FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Routes for May 29 from 4 - 6 pm

While our crews are excited to see everyone, their first and foremost job is responding to emergencies. Because of this, we would ask that you please be understanding, as firefighter crews may need to alter, delay or cancel their routes.

IMPORTANT: We will not be able to drive through every Montgomery County neighborhood or down every street, but will do our best to make it to as many areas as possible. MCFRS crews will remain in service to respond to emergencies, so may get pulled away to respond to calls. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines and do not approach the fire trucks or equipment as they drive by. We can’t wait to see you … from 6 feet away.  Please be sure to check your smoke alarms and there’s never been a better time to have a home fire drill! 

How do I find out if MCFRS will be visiting my neighborhood? 

Below please find a listing of the communities and streets that we plan to visit on May 29th. Find your color-coded "Battalion" on the map and check out the list below.  

Battalion 1 

Downtown

Maple Ave

White Oak

Fairland

Woodmoor

Woodside Park

Wolf Acres

Battalion 2

Town of Somerset - Dorset to Surry to Graystone

Dunlop St-Glendale Rd-Kerry Lane-Cypress Pl-Cardiff Rd-Cardiff Court-Kerry Court- Kerry Rd-Club Dr

Carderock Springs Neighborhood- Fenway dr. Fenway rd. Hamilton Spring ct. Hamilton Spring rd. Park Overlook Drive, Lilly Spring Drive

Goldsboro-Tulip Hill - Mohican Rd - Wisscasset Rd - Dahlonega Rd - MacArthur Blvd - Walhonding Rd. - Tuscarawas Rd - Iroquois Rd. - Wehawken Rd

Greentree Rd, L Bradmoore Drive, R Roosevelt St., R Ewing Dr, R Beech Dr, R Linden Ave., L Alta Vista Ave,  R Kingsley Ave, L Elsmere Ave, to Broad Brook Dr to R Elmhirst Pkwy

Democracy Blvd. to Old Georgetown Rd. to Tuckerman Ln. to Rosemont Dr. to Wayside Dr. to Ralston Dr. to Windermere Circle

Stanmore neighborhood (Stanmore Dr to Pleasant Hill Dr to Belmart Dr to Brickyard Rd, including all side streets)

Edgemoor (Fairfax Road, Exeter Road, Mooreland La, Glenbrook Road, etc) & Battery Park (Glenbrook Road, Fairfax Road, Battery Lane, Park Lane, Goddard Road, etc. ) Battalion 3

Winding Rose Drive, Rose Petal Way, all cross streets in neighborhood

Whetstone Drive and all side streets from Montgomery Village Ave to Centerway Road

Hitching Post Ln, Farmland Dr, Old Stage Rd, Old Bridge Rd

Falls Grove Blvd to include all the streets between Shady Grove Rd, Darnstown Rd and West Montgomery Ave

Falls to Montrose to Seven Locks to Gainsborough to Bells Mill to Seven Locks to Tuckerman to Falls. We will also ride around the Park Potomac Neighborhood when we are in area of Montrose and Seven Locks.

Main St.- Darnestown Rd to Kentlands Blvd.. Chevy Chase St.- Kentlands Blvd. to Center Point Way to Main St.. Lakelands Dr. - Great Seneca Hwy. to Market St. E to Main St.

Battalion 4

Lake Hallowell neighborhood - Old Baltimore Rd. and cross streets - Georgia to Pond Ridge Ct.

Kensington Park

Glenmont Forest - Bordered by Randolph/Kendell/Judsonrd

Holiday Park neighborhood - Ferrara Drive, IndigoRd, Selfridge Rd, Mentone Rd, Pittson Rd, Charles Rd.

Longmead Crossing Drive and Cross Streets Between Layhill & Homecrest

Willimsburg Village - Area encompassing Cherry Valley Dr and Hines Road between Georgia Ave and Power lines.

Wheaton Hills Battalion 5

Little Bennett Drive, Bennett Chase Drive, Snowden Farm Parkway

Sweepstakes Road Neighborhoods

Poolesville (Westerly and Wesmond neighborhoods), Peach Tree Rd, Whites Ferry Rd

Town of Laytonsville, Golf Estates, Brooke Knolls

Father Hurley, Kingsview, Leaman Farm areas

Waterford Hills and Waters Road

Tall Pines, Virginia Pines, Seneca Crossing neighborhoods

Cabin Branch Ave, Broadway Ave, Fulmer Ave, Byrne Park Dr

Don't Overload Your Home

For Spanish click here

Kids are home from school. Adults are telecommuting. Home learning continues. If you are facing a full house it is more important than ever to make fire safety a top priority in your home. Technology is an important part of our lives -- especially in these COVID-19 days -- with  everyone plugged IN. With more people charging mobile devices, using laptops and desktop computers and appliances running at the same time, Fire Chief Goldstein is asking families to be fire safe and fire smart and is sharing some important electrical fire safety tips to protect your family now. . . and for years to come.

One of the Chief's simplest electrical safety tips is also one of the easiest to forget: when an appliance is not in use, unplug it. Not only does this save you power by reducing any phantom drain (the amount of energy the device consumes even when not actively in use) but unplugging unused appliances also protects them from overheating or power surges ... and igniting a fire.   

• Extension cords and power strips provide more outlets, NOT more power. (read again)
  Just because there are 6 outlets does not mean it is safe to use all of them.
• Don't get overloaded when using extension cords. Extension cords are rated for capacity based on cord length and gauge. Do not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations. If the requirements of the items you plan to plug in exceed the circuit capacity, you are overloading the circuit and creating a potential fire hazard. Unplug your brother's PlayStation instead.   

• Power strips do not play well together. Never "piggy back" or create a "daisy chain" with power strips. This means plugging one power strip into another power strip to increase the number of outlets. Creative? Yes. Dangerous? Very. Power strips are not designed to be used this way and doing so can result in a fire ... and then what are you going to do? 

• All extension cords and power strips are not created equal. Know what you are buying. Only purchase cords certified by an independent testing lab like UL (Underwriters Laboratory) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories). If there is no stamp or sticker on an electrical device you are thinking about purchasing, choose another product. 
• It is easy to exceed the capacity of the power strip and the circuit, so use caution when adding multiple appliances to the strip. Only use light-load appliances on power strips like computers, phones, lamps, clocks, etc. Major appliances like your refrigerator are not "light-load" (even if it's empty) and need to be plugged into a dedicated wall outlet.
• Use the right charger for the right product - that's the one provided by the manufacturer. Don't be tempted to pick up a cheap one on-line.They may not be compatible and may use  substandard materials or parts. Yep, increased fire risk. 

• Understand that a surge protector, which is a feature in some but not all power strips, may protect your electrical equipment (such as your computer) from damage in the event of a surge of electricity; it does not function to prevent fires. 
  
• Do not use power strips in damp or potentially wet areas such as a bathroom, a kitchen countertop or a garage that is not climate controlled. Water and power strips don't mix, and if they do, a fire or electrocution may result. If you must use a power strip in an area that is prone to moisture, buy one that is specially designed to be safe in such conditions. If you require a power strip in your garage, have a professional electrician hard wire a moisture-resistant one and mount it to a wall.
• Never hide or cover a power strip or extension cord with anything like a rug. Electricity generates heat and that heat needs to disperse. If the cord is covered the heat becomes trapped the risk for a fire greatly increases. 

• Periodically inspect the condition of power strips, including the cord and plug, test the reset button and make sure all plugs are firmly inserted into the outlets. If the power strip feels hot, or if a defect is found, discard the power strip and replace with a new one. Like, right away.

Bottom line: power strips and extension cords should be used with caution and are meant to be temporary and not permanent solutions. If you are using them on a more permanent basis, consider upgrading your home's electrical system by a qualified electrician. And thank you for staying home and staying safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic! We got this.
(and please don't forget to check your smoke alarms)

Last minute shoppers, still looking for a Valentine’s gift?

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials are recommending smoke alarms as the PERFECT Valentine’s gift for loved ones. Nothing says you mean everything to me like the 24-hour protection that comes with a smoke alarm. And while you are busy planning the perfect evening, make it memorable for all the right reasons. A few tips to keep in mind:

• Cooking up a great meal? Stand by your pan. Too many meals are ruined when cooks get distracted or forgetful and leave cooking unattended. As much as Fire/Rescue loves your cooking, you really don’t want us to have to extinguish that perfect meal. Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires so keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, paper or plastic bags, dish towels, newspapers and curtains – away from your stovetop, oven and appliances that generate heat.
• Candles may look festive and set the mood however unattended candles account for thousands of fires annually. The National Fire Protection Association reports that, on average, a candle fire in the home is reported to a US Fire Department every 30 minutes. Consider battery-operated, flameless candles instead. You really can’t tell the difference!
• Lighting up the fireplace? Make sure that’s all you light up. Believe it or not, every year people dispose of fireplace ashes before they have sufficiently cooled. Keep your ash out of the trash and only dispose of fireplace ashes in a sealed, metal container located far from anything combustible. Never dispose of fireplace ashes in your recycling bin, trash can, paper or plastic bags or in a garage, carport or on a deck or porch. 

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue wants you to have a great Valentine’s Day. Remember, smoke alarms save lives. They make great gifts, one-size-fits-all and MCFRS will even come out and check your alarms for free! Just call 311 or visit www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe for info.

Montgomery County Car Seat Program Keeps Our Kids Safe - Again!

October 31, 2019 (Aspen Hill Inspection Station) – During a routine car seat appointment at the Safe Kids Inspection Station in Aspen Hill, technician Master Firefighter Ian St. John with Fire and Rescue Service discovered a potential serious problem with a car seat.

During the visit, the parent asked the technician about rotating the rear-facing seat to a forward-facing position for her 3-year-old child.  However, the child weighed 25 pounds and, although this car seat allows children weighing 22 pounds to go forward-facing, the technician advised the parent that given the child’s lower weight, it was better to keep the child rear-facing. The parent agreed and taking advantage of the car seat being out of the car, the technician decided to vacuum the car seat.

While the car seat was being cleaned, the technician noticed that the shoulder harness straps were twisted. As the harness straps were being readjusted, the technician noticed a hesitation when the harness strap was pulled. Tracing the problem through the pathways of the car seat harness system, the technician found a cut and frayed harness strap. The cut was found in an area not usually seen and was only found by extending the straps completely during the inspection.

Frayed and/or cut harness straps can be dangerous because fraying could cause the harness strap to break. If the straps break, the car seat is inoperable. In a crash, the straps could break and lead to a serious injury.

In this case, the technician advised the parent that the frayed harness rendered the car seat inoperable.  The parent ordered a new car seat online and was provided a loaner car seat until the new one arrived.

Just another instance of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Car Seat Program working with caregivers in a partnership of safety.

For more information or to get your car seat(s) inspected, please call 240-777-2223 or check us out at:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/tips/parents/carseats.html

For online appointments click below:
https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/FRSCarSeat/

Thanksgiving Wins FIRST Place - For Most Cooking Fires!

More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein is urging residents to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and to keep safety at the top of everyone’s “to do” list this holiday season. “Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a rookie cooking your first holiday feast, the strategies for serving up a safe meal are the same,” said Chief Goldstein. “Unattended cooking is the leading cause of residential fires and we’re asking residents to follow these simple safety tips and to have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

Cooking Safety Tips:

Be alert! Stay in the kitchen when using the stove top and use a timer. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a minute, turn off the stove.

Keep anything that can catch fire at least 3 feet from the stove, toaster oven or other heat source. This includes pot holders, food packaging, dish towels, paper/plastic bags, etc.

Do not pour water on a grease fire. Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. In the event of a range-top fire, turn off the burner, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid or cookie sheet onto the pan. Leave the lid in place until the pot or pan has cooled.

Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup which can ignite.

Always wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking to prevent clothing from coming in contact with a burner and catching fire.

Do not hold children while cooking or carrying hot foods or drinks. Keep children at a safe distance from hot surfaces, liquids and other kitchen hazards.

 Plug microwaves and other kitchen appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all other appliances are turned off and that any candles or smoking materials are safely extinguished.

Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, test alarms monthly and change batteries annually or as recommended by the manufacturer if your alarm features long-life batteries.

Turkey fryers are becoming an increasingly popular choice to cook the Thanksgiving turkey and can be extremely dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. If your plans include using a turkey fryer, fire department officials urge residents to follow all manufacturer directions closely and to review the following safety tips: 

Turkey Fryer Safety Tips:

Never leave a fryer unattended.

By design, turkey fryers are prone to tipping over. Fryers should always be used on a non-combustible, flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

Fryers should always be used outdoors at least 10 feet from buildings and any flammable materials. Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage, porch or other enclosed space.

Do not overfill the fryer. The oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames resulting in a potential fire hazard that could engulf the entire unit.

Oil and water do not mix! Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer. Partially frozen turkeys can cause a spillover effect which may result in a fire. 

Some units do not have thermostat controls and, if not carefully watched, have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.

Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching the pot or lid handle. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot and can result in severe burns. If available, use safety goggles to protect your eyes from any oil splatter.

Keep children and pets away from fryers. The oil can remain dangerously hot even hours after use.

Following these simple fire safety tips can reduce injuries dramatically.  For more information about our fire safety programs or to request a free home safety evaluation or smoke alarm check, call 311 during business hours or visit our website at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe any time.

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