Spring into Fire Safety - April Edition

Spring into Fire Safety – April Edition

Clothes Dryer Maintenance

The Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services suggests that residents take a few extra steps to remain fire safe this spring.  According to the United States Fire Administration, nearly 3,000 clothes dryer fires occur each year. Estimates from those fires indicate, 5 people are killed, 100 are injured and property loss results in $35 million dollars.  Failure to clean the clothes dryer is the leading cause of these types of home fires.  To prevent this from happening in your home, a few steps should be taken:

The lint filter must remain in place and properly fit the dryer.  Lint is a highly combustible material that can accumulate both in the dryer and in the dryer vent.

       

Prior to and immediately following a load of laundry, the lint filter must be cleaned.  Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow and can pose a potential fire hazard.

       

Vent system piping should be inspected to ensure it is not crushed or damaged.  A compromised vent will not exhaust properly to the outside.

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Vent system openings should be inspected for possible airflow restrictions (vegetation, animals) or damage.  Blockage in dryer exhaust vents can occur from the nests of small birds or other animals.

Wall dampers should remain in place to keep environmental elements out.  Increased moisture buildup from snow and rain entering the opening can cause lint accumulations at the exhaust opening.

Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct to limit airflow restriction and buildup of lint in piping.  Flexible ductwork is more susceptible to exhaust path blockage from hose compression and lint buildup.

Know what you are drying:  Don’t dry items that may be flammable, glass fiber materials, items containing foam, rubber or plastic.  Multiple washings should be completed to minimize any volatile chemical contamination.

Don’t overload the dryer or leave it running when away from home.

In addition to these simple steps, residents should ensure that they have working smoke alarms both inside and outside of all sleeping areas.  Deadly gases and smoke can spread throughout a home quickly, it is important that residents receive warning at the earliest time possible.  For additional information about smoke alarms, visit our website at:  https://frederickcountymd.gov/index.aspx?NID=2321.

Frederick County Preparing for Winter Weather

	Winter Storm Watch
	**WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING**     THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.     * PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW AND SLEET WILL CHANGE OVER TO FREEZING RAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON. FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL LATE SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY MORNING BEFORE CHANGING TO RAIN.   * ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET AND A QUARTER INCH OR MORE OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE.   * TIMING...SNOW AND SLEET ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SUNDAY MORNING. A CHANGEOVER TO FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED MIDDAY SUNDAY AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHT BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO RAIN LATE SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY MORNING.   * TEMPERATURES...AROUND 30 DEGREES.   * WINDS...LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS.   * IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE PROBABLE DUE TO SLICK ROADS AND ICY CONDITIONS SUNDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO MONDAY. INCREASED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.
	A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS Some helpful safety tips from the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services: When possible, avoid travel during snow and ice events. If you must drive during these types of weather incidences adhere to the suggestions below: Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists. Keep your lights and windshield clean. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads. If your rear wheels skid... Take your foot off the accelerator. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal. If you encounter an emergency incident..  Slow down and move over.  Pay attention to the activity in your driving lane and any directions that are given by traffic control personnel (fire police, law enforcement and/or highway workers). Have an safe and enjoyable weekend.  Happy Holidays from Frederick County DFRS.

Fire Marshal’s Office Issues Total Ban on Outdoor Burning

(Frederick County, MD, November 13, 2013) – The Frederick County Fire Marshal’s Office has issued a total ban on outdoor burning effective immediately until 6:00 p.m. today. All outdoor burning, including recreational fires, is prohibited.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement earlier this morning for Frederick County that stated conditions consisting of gusty winds, low relative humidity and low fuel moisture will enhance the threat for the spread of wildfires.

For further information contact Captain Steve Leatherman at 301-600-2073 or via e-mail at sleatherman@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

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DFRS Budget Clarification

Please read the e-mail and open letter, to all Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Personnel, below from Blaine R. Young, President, Board of County Commissioners, Frederick County, Maryland

From: Young, Blaine
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 10:06 AM
To:
Subject: DFRS Budget Clarification

Good morning,

Thank you for your service to the citizens of Frederick County.

I have attached a letter related to DFRS spending.  Please share it with anyone who does not have access to email.   Please circulate the letter and post it in all stations.

As always, you can reach me by calling my office at 301-600-2336 or my cell at 301-748-3218.

I have included the letter below my signature for your convenience.

Thank you,

Blaine

November 7, 2013

To all Volunteer Fire and Rescue Personnel:

I wanted to contact you not only as the President of the Board of County Commissioners (Board) but also as the Commissioner Liaison to the Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association to dispel an inaccurate rumor that has been circulating. 

It has come to my attention that some individuals have been spreading a rumor that the new fire chief has a “blank check” to spend and operate as she pleases and that she has been expanding the budget for personnel in the Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS).  This is NOT TRUE!

As a bit of background information, since Chief Pouget’s tenure began with DFRS, the upper management structure of the division has changed and the number of positions has been reduced.  Under the previous division director, there were three bureau chiefs and a director of Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services.  This consisted of four executive level management positions.  Under the current fire chief, there are now two deputy chiefs.  We now have two executive level management positions, a 50% reduction in management.  The Director of Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services position was eliminated, and one bureau chief position remains unfilled and will not be backfilled at that level; the level of the backfill depends on the results of the Classification and Compensation Study under way by Fields Consulting.

It should be noted that two short-term contractual individuals have been retained to prepare long term plans for the division.  One individual will be correcting major flaws in the procurement process and the other individual will be putting together a one year, a five year, a ten year and a twenty year plan for DFRS.  This type of long term planning has never been done in the division.

Previously, total senior management in the division comprised 14 individuals; 3 bureau chiefs, 1 director of Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services, 9 battalion chiefs, and 1 captain.  Under Chief Pouget we now have 12 individuals performing these tasks.  This now includes; 2 deputy chiefs, 9 battalion chiefs, and 1 captain.  The salary/position savings to the division and to the taxpayers totals $394,021.

This is a smaller, leaner and yet more effective organization.

Additionally, this Board finally has taken the responsibility to task a true director or fire chief to take action, be a pro-active manager, and expect results and accountability.  In order to allow the fire chief the flexibility to manage her agency we have instituted a new budgeting mechanism.  This is a form of zero based budgeting.

The fire chief will not receive additional budget funds, and will have to go through the same budgetary review and appeals process of every other government agency in Frederick County.  However, she will have the ability to start every budget category in the division at zero dollars, not to look at past budgets, but to build in funding on what she believes are the priorities to provide the most effective and efficient public safety agency possible!

This budget starts at a total funding level of the previous fiscal year.  There will be no budget increases built in to the division’s budget.  If there is a need for additional funding, the fire chief will have to go through the normal budgetary process and appeals.

If the Board is going to demand accountability and results, we must properly allow that agency to be run in a way that meets that requirement.

I hope that I have addressed this rumor and any concerns that anyone might have.  The volunteers are the backbone of our great fire and rescue services agency and we would not be able to provide the outstanding and quality public safety services to our citizens without your involvement.  The Board and I are appreciative each and every day for your dedication and commitment to Frederick County.

Sincerely,

Blaine R. Young

P.S. Please make this letter and email available to those who have concerns about DFRS spending. Thank you!