Space Heater Safety - Stay Warm Safely

"Close Before You Doze" - Life Saving Advice from Fire Chief Barksdale

Thanksgiving Day Fire Safety and Injury Prevention Tips #ThanksgivingSafe

Thanksgiving Week Safety Advice from PGFD

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Public Information Officer

 240-508-7930     mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

The Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department offers the following safety tips, to help ensure all citizens, residents and visitors will enjoy a safe and festive Thanksgiving holiday. Unfortunately, fire safety and injury prevention guidelines are often overlooked during the holidays. Prince George's County Fire Chief Benjamin M. Barksdale stated, "Everyone needs to keep Safety First and by doing so our citizens, visitors and businesses can avoid tragedy and disruption of their holiday festivities."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report examining the characteristics of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings. The report, Thanksgiving Day Fires in Residential Buildings, was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center.

The report is based on 2011 to 2013 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).  For each year, an estimated 2,100 residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day and caused an estimated 10 deaths, 50 injuries and $28 million in property loss.  The leading cause of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings is, by far, cooking. Additionally, smoke alarms were not present in 20 percent of Thanksgiving Day fires that occurred in occupied residential buildings.

If your Thanksgiving plans include a Turkey Fryer, this is another whole story by itself, click here for Turkey Fryer Safety Tips from 2015.

These safety tips work for every day of the year, however, home fires increase dramatically, twice as many, on Thanksgiving Day.  While these safety and cooking tips may not make Thanksgiving dinner taste any better--they will help to avoid potential disaster;

•    Overnight guests should be instructed on your exit drill from the home and designated meeting place for your family.  Sleep with bedroom doors closed (see video below).

•    Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room.

•    A standard Class ABC multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher is recommended. Know how to use your fire extinguisher.

•    Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven.

•    Keep the kitchen off limits to young children and adults who are not helping with food preparations. This will lessen the possibility of kitchen mishaps.

•    When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. Clothing can catch on fire and jewelry can become entangled with pot handles, causing spills and burns.

•    Cook on the back burners when possible, and turn pot handles inward so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.

•    Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch what is being cooked. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires and fire-related injuries in Prince George’s County.  According to the USFA; cooking is the leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings at 69 percent. Nearly all of these cooking fires (97 percent) are small, confined fires with limited damage.

•    If you use a deep fryer, please, exercise extreme caution and follow manufacturer instructions.  The report from the USFA found that these cooking devices accounted for about 1% of Thanksgiving Day fires.

•    Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.

•    Candles are often part of holiday decorations. The Fire/EMS Department strongly encourages the use of battery powered candles and discourages the use of candles with an open flame.  If you use candles; they should never be left burning when you are away from home, or after going to bed. Candles should be placed where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not accidentally brush against them. The candleholder should be completely non-combustible and difficult to knock over. The candle should not have combustible decorations around it.

•    If smoking is allowed inside, provide guests with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After guests leave check inside, under upholstery, and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.

•    10-year smoke alarms are now required on every level of your home, in hallways just outside of sleeping areas.  The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department strongly encourages a 10-year smoke alarm be installed in every bedroom and to sleep with your bedroom door closed.   Watch Fire Chief Barksdale provide this important explanation.

• Test smoke alarms on the Safety First Day of every month.

Working 10-year smoke alarms are required in all residences in Prince George's County.  Working carbon monoxide detectors are also required on every level of your home if you use a fuel for cooking and/or heat, have a fireplace and/or an attached garage.

If you can not afford to purchase a 10-year smoke alarm you should call 311.  A firefighter will install a working smoke alarm in your home; free of charge.

The men and women; volunteer, civilian and paid, of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!!

All PGFD Fire/EMS Stations are Toys for Tots Collection Points

All Prince George's County Fire/EMS Stations, Headquarters and worksites have been designated as Toys for Tots Collection Points.  

You are encouraged to drop off new and unwrapped toys for children of all ages.  

Donated toys will be distributed to local children during the Holiday Season.

34th Annual Public Safety Holiday Food Basket program is underway.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Public Information Officer, 240-508-7930

MEBrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

The Prince George’s County Public Safety Assistance Program’s (PSAP) 34^thAnnual Christmas Food Basket program is underway.   

MEDIA ADVISORY "Save the Date" - Public Relations/Media event in advance so that you can put it on your calendar to attend.  

The Prince George's County Public Safety Assistance Program's 34th Annual Christmas Food Basket

Breakfast and PR/Media event.

It will be held on Monday, December 17, 2018 at Fire Station #806.  Station #806 is located at

2901 St. Joseph Drive, Springdale, MD 20774.

The day will start with a "Hearty Fireman's Breakfast" at 7:30 AM.  This is the BEST BREAKFAST in town!!

At 9 AM the PR/Media Event, with County Officials and the Directors of the County Public Safety Agencies

attending, will be held.  

We appreciate your continued support of the Christmas food basket program.

TRAINING OP - Stress First Aid for Firefighters and Emergency Services Personnel

TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT
Stress First Aid
for Firefighters and Emergency Services Personnel
Train the Trainer
Wednesday, November 28 – Thursday, November 29, 2018

Howard County Maryland Department of Fire & Rescue Services

WHAT: Stress First Aid (SFA) is a set of supportive actions designed to help emergency responders take care of themselves and assist each other in reducing the negative impacts of stress. SFA was designed specifically to support firefighters, EMS, and rescue personnel. This method of assisting a co-worker undergoing stress is practical, flexible, and can be tailored to the specific need of the individual. Instructed by Patricia Watson, PhD, CAPT Frank Leto, FDNY and Chief John Oates, East Hartford Fire Department.

OBJECTIVES: This training will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about the SFA model, and to be able to deliver the 15 minute, 90 minute or four hour versions of stress first aid trainings. Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Have a better understanding of the needs of individuals affected by stress in fire and EMS jobs
• Better manage stress
• Engage in more helpful peer support
• Be better able to create peer support and behavioral health programs
• Deliver 15 minute, 90 minute, or 4 hour versions of the SFA trainings

WHEN: Wednesday, November 28 – Thursday, November 29, 8:00am – 4:30pm

WHERE: Howard County Maryland Department of Fire & Rescue Services Training Center 2200 Scott Wheeler Drive, Marriottsville, Maryland 21104 PREREQUISITE: Students must currently possess NFPA Instructor I or equivalent.

HOW TO APPLY & REGISTER: Go to www.firstrespondercenter.org/events or www.cvent.com/d/cbqpnh

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About the First Responder Center for Excellence
The First Responder Center for Excellence for Reducing Occupational Illness, Injuries and Deaths, Inc., a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation affiliate, was created in 2016. Our mission is to promote quality educational awareness and research to reduce physical and psychological health and wellness issues for first responders. For more information visit firstrespondercenter.org or contact Kelly Casillo, Programs Specialist at kcasillo@frcmail.org or 443-302-2917.

PGFD Fire Officer Placed on Leave After Arrest

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Public Information Officer, 240-508-7930

MEBrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

Prince George’s County Firefighter/Medic Lieutenant Sean Christopher Roth has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested for Arson.  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided details to the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department that Roth was arrested and charged with 3 felony crimes related to an arson that occurred on August 29, 2018.  Roth was jailed at the York County, Pennsylvania, Prison and held on a $25,000 bond on November 2, 2018.  He is charged with:

Arson-Intent to Collect Insurance

False/Fraud/Incomp Insurance Claim

Risking Catastrophe 

Roth, 39 years-of-age of Red Lion Pennsylvania, is a 19+-year member of the Department and was assigned to the Facilities and Resource Planning Office.  He will remain on administrative leave (leave with pay) status until further notice.

No additional information is available about the actual incident.