Don’t Become a Statistic Tonight: SoberRide Offers New Year's Revelers FREE Ride Home!

MCFRS hopes all of you have a SAFE New Year’s Eve tonight! I want to make all of you aware of how you can get a free ride if you have had a bit too much to drink.  Drunk driving is a preventable incident – it is NOT an accident when one occurs!

So please take a moment to look at the information below to learn more. Pass along to any one you know who may be out and about celebrating tonight.  If even the slightest doubt please pick up a phone and call for a ride home. 

Stay Safe this evening!

Bill

How to Recycle/Dispose of Christmas Trees & Light Strings

A question that always comes up this time of year is what to do with the family Christmas Tree. Well, thanks to our friends in the Department of Environmental Protection – Division of Solid Waste, we have an answer.

Please take some time to go to their web site to learn how to properly Recycle/Dispose of Christmas Trees

In addition, you can also find some great information here on:How to recycle/dispose of light strings (Christmas lights / holiday lights)

 

As always – Be Safe!

A Close Call

By: Lt. Robert Furst

On Friday, December 26 at approximately 1 PM, MCFRS Firefighters were dispatched to a report of a house on fire.  Units arrived on scene and found a fence on fire - which we quickly extinguished before it reached the house.

Improper disposal of fireplace ashes caused this homeowner's fence to burn. The fire nearly spread to their house.

Please remember to discard your ashes in a metal container and store that container on a non-combustible surface.  A few related safety tips here: Fireplace and Wood Burning Safety.  See below for an example of a metal container.

Firefighter making sure fire is out

An example of a good metal container.

UPDATED to Include Mayday Video and Audio: Smoke Alarms Awaken Sleeping Occupants To House Fire

Updated 12/26/14

Just before 1 AM on Monday, December 22^nd fire and rescue units were dispatched to the 2200 block of Kings House Rd. for the report of flames coming from the house. Units from Burtonsville Fire Station 15 arrived on the scene and confirmed heavy fire from the structure. 

The occupants of the house were safely outside the home upon MCFRS arrival and indicated that they were awakened by the smoke alarms sounding thus allowing time to exit the burning home. Working smoke alarms save lives!

Due to the heavy fire conditions firefighters requested a 2^nd Alarm to assist.  At some point during fire suppression operations a Mayday was declared because a firefighter had fallen through a hole on the first floor into the basement. The firefighter was quickly located, rescued and evaluated and suffered no significant injury with no transportation to the hospital required.

Approximately 75 firefighters responded to the scene and brought the fire under control.  The fire is believed to have originated in the basement with the cause currently listed as undetermined.  Two adults were displaced and one cat is currently unaccounted for.  Damages were estimated at $600K to the structure and $200K to the contents of the home.

After the fire had been extinguished a high pressure pipe, below ground under a fire hydrant, broke and began leaking in the 14900 block of Peach Orchard Rd.  WSSC was contacted and responded to the scene to address. 


Video via Brett Russell Youtube Channel

Important Winter Fire Prevention Tips

Public Information Officer Pete Piringer recently appeared on FOX5 News to talk about winter and holiday fire safety.  Please take a moment to watch, learn, and take action if need be.


DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG