Accepting Firefighter Applications - May 1 through 17

Hiring Flyer 2013-4

Department Mourns the Passing of Former Fire Chief

Montgomery County, MD - - - Former Fire Chief Thomas Carr, praised for his tireless service and outstanding leadership, passed away on April 24^th in Charleston, South Carolina following complications from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare neurological disorder that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

Carr was named the Chief of the Charleston Fire Department in November 2008 after retiring as Fire Chief of the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service. He was instrumental in helping the Charleston Fire Department recover from the loss of nine firefighters following the Sofa Super Store fire in 2007 and set into motion critical transformations to mold the Charleston Fire Department into a modern service. In April of 2010, Chief Carr announced to the public his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease and pledged his continued commitment to lead the Charleston Fire Department for as long as he could. In March 2012, he retired toMSA.

focus on his battle with the more deadly

Chief Carr was named FIRE CHIEF’s 2010 Career Chief of the Year for his outstanding leadership and desire to improve the fire service. He was referred to as the “firefighter’s firefighter” and someone who earned his following through innovation and respect.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chief Tom Carr. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and will probably be best remembered as a world class leader responsible for helping generations of firefighters and as the architect of the Nation’s Urban Search & Rescue Response System and the County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team”, said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “He compiled an unparalleled record of public service and achievements and his loss is deeply felt.”  

“The fire service has lost a great leader and we’ve lost a great friend,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “Chief Carr was respected nationally and internationally. Under his leadership, the department added 4-person staffing, collective bargaining for volunteers and raised education and training standards. He led the department’s successful efforts to become a nationally accredited fire department and was a man of great vision, passion and integrity who led from the heart. His  impact will be felt for many years to come.”

Carr began his career in 1973 as an 18-year-old volunteer paramedic with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County (MD). He was hired as a career firefighter/paramedic in Montgomery County (MD) in 1977 and progressed through the ranks. He became the first operational fire chief of the Montgomery County Fire Rescue service in 2004. He was a long-standing advocate of the fire service, especially firefighter safety, and leaves a strong legacy of innovation and professionalism that will be felt for years to come.

Chief Carr is survived by his wife Anne, son West, daughter Amy, his parents, a brother and sister.

Services in Charleston, are being planned.

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A Rapid Intervention Company (RIC) Training Evolution

By: Lt. Pete Hageman

Part of the MCFRS Rookie Probationary training package includes running simulated scenarios that involve following a hose line in smoke, search and rescue, and different rescue drags.  So at Rockville Station 3 today, crews completed a Rapid Intervention Company (RIC) training evolution to meet these objectives.

Click on photo for more

A RIC is a crew of firefighters whose assignment at a fire scene is to be on stand-by, and at the ready, to leap into action if a firefighter (FF) or two become trapped inside a structure during a fire incident. 

The evolution involved crews entering into a “Mayday” situation (firefighter trapped) with a RIC pack and Thermal imager going down into the basement of Station 3 following the hose line.  Face pieces (worn on a FF’s face to breath air from an air pack) were blanked so zero visibility, which occurs in real fires, was obtained.  Once the crews found the downed firefighter he was rescued first to the bottom of the stairs, and then while running low on air, up a flight of steps to the outside in an area of refuge. 

The training drill was successful and all learned the enormous exertion it takes to extract a downed firefighter from a structure fire.

MCFRS Significant Incident Map

Sunday, April 14 – Saturday, April 20

View MCFRS Significant Incident Map in a larger map

A Day in the Life at the Public Safety Training Academy

A Day in the life at the Public Safety Training Academy, a set on Flickr.

As with many professions our MCFRS Firefighters are no strangers to continuing education and advanced training programs. Just about every single day at our Public Safety Training Academy, there are classes and training that occur to review basic skills, learn new skills/techniques, and enhance career development.

Some classes are strictly classroom only while others, as in the accompanying photos, require hands on learning. Our Firefighters train hard, and learn the latest techniques, so we are ready to assist those who need our help no matter what the situation.

Stay Safe,

Bill D