bill
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Deal or No Deal at County Fair

Chief Jarboe of Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department just finished up a Deal or No Deal Fire Safety game at the County Fair. He will be playing more games as the day goes on. Stop by to see us and to play the game and learn something about fire safety!

Stay Safe,

Bill
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry