PGFD PROFILE - Deputy Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III recently appointed Corey A. Smedley to the position of Deputy Fire Chief.  The appointment was effective December 29, 2014.

Deputy Fire Chief Corey A. Smedley began his career as a firefighter with the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department in June 1995.  Previous to becoming a member of the fire service, he served in the Army Reserve for 10 years.  Over the course of his tenure with the Department, the 19-year veteran has worked in Emergency Medical Services, Special Events Unit, and the Office of the Fire Marshal.    

  

Prior to being appointed Deputy Chief by County Executive Baker, III, Smedley was the Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety, where he assisted with strategic planning initiatives.  He also was entrusted as the liaison with Police, Fire/EMS, Corrections, Homeland Security, Office of the Sheriff, States Attorney and the County’s judicial system.  His responsibilities comprised of public safety organizational management, policy development, and research and evaluation.  Additionally, he was the Fire/EMS Department’s liaison to the Insurance Service Office, which sets the fire insurance standards for each jurisdiction.

Deputy Chief Smedley holds a Master of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins University, Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media from the University of the District of Columbia, and an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic from Prince George’s Community College.  He is a certified Nationally Registered Paramedic, Maryland Police Correctional Training Commission Certified Law Enforcement Officer (inactive status), Inspector III, Instructor III and Fire Investigator.  In 2014, he earned his Certified Public Manager credentials from the George Washington University.  

Deputy Chief Smedley, a native of the District of Columbia, is the proud father of three sons, Cameron, Ceyon, Cemille.  His career in the fire service was inspired by his sister, Andrea Smedley, who was also a member of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and the first firefighter in their family.

When asked about his goals in this new position, Deputy Chief Smedley stated, “Public Service is one of the most rewarding professions on the planet.  What better way to serve than to support the public servants of this great department (Volunteer, Civilian, Career) through fiscal responsibility, human resource management, training, logistics/supply as well as building and maintaining the most state of the art community based Fire/EMS Stations” 

Train the Trainer - All Hazard Position Specific PIO Class at National Emergency Training Center

I will be instructing a Train the Trainer - All-Hazards Position Specific Public Information Officer Class at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The course still has some vacancies and scheduled to be conducted on the date as noted below:

• E-953 All-Hazards Position Specific Public Information Officer TtT on March 16 – 20, 2015

The class is a week long with on-campus housing provided for you. Check with your State Training Officer on having food and transportation covered as well. The PIO Class itself is free of charge.

The NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program is designed to provide additional training for persons serving on the nation’s Incident Management Teams (IMT’s), or to those persons who are working to be become involved in doing so. Given that, the following prerequisites are required for admission into these courses:

• IS-100, 200, 700, & 800
• ICS 300 & 400
• Previous completion of the class the student is looking to teach, or have served actively in the position on an IMT within the past
5 years, or have demonstrated experience in the field that can be documented and verified by the appropriate State Training
Officer or authorized Federal representative.
• Qualified as an instructor or Teacher with the appropriate credentials (NFPA 1041 Level II, Teaching Certificate, etc.)

If you possess the above qualifications, have experience in serving on an Incident Management Team or similar position within the ICS system and you have a desire to teach one of these dynamic courses of instruction, please submit a completed FEMA Application Form # 119-25- through your respective State Training Officer to NETC Admissions.

There are also vacancies in the following NETC class as well:

•             E-957 All Hazards Position Specific Liaison Officer TtT on April 8 – 9, 2015

https://training.fema.gov/apply/119-25-1.pdf

Thanks,

Mark E. Brady
Chief Spokesperson/PIO
Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department

mebrady@co.pg.md.us

@PGFDPIO on Twitter

WJLA Brad Bell Report - Annapolis fire and how to protect your home from fire - "Heart Breaking"

Berwyn Heights House Fire - Seminole Place

Mark Brady, PGFD PIO, 240-508-7930 A father and daughter were rescued by three Good Samaritans from their burning Berwyn Heights. A neighbor, passerby and a volunteer firefighter pulled the pair to safety prior to the arrival of firefighters.

The woman, 60ish years of age, and her 80ish year old father were transported to a Burn Center for treatment of smoke inhalation injuries. The daughter has been treated and released while the fTher remains hospitalized for observation.

Firefighter/Medics were alerted at about 9:15 this morning to a house fire in the 6200 block of Seminole Place in Berwyn Heights. Units arrived to find fire showing from a bedroom window from the 1-story single family home. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Two firefighters were injured while battling the fire. One sustained a shoulder injury and the other sustained minor burns. Both were transported to medical facilities, treated and released.

Fire Investigators determined the cause to be accidental and attributed to a cigarette. The fire caused an estimated $75,000 in fire loss.

The two family members may have escaped without injury, however, the home did not have any working smoke alarms. Having working smoke alarms combined with a home escape plan increases the chances of surviving a home fire by over 50%.

When It’s Cold Outside, Pets Get Cold Too! For immediate release:  1/28/2015 12:00:00 AM For more information, contact:  Linda Lowe, Public Information Officer, Department of the Environment/301-883-5952 ​ Follow these ‘pawtection’ tips to keep your pet safe in cold weather LARGO, MD – Can’t stand being outside in the cold temperatures?  Imagine how your pet feels.  When frigid air hits, the Prince George’s County Animal Management Division reminds pet owners that if it’s too cold for you to be outside, it’s too cold for your pets and advises owners to keep their animals indoors and to closely monitor their exposure to winter elements.  But if your pet must stay outdoors, County law requires you to provide the following protection: ·         A dog house of appropriate size that is dry, draft free and elevated off the ground. ·         A wind flap attached to the doghouse to keep cold air out and warm air in. ·         Non-absorbent bedding like straw or wood shavings to help keep the dog warm. ·         Fresh drinking water; routinely check your pet’s drinking water to make sure it is not frozen and use a secured container to prevent tipping.   Other cold weather safety tips pet owners should consider include:   Keep kittens and puppies under six months, and small or short-haired dogs inside. Consider indoor house training for puppies as they do not handle cold temperatures like their mature counterparts. Consider dressing your pet in specially made coats or sweaters; some pet owners also use booties or other shoe like foot protection. Increase your pets protein to help keep the pets fur healthy. Don’t let your dog off its leash in the snow or ice; they can easily become lost and snow and ice can be dangerous when they are running loose.  Make sure your pet always wears ID tags and is properly licensed and microchipped. Wipe or dry your pet’s feet, legs and stomach when they come in out of the sleet, snow or ice. Never leave your pet in a closed car in the winter. Cold temperatures can quickly create a freezer-like environment in a car putting your pet at risk of hypothermia and frostbite.  Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep with a blanket or pillow, away from drafts. Check your car. Outdoor and feral cats seek shelter from the cold under car hoods, in wheel wells and underneath cars. Knock on the hood and honk the horn to remove any cats nestled in these areas.      If you’re looking for a dog or cat to keep warm in your home, contact the Animal Services Facility at (301) 780-7200 or visit www.princegeorgespets4us.com.   # # #   For more information please visit our website news page. Subscriber Services: Manage | Help Subscriber or Web Questions? Contact County Click 3-1-1 Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. This email was sent to mebrady@co.pg.md.us using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Prince George's County Maryland · 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive · Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-3050 · 3-1-1 (inside County) or 301-883-4748 (outside County)

Riverdale Family Exposed to High Levels of Carbon Monoxide

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

A Riverdale family was apparently exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) overnight and became sick.  Fortunately, the family woke up and was alert enough to leave the home.  They went to a nearby clinic as all six family members were suffering from flu like symptoms.

At around 8:30 am today a clinic associated with a local hospital notified the Fire/EMS Department they were treating six people that arrived at their facility initially complaining of headaches and nausea.  After some quick testing the clinic determined they were all suffering from CO exposure. 

The clinic provided the families address and the Fire/EMS Department responded to the home in the 6000 block of Sheridan Street.  The home was first searched for anyone else still inside.   A sick dog was removed from the house to the exterior and a fresh air environment.  The dog is currently doing fine and is with firefighters awaiting for County Animal Management officials or a family member.

Firefighters detected 200 parts per million (ppm) of CO which is considered very high.  A normal CO reading would be between 0 – 35 ppm.  Any reading over 35 ppm is considered unhealthy. 

The family told hospital staff that they just had a new water heater installed yesterday.  Firefighters turned off all appliances and gas to the house and have notified the gas company of the situation.

CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas and is referred to as the “The Silent Killer.”  The properties of CO (colorless, odorless and tasteless) make it nearly impossible to detect without monitoring equipment. A working CO detector is the only method residents can use to detect the presence of CO. CO detectors are inexpensive and can be purchased at hardware and home improvement stores.  We recommend the use of 10-year CO detectors.

CO results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion and/or the inadequate ventilation of CO after normal combustion. Sources of CO include unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages.  A broken or malfunctioning ventilation system for these appliances is often found to be at fault for the release of CO into the home.

CO Poisoning Prevention Tips

• In Prince George’s County, it is now a law that you have at least one battery-powered CO detector on each level of your home and near sleeping areas, and make sure it is more than 5 feet from fuel-burning appliances to prevent false alarms.  The Fire/EMS Department strongly encourages the use of a 10-year CO detector.

• Ensure that fuel-burning appliances are properly installed and working according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Inspect these appliances for adequate ventilation.

• Do not burn charcoal inside your house, even in the fireplace.

• Do not use gasoline-powered generators inside of your house.

• Keep chimneys clear of animal nests, leaves and residue to ensure proper venting.

• Do not block or seal shut exhaust flues or ducts for appliances, such as water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers.

If It Happens to You

• Never ignore your CO detectors if it sounds.

• Determine if anyone in the household is experiencing symptoms of CO exposure symptoms such as a headache, nausea, drowsiness or confusion. Call 911.

• Exit your home. Leave the CO detector where it is.

• Do not return to your home until the emergency personnel have arrived, the home is aired out and your CO alarm returns to normal operation.

FORECAST IS AS COMPLEX AS THE STORM ITSELF - TIPS TO HELP STAY SAFE

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

The Fire/EMS Department wants to help keep you informed about a winter storm.  Precipitation will move into Prince George's County Sunday evening with a potential to continue through Tuesday afternoon.  Precipitation will be mixed at times and the forecast calls for anywhere between 1 to 3 inches. Everyone needs to remain informed about the changing forecasts.

We have included the most up-to-date forecasts from the National Weather Service and tips to help you stay safe

Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1156 AM EST SUN JAN 25 2015

...COMPLEX WINTER WEATHER COMING TO BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON REGION
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...

A COMPLEX WINTER STORM SCENARIO WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AND CONTINUE
THROUGH TUESDAY FOR THE GREATER BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON REGION.

LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT...THEN REDEVELOP
OFFSHORE OF CAPE HATTERAS AS A STRONG COASTAL STORM DURING THE
DAY MONDAY. THIS WILL GIVE THE GREATER BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON
REGION TWO SEPARATE BOUTS OF WINTER WEATHER.

THE FIRST ROUND OF PRECIPITATION WILL START EARLY THIS EVENING IN
WESTERN MARYLAND...EXTREME NORTHERN VIRGINIA...AND THE EASTERN
PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. IN THESE
AREAS...THE PRECIPITATION MAY START AS A PERIOD OF MIXED RAIN AND
SNOW BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW BY DAYBREAK MONDAY. THE
SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON MONDAY...MAKING TRAVEL
DIFFICULT PARTICULARLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 66 AND WEST OF THE BLUE
RIDGE. WINTER STORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR THIS REGION.

TONIGHT...AS THE PRECIPITATION PROGRESSES EASTWARD TOWARDS THE
INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR...RAIN WILL MIX WITH SNOW IN THE IMMEDIATE
BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN AREAS AS IT SPREADS
EASTWARD. HOWEVER...BY DAYBREAK MONDAY...PRECIPITATION SHOULD
CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND. SOME MODELS SUGGEST THAT
PRECIPITATION ON MONDAY WILL STAY ALL RAIN IN AREAS SOUTH AND
EAST OF WASHINGTON DC...SO THERE REMAINS CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY
FOR AREAS OF MARYLAND SOUTH OF ROUTE 50. WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE GREATER BALTIMORE AND
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREAS.

FINALLY...AS THE COASTAL STORM STARTS TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP LATE MONDAY
AFTERNOON OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST...A SECOND ROUND OF WINTER
WEATHER MAY FURTHER IMPACT THE REGION...THIS TIME PRIMARILY EAST
OF INTERSTATE 95. SNOW BANDS ALONG WITH GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS UP
TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND THE POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM
MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST TOWARDS CAPE
COD. AN ADDITIONAL 5 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE
COUNTIES ALONG MARYLAND`S PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. BLOWING
SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE...REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO BELOW ONE-QUARTER
OF A MILE AT TIMES. WINTER STORM WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE
MARYLAND COUNTIES DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO
FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM SYSTEM.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Prince George's County. The men and women of your Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department want you to help us by staying safe yourself.  Today's forecast is as complex as the storm itself.  This is a storm everyone needs to stay informed, stay ready and stay safe.  
Some of our highest concerns during a winter weather event is everyone driving, staying warm and power outages.

Stay Informed, Stay Ready, Stay Safe

• Stay prepared by bringing out your emergency preparedness kit and having a supply of essential items (food, water, warming items, radios, batteries, flashlights, etc.) available.

• Stay informed by monitoring TV news, news radio, National Weather Service radios and the Internet. Important information may be broadcast that could affect you and your family. Ensure your cell phones and lap top computers are fully charged now – before the storm occurs.

• Stay safe by keeping fire safety and injury prevention a priority in your activities. It is important to remember that fire apparatus and ambulances will be slower to respond to your emergencies due to the weather and hazardous driving conditions. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms now to ensure they are working. In the event of an emergency, have an escape plan and call 911 immediately from a safe location. 

• If possible, stay indoors and off the roads at all costs. Reduced traffic on roadways will allow public works crews an opportunity to clear a path that can be used by first responders to handle emergencies. If you must venture outdoors, dress warm and in layers, wear a hat and gloves, and cover your face with a scarf. 

• A winter storm always has the potential to cause power disruptions as snow and ice will collect on power lines and tree branch’s that will then come in contact with power lines. Do not approach a downed power line – always consider downed power lines to be “live.” Restrict access to the downed lines and call 911. 

• Speaking of calling 911 – please – only call 911 for emergencies. Activity for Fire and EMS service could be high. If you do not have an emergency you should call 311 for assistance. 

• In the event of power outages – use flashlights and battery powered lanterns for illumination – do not use candles. Ensure you have a battery powered radio. 

• Give space heaters space – keep space heaters at least 3-feet away from anything combustible like bedding, furniture, paper, etc. 

• Use only seasoned wood products in your fireplace and use extreme caution when disposing of fireplace ashes as they can remain hot for days after the fire is out. Dispose of ashes in a metal container outside and away from the house.

• Some winter storms produce enough snow and ice that will make it difficult to shovel, especially for those that have an existing heart condition or anyone over the age of 50. Limit shoveling to only a few minutes at a time, shovel smaller amounts, and take frequent breaks. 

• It is time to be a good neighbor – check on your senior citizen neighbors and ensure they have heat and food. Shovel their sidewalks and check on them frequently.

• Clear away snow from the fire hydrant on your street. If the fire hydrant is on your property; you are required to clear away the snow. 

• If you must drive – reduce your speed, increase the distance between you and the car in front of you, turn on your headlights, and do not be distracted by cell phones. Keep an eye out for pedestrians as they will venture out into the streets as sidewalks disappear.This information especially applies to 4-wheel drive SUV operators.

Finally, remember to think of our four-legged furry friends and keep your pets indoors. 

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Fire Department stands ready and prepared to provide the best emergency and non-emergency services available. We ask you to help us by preventing emergencies from ever occurring to avoid the need for us to have to respond to that emergency.

Remember, Safety First ensures Everyone Goes Home.

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Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1111 AM EST SUN JAN 25 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN
CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA AND CENTRAL MARYLAND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT MONDAY.

AS THE LOW PUSHES TO THE NORTHEAST...ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF
SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. A WINTER STORM
WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COUNTIES ALONG CHESAPEAKE BAY MONDAY
NIGHT UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING.

A GALE WARNING IS POSSIBLE ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY MONDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

---

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1040 AM EST SUN JAN 25 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 6 PM
EST MONDAY...

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW...POSSIBLY HEAVY AT TIMES.

* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 INCHES.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH
  LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR
  BETWEEN EARLY MONDAY MORNING AND MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 30S.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH.

* IMPACTS...ROADS WILL BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY WITH
  VISIBILITIES BEING REDUCED TO NEAR ONE-QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.
  THE COMBINATION OF SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITY WILL
  MAKE TRAVELING DANGEROUS.

* OUTLOOK...SNOW WILL CONTINUE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...WITH
  ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.