http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/rss News articles published on silverspringvfd.org using RSS 2.0 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:42:35 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=181 Metro is closing the Dupont Circle South entrance (at 19th Street NW) to replace all three escalators leading into and out of the station this Wednesday, February 1, 2012. While the work is taking place, customers are advised to use: • Dupont Circle Q Street entrance, located one block north of Dupont Circle • Farragut North L Street entrance, located at the corner of L Street NW & Connecticut Avenue NW The escalator replacement will take about 8½ months. To read more about this project, including FAQs and a walking map, visit wmata.com/dupont. We know that this closure may impact you and others in your organization. Please forward this information along to others who may be affected in your organization so that they may plan appropriately. Updated information will continue to be posted on the Dupont Circle South Entrance Closure webpage (wmata.com/dupont). Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:46:44 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=181 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=180 Three families were displaced Sunday night after a fire destroyed their townhouse in Fire Station 19's first due area. Units from Silver Spring and nearby stations arrived at the home, 2037 Lyttonsville Road, in the Woodside Mews neighborhood around 7:30 p.m. Sunday to find the house engulfed in flames. Firefighters were unable to attack the blaze from inside the house because of extensive structural damage and the volume of fire, officials said. The flames were extinguished after a little more than an hour. The fire, which started in a middle unit, also caused moderate damage to adjoining units on each side. Firefighters pulled lines into each of these exposure to keep damage to a minimum. The Red Cross was helping the three families find shelter. The cause and origin of the fire had not been determined by fire investigators by Tuesday afternoon. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:10:34 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=180 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=179 The story below was taken from the Washington Post. By Victor Zapana, Washington Post The structural issues that have slowed construction of a massive new transit hub in Silver Spring are more serious than Montgomery County officials suspected, they said Friday. County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said earlier this week that the opening of the Silver Spring Transit Center had been pushed back to June and that the county expected the cost of the project to reach $101 million. But officials now say that they don't know when they will be able to open the facility, which is to bring Metro, MARC, Ride On, taxis and intercity buses to a single site in Silver Spring's revitalized downtown. The facility's structural integrity had already emerged as a concern, and an engineer's assessment delivered to the county Friday concluded that at least some of the cement was improperly poured and must be redone. "They're out of compliance of the WMATA standards," said ¬David E. Dise, the county's general services director, referring to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. "It is not even in compliance with industry standards." Dise declined to provide the engineer's report, saying that it had not been reviewed by ¬WMATA, the Maryland Transit Administration or the Federal Transit Administration. Facchina Construction, a La Plata-based subcontractor that was in charge of pouring the cement, and Foulger-Pratt, the Rockville-based general contractor for the transit center project, did not respond Friday to requests for comment. A consulting group hired by the project's engineer, Parsons Brinckerhoff, will assess the hub so county officials can determine how to fix the cement problem. Dise said he did not know how long the study would take. Initial concerns were related to several locations on the third level, where cement covering the facility's reinforced steel structure was determined to be too thin and could degrade over time, leaving the steel exposed and threatening the integrity of the building. Now, Dise said, the county has found that the problems are more serious and that the facility needs "major repairs." Dise said earlier this week that after construction is completed, county officials will examine what, if anything, went wrong. He said that Foulger-Pratt would provide any additional funding needed to fix the cement problem. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:41:15 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=179 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=178 EMMITSBURG, MD — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today there were 81 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2011. This represents an almost seven percent decrease from the 87 fatalities reported for 2010. The 81 fatalities occurred in 33 states, one U.S. territory, and one overseas U.S. military facility. Texas experienced the highest number of fatalities (seven). North Carolina experienced six firefighter deaths and was the only other state with five or more firefighter fatalities. "In 2004 at the initial Life Safety Summit, a number of fire service leaders did not believe we would complete a calendar year with less than 100 firefighter on-duty deaths," U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell said. "We broke through that perceived barrier in 2009, 2010, and now in 2011! We salute and congratulate our fire service family and pledge to continue working closely with the entire fire service community and its partners to maintain and even accelerate this downward trend in on-duty firefighter deaths." Heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters (59%) in 2011, nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (60%) in 2010. Ten on-duty firefighters died in association with wildland fires, the lowest number of annual firefighter deaths associated with wildland fires since 1996. Fifty-four percent of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties. Only three firefighters were killed in vehicle collisions. 2011 firefighter fatality statistics are provisional and may change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on duty during 2011. The final number of firefighter fatalities will be reported in USFA's annual firefighter fatality report, expected to be available by July 2012. For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2010 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA website. ________________________________________ The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan. Follow USFA updates on Twitter Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration. Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:44:52 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=178 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=177 A recent report by the National Climatic Data Center says that 2011 has seen more billion-dollar natural disasters than any year on record. April tornadoes, an historic earthquake, Hurricane Irene and the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee hit Virginia during 2011, causing loss of life and property and leaving millions of dollars in damage. • April tornadoes, April 8, 27-28 and 26; at least 30 tornadoes killed 10 people and injured more than 100. Approximately 212 homes were destroyed, with more than 1,050 homes and businesses were damaged. The lack of federal assistance led Gov. Bob McDonnell to establish the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund to help tornado victims. The fund has since been expanded to help victims of any disaster in Virginia. • Mineral earthquake, Aug. 23; a 5.8-magnitude earthquake and more than 50 aftershocks have led to nearly $7 million in federal assistance to individuals in Louisa County. Funds have been approved to repair damage that includes Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Louisa County High School. Also, about $1.6 million has been approved by the Small Business Administration in the form of low-interest loans to approximately 50 individuals and businesses. • Hurricane Irene, Aug. 27; flooding and high winds killed four people and caused approximately $39 million in damage to public property and associated emergency response costs; 2.5 million people were without power, some for up to a week; Virginia received a pre-landfall federal Public Assistance emergency declaration, allowing FEMA to provide supplies, equipment and other needed resources. Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, Sept. 8-9; heavy rains and flooding killed five and caused more than 100 homes and business to be destroyed or sustain major damage; approximately 500 people were displaced from their homes in Prince William County; residents in several areas were evacuated, and at least 50 swift water rescues of citizens were completed Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:21:54 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=177 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=176 (Editor note: This article, from Lexus Nexus, was carried on the on-line FireRescue Magazine site today.) In fire experiments conducted in uniformly furnished, but vacant Chicago-area townhouses, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers uncovered temperature and heat-flow conditions that can seriously damage facepiece lenses on standard firefighter breathing equipment, a potential contributing factor for first-responder fatalities and injuries. (Read the Study: Fire Exposures of Fire Fighter Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Facepiece Lenses) The findings are detailed in a report* from a research study sponsored by the U.S. Fire Administration and Department of Homeland Security. The work is an important step toward improving what may be the most vulnerable component of a firefighter's protective gear in high-heat conditions: the facepiece lenses of the so-called self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA. Failure of the lens can expose a firefighter to toxic gases and can result in burns to the respiratory tract as well as asphyxiation. In several SCBA-related deaths, degraded masks were found affixed to the faces of victims while their equipment continued to supply air. In two of four realistic living-room fire scenarios tested by NIST, "lenses exhibited bubbling and loss of visual acuity, as well as severe deformation, and, in one case, a hole," the NIST team says. The researchers tested five models of SCBA facepieces, each from a different manufacturer. In all cases of lens degradation, the damage was due to temperatures and heat fluxes that exceeded performance limits of polycarbonate, the lens material commonly used in SCBA for fire fighters. "Our results do not suggest, in any way, that that lens failures are due to the manufacturers," explains NIST's Nelson Bryner, a co-author of the report. "All the lenses tested were consistent with requirements specified in standards." In the United States, SCBA makers must submit their products for certification testing before they can be sold. Certification requires passing the "heat and flame test" specified in a standard by the National Fire Protection Association. Citing the conclusions of other researchers, the NIST team notes that this test is conducted at high temperatures, but "it does not capture the conditions of temperature, heat flux and duration that a firefighter might experience." The townhouse fire experiments will inform efforts to improve the match between standard requirements and real-life conditions. Until now, these efforts have been hampered by lack of information regarding the high-temperature and high-heat-flow performance of polycarbonate lenses and the actual fire-scene conditions that have resulted in lens failures. The NIST experiments were conducted in two-story townhouses in Bensenville, a suburb northwest of Chicago, in cooperation with the Bensenville and Chicago Fire Departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. In each of the four "furnished-house experiments," the conditions were nearly identical, save for the location of polyurethane heads outfitted with a SCBA facepiece and controlled variations in fire exposure conditions, adjusted, for example, by opening and closing of doors and windows at specified times. Rooms were equipped with devices to record temperatures rapidly at regular intervals between ceiling and floor. Facepieces also were equipped with sensors, on the inside and the outside of the lenses and in the immediately surrounding space. A gauge to measure heat flow, or flux, was positioned next to the facepieces. The most devastating damage occurred in a scenario akin to one in which a firefighter would enter a burning living room from a front porch. The living room fire smoldered for five minutes after ignition. Opening the front door literally breathed life into the smoldering fire. The rush of heat from the now blazing living room transformed a relatively cool environment on the porch into an inferno. The SCBA lens's exterior surface temperature reached 280 degrees Celsius (536 degrees Fahrenheit), about the midpoint of the range of published polycarbonate melt temperatures. The lens developed a significant hole, according to the NIST report. "The next step," the NIST researchers write, "is to identify the exposure limit just before thermal degradation occurs. Data on the limits of the equipment would be valuable information for the fire service to help prevent further injuries and fatalities related to SCBA equipment failure." Comment Now: Post Your Thoughts & Comments on This Story Lexis Nexis Copyright 2011 Lexus Nexus. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:59:37 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=176 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=174 The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has been working with the family of Hal Bruno to coordinate funeral arrangements. The funeral will take place at 11:00 am on Friday, November 11 at Temple Shalom, 8401 Grubb Road, Chevy Chase, Maryland. The event will be open to anyone wishing to attend. For fire service coordination issues please contact Victor Stagnaro at 240-508-7731 or John Proels at 301-712-7201. Family, friends and fire service members will be received between 1:00 and 5:00 pm in the Anastasi Room at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, Maryland. Flowers can be sent directly to Temple Shalom, and will be displayed in the front lobby of the synagogue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, PO Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 and marked In Memory of Hal Bruno. A special fund has been established to memorialize his years of service and accomplishments within the American Fire Service Community. A tribute page for Mr. Bruno has been established on the Foundation's website, http://www.firehero.org/ which includes video clips from his years of service with the Foundation. Messages of condolence can be left in the guest book at http://firehero.org/brunotribute/. On behalf of the Bruno Family the Foundation would like to express their sincere appreciation for all of the outpouring of love, concern and sympathy received. It truly is a fitting tribute for what Hal meant to all of us and a testament to the legacy he leaves. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:19:49 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=174 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=173 Hal Bruno, retired ABC news correspondent, member of Chevy Chase Fire Department Board of Directors and Chairman Emeritus of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation died yesterday. He was 83. For more than 60 years, Hal Bruno served as an active member of the fire service community, giving selflessly as a dedicated volunteer firefighter, advocate, commentator and leader. He is renowned for his commitment to fire safety initiatives and his compassion for the members of the fire service and their families. Bruno was appointed chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in 1999, a distinction he held until his retirement in 2008. Under Hal's leadership the NFFF expanded services and resources for the survivors, including workshops, conferences and scholarships. He guided and supported the Foundation in developing safety initiatives for firefighters and advancing safety practices that will help to reduce the number of line of duty deaths and injuries. On Capitol Hill and at the White House, Bruno was admired and respected for his integrity and ability to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to address important issues impacting our nation's firefighters and rescue personnel. He was a staunch advocate for passing the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act which provides federal death benefits to the families of firefighters who die in the line of duty from heart attack or stroke. A native of Chicago, Bruno enjoyed an illustrious 60-year career in journalism, retiring in 1999 from ABC News where he was Political Director and host of the weekly talk show, Hal Bruno's Washington. He frequently appeared on debate panels and served as moderator of the vice-presidential debate in, among others, the 1992 campaign. He covered every national election since 1960, most recently as the senior political analyst for Politics.com and as a guest commentator on CNN and other television programs. He was one of the first journalists on the scene of the tragic Our Lady of the Angels elementary school fire in Chicago on December 1, 1958 in which 92 students and 3 nuns died. His report that the fire spread so quickly because of the open stairwell lead to significant changes in fire safety and building standards and codes. Mr. Bruno received numerous awards and recognition from the fire service for his dedication and commitment. In October of 2011 he was awarded the National Fire & Emergency Services Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders Award. The Congressional Fire Services Institute's Board of Directors selected him as the recipient of the 2008 CFSI / Motorola Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award and in 1999 he received the "President's Award" from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He was named "Fire Service Person of the Year" by the Congressional Fire Services Institute in 1995 and in 2009 he received the Fire Buff of the Year Award from the International Fire Buff Associates. He is also a 2008 inductee of the Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Hall of Fame. Bruno was a reporter, Chicago Bureau Chief, News Editor and Chief Political Correspondent for Newsweek magazine where he covered such matters as the civil rights movement, the 1968 Democratic National Convention and Watergate. He got his start at the DeKalb (Ill.) Daily Chronicle, moved to the City News Bureau of Chicago - where he covered the fire and police beat - and was also with the Chicago American newspaper. Bruno was a war correspondent who covered the 1956 Suez crisis, the Cuban revolution and the Chinese-Indian war. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, served as an Army intelligence officer during the Korean War and was a Fulbright Scholar to India. Hal is survived by his loving wife Meg, his sister Barbara and his sons Harold and Daniel, and their wives, Brenda and Susan and four grandchildren. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:39:30 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=173 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=172 On November 3rd, 2011 an extremely complex structure fire in the Aspen Hill area of the county on Iris Street challenged our resources, personnel and training. At 0355 hours a structure fire was dispatched for a house fire at 4716 Iris Street. ECC received multiple calls and the callers stated that one occupant was out of the house but a second occupant was still trapped inside the house. Units arrived and command was established and Battalion Chief 4 directed the operations. Upon arrival units found heavy fire coming from multiple sides of the struture. The neighbors were able to advise the initial crews of the possible location of the trapped occupant. Without hesitation T725 initiated a primary search and E721 advanced a line to the front door on side A. There was a heavy volume of fire throughout the house and extrordinary efforts were made to make entry to initiate the search and rescue of the trapped victim. The interior access was limited and difficult to navigate inside due to the amount of belongings cluttering the halls and floor. The clutter of ordinary combustiles hampered the crews efforts in search and rescue and contributed to the heavy fuel load and fire conditions in the house. The Ladder crew made their way through the debris and heavy fire and heat conditions to the bedroom areas of the house and located the female victim. At the same time fire suppression crews flowed lines to restrict fire advancement up the basement stairwell under heavy fire conditions which proved to be significant. Other arriving crews coordinated a rescue effort through a window on the Charlie side of the house with T725. This operation included ground ladder placements and expanding the window opening to the floor with a chainsaw to enable victim extraction and removal. The victim was successfully removed from the structure as the fire conditions became even more extreme. Due to deteriorating conditions, the high volume of fire and heat the interior crews that assisted with victim rescue had to exit the structure through the same window. A721 with a paramedic on board treated and transported the occupant that escaped to Med Star. M725 treated and transported the rescued victim to Shady Grove Adventist. A723, with a paramedic onboard, transported 2 injured fire fighters, with minor burns to the Burn Center. Both fire and rescue personnel were released and are expected to fully recover. At approximately 18 minutes into the incident the evacuation tones were sounded and all personnel were ordered to defensive mode due to the extensive fire load and hazards from extensive stacked contents. The combination of the excessive fire load and length of time that the fire burned created an extremely intense fire situation with excessive heat conditions. The weight due to the hoarding of ordinary combustibles and the instability of the piles of belongings created huge obstacles and a maze that the fire crews had to overcome. The origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation and a detailed complete report is forthcoming. Crews were relieved at shift change and relief crews remained on the scene for 5 more hours performing overhaul and assisting FEI in debris removal. Personnel from Battalion 4 performed an "after the fire" community outreach effort in the community. The crews connected with the residents and were praised for the efforts of the fire and rescue personnel during the fire incident. The community outreach efforts were tremendous and appreciated! This challenging incident demonstrated the readiness of our personnel, the impact of our training, and the courage of the personnel which culminated in the removal of a trapped victim. The search and rescue of the trapped occupant was done under extremely heavy fire and heat conditions. There was strong leadership displayed by incident command and the company officers. The fire gorund operations met my expectations of risk assessment and decision making. We will review and learn from this incident as we do from previous ones. Please continue to train, train, train and maintain your readiness at all times. I am extremely proud of the efforts and actions of all the personnel that responded to the Iris Street fire incident! Everyone did a tremendous job and I thank you. Remain vigilant and continue to serve the residents of this county in the manner you demonstrated at this incident! Well done! Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:16:49 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=172 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=171 Nov. 01—COLONIE, NY -- The town police chief said his officers were justified to use three Tasers against an out-of-control weight lifter at Gold's Gym in Latham on Monday morning. The man died after the confrontation. Witnesses told police that Chad Brothers, 32, of Troy, was acting strange when he arrived at the gym around 5:45 a.m., using exaggerated sounds as he worked out. Around 6:18 a.m., havoc broke out when Brothers fell or jumped off an elliptical machine. Brothers went over to a treadmill where another man was working out, increased the speed of the machine and punched the man in the face, said Colonie Police Chief Steven H. Heider. An officer was called to the Troy-Schenectady Road gym. Meanwhile, Brothers, who police described as 6 feet 1, about 230 pounds and very muscular, pushed over several universal weight machines, each weighing about 700 pounds. Brothers destroyed a display case and threw 45-pound dumbbells. He left the building twice and returned, police said. Brothers then went into an office, where he ripped computers from the wall and toppled file cabinets, Heider said. A female police officer arrived and ordered Brothers to stand down, but Brothers threw boxes at her. She discharged a Taser at him, which latched to his chest and upper leg, Heider said. The Taser brought Brothers to the ground ,and as the officer was putting him in handcuffs, Heider said, Brothers stood up with the officer on his back. At one point, Brothers grabbed the Taser from the officer and appeared to shock himself, Heider said. Two other officers arrived and both used Tasers against Brothers. Heider estimated that Brothers was shocked four to five times at three to five seconds each time. One officer also struck him on the shoulder with a collapsible baton. "This was a whirlwind of a battle in a confined space," Heider said. He estimated it lasted less than two minutes. Other gym patrons helped police get Brothers into custody. Police needed two sets of handcuffs to restrain Brothers because of his size. One minute after being placed into custody, Brothers apparently went into cardiac arrest, police said. The officers and a gym patron -- an off-duty firefighter -- began CPR and attached a defibrillator before the arrival of emergency medical personnel, Heider said. Brothers was still breathing and alive, so the defibrillator did not administer a shock, he said. Brothers was pronounced dead when he arrived at 7:14 a.m. at Albany Medical Center Hospital. The two male officers and one gym patron suffered minor injuries that did not require medical attention, police said. Heider declined to release the officers' names. Video cameras on the first floor captured Brothers toppling gym equipment, but the confrontation with police was not on tape. Heider said he believes the officers were justified in using Tasers and baton on Brothers, saying they did their best to verbally handle the situation and use the least force possible. The officers have a paid day off while the incident is investigated by Colonie police, State Police and the Albany County district attorney's office. An autopsy, including a toxicological study, will be performed Tuesday. Police requested that Brothers be tested for performance-enhancing drugs. Heider suggested excited delirium may have contributed to Brothers' death. Excited delirium is a controversial syndrome in which someone is in an extremely agitated state. The gym is in a strip mall near a Kmart store east of the Latham Circle. A car that police said belonged to Brothers was towed from the scene. Police also planned to search Brothers' home. A statement from Gold's Gym Capital District said, "We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this individual. We are cooperating fully with local authorities to expedite and resolve their investigation." The incident is the second police-related death in Colonie -- voted the safest town in America by CQ Press in 2009 and 2010 -- in four months. In July, 21-year-old Agostino Jubrey was shot and killed during a confrontation with police after he fired at officers in the driveway of his Leach Avenue home. Two weeks ago, the New York Civil Liberties Union released a report claiming police across the state chronically misuse Tasers. The report, which reviewed 851 incident reports involving Tasers from eight police departments, including Albany and Guilderland, but not Colonie, said that Tasers applied to subjects with weak hearts can greatly increase the risk of cardiac arrest. Multiple and prolonged Taser shocks can increase the risk of serious injury or death from a Taser, as can shocks applied directly to a person's chest. A single shock from a Taser can contain up to 50,000 volts of electricity. Brendan Lyons contributed to this report. Copyright 2011 - Times Union, Albany, N.Y. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:56:52 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=171 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=170 Charleston, SC fire chief Tom Carr, former Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services chief, announced his retirement today. He has set March 1, 2012 as his retirement date allowing Charleston to search for a new chief. Chief Carr retired from Montgomery County some three years ago to take the Charleston position. Additional information will be found in the Charleston Post and Courier article accessed via the link that follows. http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/sep/14/charleston-fire-chief-carr-announces-retirement/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:48:29 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=170 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=169 The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) 2011 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held Oct. 14-16 at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. A previously scheduled date conflicted with a religious holiday resulting in the change. Traditionally the event is held the weekend prior to the start of National Fire Prevention Week. Officials said that the change was made in the best interest of all. This year's service also marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on the United States and the 30th anniversary of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Weekend events will be held on the NFA campus. Firefighters wishing to help with the 2011 Memorial Weekend including Honor Guard and Pipe Bands should register with Eric Nagle at the NFFFF at 301-447-1431 or by email at enagle@firehero.org. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:19:28 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=169 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=168 Today the National Volunteer Fire Council begins its National Firefighter Health Week 2011 with the theme "When it comes to your health, you're always on duty." From now to Saturday the NVFC will be presenting daily information, resources and two webinars to help you take the first steps towards better health and a reduced line of duty death risk. From the NVFC site here is the outline for this week's events: Sunday, August 14: National Firefighter Health Week Kick-off Utilize the tools and resources at www.healthy-firefighter.org/healthweek to find information, tips, tools, and activity ideas for each day of National Firefighter Health Week. Monday, August 15 Webinar on Heat Stress – Choosing the Right PPE Details: Monday, August 15 at 2 pm Eastern. Sponsored by TECGEN. Description: Understand the physiology of heat stress and how the total heat loss rating of your PPE applies to real world situations. Webinar is complimentary and lasts approximately 1 hour. Register now: Go to https://nvfc.webex.com and click on Upcoming Sessions. Please contact Allison Moore at amoore@nvfc.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-887-5700 with any questions. E-blast on the day's focus topic – CRISIS: Understanding the Risk Tuesday, August 16 E-blast on the day's focus topic – DISPATCH: Get Support Wednesday, August 17 E-blast on the day's focus topic – SIZE-UP: Make a Plan Thursday, August 18 E-blast on the day's focus topic – ATTACK: Take Action Friday, August 19 Webinar on Obesity Details: Friday, August 19 at 2 pm Eastern Description: First responders face many threats to their health and safety, but heart disease remains the number one cause of on-duty deaths. Obesity is a major contributor to heart disease, yet the extent of its effect on the fire service remains largely unknown. The NVFC has partnered with the HOPE Health Research Institute to study obesity in the fire service. Learn about the findings outlined in the study along with recommendations to combat obesity and improve overall health. Webinar is complimentary and lasts approximately 1 hour. Register now: Go to https://nvfc.webex.com and click on Upcoming Sessions. Please contact Allison Moore at amoore@nvfc.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-887-5700 with any questions. E-blast on the day's focus topic – OVERHAUL: Live Life Saturday, August 20 - Health Week Wrap-Up and Event Day This day is for you and your department to organize or attend an event to support your commitment to health and wellness. Click here for ideas and to make this the August wellness challenge for your department. Consider organizing a department trip to Six Flags. Five Six Flags theme parks are offering a special discount of over half off main gate ticket prices to first responders and their friends and families during National Firefighter Health Week. Click here to learn more and find your nearest participating park. Comment Now: Post Your Thoughts & Comments on This Sto Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:12:22 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=168 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=167 In addition to its Facebook page SSFD is now on Twitter! Follow us (click http://twitter.com/SilverSpringVFD ) for more SSFD news and info! Sat, 30 Jul 2011 01:01:42 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=167 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=166 (Note: Dr. Harry Carter, retired Battalion Chief, Newark, NJ, is a noted author and lecturer. He has provided a number of his articles for use with the Silver Spring Fire Department web site. See comments at end.) I have devoted a great deal of time over the course of my life to the process of learning. Perhaps this bent for learning came about as a result of the emphasis my parents placed on learning, or perhaps it was some will of inner spirit. There is also the possibility that successful people in my hometown created an atmosphere where success was seen in terms of the acquisition of knowledge. In reality, it is probably some combination of all the above influences. But I would like to share a story about what I feel is an integral part of my success as a fire service person. Along the way, I have accumulated a wide range of experiences. Thanks to the U.S. Air Force (Uncle Sam Airlines), I was able to learn my trade at one of the finest fire schools in the world, the U.S.A.F. Firefighting School, which in the far-away days of 1966 was located at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. The same agency allowed me to hone my firefighting skills from the Arctic region of Alaska, to the steam climes of Vietnam and the Philippine Islands. Oh, and they also sent me to Arkansas. It was during the 18 months of my career, spent near Fairbanks, Alaska, that I received an early appreciation for experience colored with education. The Superintendent of the Eielson Air Force Base Fire Department back in those times was Chief Master Sergeant Joseph Haider, a man known throughout the Air Force fire service in that era. A long-time firefighting veteran, Chief Haider had probably long-since forgotten more than many of his contemporaries had ever bothered to learn. He was a stickler for discipline and a firm believer in the gathering of knowledge. He had a carrot and stick approach to making sure that we all progressed through the On-the-Job (OJT) Training program used by the Air Force at that time. During my time, I felt both the carrot and the stick. When we young lads arrived at Eielson from fire school, we were school-trained apprentice fire protection specialists (3-level for you old USAF types out there). As was the practice at Eielson, we were immediately enrolled in the OJT program with the goal being to reach our journeyman skill-level as quickly as possible. The carrot Chief Haider used in motivating us involved the granting of our Kelly Day. We worked a 72-hour shift schedule, 24 hours on and 24 hours off. The Kelly Day was an extra shift of time off granted every two weeks. This allowed for a three day break from our station duties. As a motivational tool, he would not allow us to have the Kelly Day until we upgraded to the higher skill level. He had the solid backing of our squadron commander. So the carrot and the stick were one in the same: time off. While this seems like a harsh treatment, it really had a strong motivational impact, particularly for the married first-term personnel who had to commute from Fairbanks every day. There were no living quarters for them on base, so if they wanted to bring their wives up to live with them, they had to rent in town. These men would be on the road every day, going one way or the other, regardless of the weather, which, as you might imagine, ran the gamut from bad to worse during the winter. So the three-day break was a tremendously valuable commodity. All of us in the December 1966 arrival group made the upgrade to our 5-level in minimal time. And then most of made our first promotion soon thereafter, also in minimal time. This did not seem odd, because every one of us was going through the same positive experience. I personally thought nothing of making Sergeant in less than two years, because so many of us did it together. Little did we know at the time just how important this positive, goals-oriented environment would be to our future fire service success. It was not until much later, when I moved to other air bases and ran into buddies who had served at other stations, that the value of Chief Haider's method began to make sense. Some base fire departments apparently did not follow the strict letter of the law in running their OJT programs. Where I had a trainer assigned to me who rode herd on my learning experience, friends at other places did not. I would meet guys years later who never got their sergeant's stripes, because of the air base where they were stationed. In addition to the strict OJT program, we had an ongoing, year-round drill program. We tied knots until our fingers tired, raised ladders until our backs screamed, and laid the hose time and again. This early exposure to educational excellence and training discipline set the stage for our decades-long service as both a career and volunteer firefighter. In hindsight, it would appear that we were blessed with our assignment to the frozen hinterlands of Alaska. During the 30 years since we departed the Fairbanks area, we have run into acquaintances from our Eielson days. Many remained in the fire service, rising to Chief officer level in a variety of departments. And each spoke of the indoctrination we received in the training and education end of the fire service. I was able to thank him for his efforts at a later time in my life. It was at the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Memphis back in 1978. I had just been promoted to Captain in Newark, and bumped into Chief Haider as I made my way through the convention hall. I went up to him and was pleased to find out that he remembered me. It was just a quick thank you, but it was a very sincere thank you none-the-less. I offer the following to you for your consideration. Thirty years from now, will someone remember the impact you had on their life and fire service career today? I am fairly certain that Chief Haider didn't come to work with that thought on his mind during any given day. He just knew what it took to train fire people. He did his job and he did it very well. Knowledge is the business every fire service leader. Let's be sure we do it well. Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., AIFireE Fire Protection Consultant P.O. Box 100 Adelphia, NJ 07710 (Note from Chief McGary: From 1969-1979 I served as fire chief of the Merck Fire Dept., and various ranks through First Deputy Chief and President of the East Franklin Twp. VFD. I also became an adjunct instructor in the fire science program at Jersey City State College. Harry Carter, then a firefighter in Newark was one of my students along with Dr. Denis Onieal (who was a Jersey City firefighter, became chief of department and is now superintendent of the National Fire Academy) and Anthony Semenza, a firefighter from Carteret, NJ who went on to head fire protection and security at Chevron's Richmond, CA refinery. Many nights, following class, we four along with others would continue fire service discussions at the local diner. Dr. Carter has been a friend ever since.) Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:59:10 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=166 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=165 With warmer weather upon us fire and rescuer personnel must take precautions to avoid becoming hydrated. Symptoms of dehydration usually begin with thirst and progress to more alarming manifestations as the need for water becomes more dire. The initial signs and symptoms of mild dehydration in adults appear when the body has lost about 2% of its total fluid. These mild dehydration symptoms are often (but not limited to): * Thirst * Loss of Appetite * Dry Skin * Skin Flushing * Dark Colored Urine * Dry Mouth * Fatigue or Weakness * Chills When the body reaches 10% fluid loss emergency help is needed IMMEDIATELY! 10% fluid loss and above is often fatal! Symptoms of severe dehydration include: * Muscle spasms * Vomiting * Racing pulse * Shriveled skin * Dim vision * Painful urination * Confusion * Difficulty breathing * Seizures * Chest and Abdominal pain * Unconsciousness Treatment for Dehydration can be found on page 81 of the July Maryland Medical Protocol www.miemss.org If the dehydration is allowed to continue unabated and the total fluid loss reaches 5% the following effects of dehydration are normally experienced: * Increased heart rate * Increased respiration * Decreased sweating * Decreased urination * Increased body temperature * Extreme fatigue * Muscle cramps * Headaches * Nausea Prevention of Dehydration The average person loses between two and three liters of water a day through the breath, sweat, and urine. This number can increase or decrease based on the types of activities that a person engages in. Heavy exercise can cause a body to lose more than 2 liters an hour! To prevent dehydration you simply need to replenish the liquids that are lost throughout the day. Many resources and sites will tell you to drink 8 glasses of water a day, or give you a set number of liters to drink but the honest truth is that every BODY is different and only you will know how much your BODY needs. Only YOU can know how much water YOU need to be at your best. That's right, WATER. Not soda, not juice, not sugar-drinks. Pay attention to your fluid loss and take special care to replenish it as it is being lost. By the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated - you want to avoid becoming thirsty in the first place. Pay attention to the color of your urine, dark urine is usually an indicator that you are dehydrated. Information above is from the web site: www.symptomsofdehydration.com <http://www.symptomsofdehydration.com/> Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:06:19 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=165 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=164 Activities across the nation observing Firefighter/EMT Safety and Health week (June 19-25) continue. From the MCFRA Quicklinks Page you can obtain valuable resources to support safety and health. Go to the Links page from the menu to the left on this page; on the the Links page, the right column, Fire Service Links, you will find Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Quicklinks as the 10th one down. On the Quicklinks page you will have links to the following subjects: FRS Info Bulletin 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives (PDF) Pledge Sheet (PDF) SHS Week FAQs (PDF) Significant Outcomes (XLS) Being Ready for the Mayday (PPS) Firefighter Expectations (PPS) Preventing the Mayday (PPS) Safety Stats (PPS) Self-Survival Procedures (PPS) Self-Survival Skills (PPS) Keep situational awareness foremost in your mind. Think about the safety of your partner/crew and you. Take care. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:44:09 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=164 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=163 Today begins the annual Firefighter/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week. It concludes this Saturday June 25, 2011 The week starts remembering lives lost in Boston, New York and Charleston, SC as well as the most recent line of duty death in Illinois. The theme of this week's activities centers on Surviving the Fireground; Firefighter, Fire Officer and Command Preparedness. This theme directly ties to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Risk Assessment, In-service Training program and new radio training. On the hour this week, Montgomery County's Emergency Communications Center will make an announcement on 7 Alpha remembering one of our own LODD's. MCFRS Safety Section has placed training materials for personnel to use as drills on the QuickLinks site. MCFRS firerfighters and EMTs are encourage to visit Quick Links as well as the IAFC, IAFF, NVFC, NFFF and the other sites that have developed drills for this week to help promote safety. Changes were made to the MCFRS Mayday and RIC policies this year to ensure a greater focus on assisting those in need. Readers can access the MCFRS QuickLinks site by selecting LINKS from the menu on the left side of this page's front page. Once at the LINKS page scroll down the right side to the 10 link under Fire Service. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:56:56 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=163 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=162 On Thursday June 9th, nine SSVFD members traveled to Baltimore to visit the EMRC/SYSCOM communications facility as well as the Shock Trauma center. The EMRC/SYSCOM communications facility is where all medical consultations are patched and medevac helicopters dispatched. From there the crew walked around the block to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Shock Trauma is the Primary Adult Resource Center for trauma care in Maryland, receiving trauma patients from all over the state as well as parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Members took a tour of the helipad, Trauma Resuscitation Unit, and Neurotrauma/Multitrauma floors. Our members walked away with valuable knowledge about the many resources Maryland provides for EMS and trauma care. Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:56:07 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=162 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=161 On Saturday May 21st, volunteer members staffed Ambulance 719 for a community race at the Silver Spring International Middle School track. The race was put on by an Eagle Scout candidate from local Boy Scout Troop 33. Fortunately, it was a very nice event with only a few minor cuts and scratches. If you would like an ambulance standby at your next event, please contact Chief Roger McGary at ramcgary09@verizon.net. Sun, 22 May 2011 14:42:46 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=161 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=160 Atlantic Basin The Atlantic Basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges: 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which: 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including: 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher) Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. NOAA's seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where and when any of these storms may hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns in place at the time the storm approaches. For each storm, NOAA's National Hurricane Center forecasts how these weather patterns affect the storm track, intensity and landfall potential. Eastern Pacific A below normal hurricane season is predicted for the Eastern Pacific this year. Allowing for forecast uncertainties, forecasters estimate a 70 percent chance of: 9 to 15 named storms, which includes 5 to 8 hurricanes, of which 1 to 3 are expected to become major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale). An average Eastern Pacific hurricane season produces 15 to 16 named storms, with eight to nine becoming hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through Nov. 30, with peak activity from July through September. Central Pacific A below normal hurricane season is predicted for the Central Pacific this year. The outlook calls for a 70 percent chance of a below normal season, with 2-3 tropical cyclones affecting the Central Pacific. An average season has 4-5 tropical cyclones, which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes Hurricane Preparedness Week Next week, May 22-28, is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator that are available in both English and Spanish. These are available at http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare . (NOAA) Fri, 20 May 2011 21:57:43 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=160 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=159 Jack K. McElfish has been named the first fire chief of the newly incorporated city of Sandy Springs, Ga. The state's newest — and seventh largest — city borders Atlanta and has a population of 85,000. McElfish holds a master's degree in public administration and in fire science. In addition, he was one of the first 15 in the country to receive the Chief Fire Officer designation. First appointed as a fire chief in 1981, McElfish has served as fire chief in Richmond, Va.; Wallingford, Conn.; Clayton County, Ga; and Gwinnett County, Ga. Earlier in his career, McElfish was public affairs director and fire training coordinator in Montgomery County, Penn., and a station commander in Montgomery County, Md. In appointing McElfish, Sandy Springs City Manager John McDonough commented on breadth of experience McElfish brings to the city: "Jack McElfish is an innovator with a proven history of providing outstanding fire and life safety services to the communities he has served. We are pleased to have such a capable leader to help us create a fire department for Sandy Springs." The chief's work experience includes comprehensive and varied fire service and local government management. He has a successful management record of directing a metropolitan and large countywide fire department; developing and implementing a complete countywide fire and rescue training program that was practical, functional and effective; and in directing a progressive combination career/volunteer fire department. Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:57:29 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=159 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=157 The United States Fire Administration issued a special report recently that examines the details of firefighter injuries sustained on the fireground or while responding to or returning from a fire incident. It is based on data from 2006-2008 provided by reporting agencies using the National Fire Information Reporting System (NFIRS). According to the report: • An estimated 81,070 firefighter injuries occur annually in the United States. • 49% of firefighter injuries occur on the fireground; 6% occur while responding to or returning from an incident. • 25% of fire related firefighter injuries are caused by overexertion and/or strains. • 38% of all fire related firefighter injuries result in lost work time. • 87% of injuries occur in structure fires. • Structure fire have more injuries per fire than non-structure fires. Montgomery County fire and rescue personnel are currently undergoing Risk Assessment training to help make them aware of the problems related to the potential for injury or a fatality during structural firefighting. Every Integrated Emergency Command Structure (IECS) listed member must complete this training. Much of it is based on Underwriter's Laboratories and National Institute of Standards and Technology fire studies which employs the use of fire modeling and live fire testing. Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:23:48 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=157 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=155 Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett introduced his 2012 budget this morning. The budget includes several significant deductions that impact the volunteer service. The two major items are the half funding of the nominal payment and zero funding of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Assn. The proposals did not provide a line item for many fire-rescue deductions. The MCVFRA has requested a complete budget submission and not just the 10 paged general document from Chief Bowers . Highlights of the FY12 budget recommendations from the county executive are listed below. The full package can be reviewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ombtmpl.asp?url=/content/omb/fy12/psprec/index.asp The County Executive did not propose service reductions, rolling brownouts, career lay-offs, furloughs or pay-cuts to the employees. However, fire/rescue employees are going to be required to pay 10% more for health insurance; going from a 80/20 spilt on health care coverage to a 70/30 split. The County intends to reduce contributions to defined contribution retirement plans by 2% and add a 2% increase in employee contributions in defined benefit plans. No details were provided. There will be no COLAs (3rd year) and no increases in any County Departmental budgets except the police (+3.5% increase). Although rumored to return, the ambulance fee was not included in the budget. The Executive did make mention of it during his briefing to the council. He also said that there is a projected $145M deficit for the 2013 budget. Association concerns include: 1. LFRD budgets – there is a cut of $778,500 for LFRD expenses (volunteer services) but no explanations or line items. This could almost eliminate all volunteer support for each LFRD. 2. The executive made it clear, again, that he is not funding ANY of the union (including the MCVFRA) contracts that were awarded by the arbitrators in each of the 4 contracts that went to arbitration. He acknowledges he may not be following the law, but that it was unsustainable and in the best interest of the tax payer. 3. In the MCVFRA-County arbitration the arbitrator ruled in favor of the Association. The executive either did not fund or cut more from the arbitrated items: a. MCVFRA funding – currently $235,000 – executive proposed $0. b. Nominal fee – we agreed to a 20% reduction – executive made a 50% reduction. c. Boots and gear bags – we deferred boots until years 2 and 3 and eliminated all gear bags. Executive put in an unknown quantity of boots and bags for a total of $122,100. 4. The executive cut the high school cadet program for a savings of $205,670. Executive summary: 1. Ambulance fee – NOT in the budget. 2. LFRD budgets – cut by $778,500 – but categories not identifed. 3. Service cuts – none 4. Service reductions - none 5. Career layoffs – none 6. Career furloughs - none 7. Division of volunteer services – no staff cuts – some adjustments in dollars 8. Cut the high school cadet program (-$205,670) 9. 100%cut from MCVFRA funding (-$235,000) 10. 50% cut in nominal fee (-$90,000) 11. Adds some boot and gear bags – (+$122,100) Without a detailed budget the Association is unable to determine specific service cuts. The Association has requested a copy from Chief Bowers. The process now is for the county council, through their various committees, to work on each department's budget through hearings and work sessions. MCVFRA is working on several responses to restore funding in the areas that were cut. The final budget will go the Council for approval on May 30, 2011. Silver Spring members can access the fire-rescue portion of the budget from this site's Member's document files. Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:55:11 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=155 http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=154 The Silver Spring Fire Department is pleased to announce the availability of 2011 St. Patrick's Day apparel! These items are available to SSFD members, friends, family, MCFRS personnel, and any other interested party. The pricing below is the SSFD/MCFRS price. All others should add $2 per item. The following items are available: T-Shirts 100% preshrunk cotton; adult sizes small through 3XL Short-sleeve $10* Long-Sleeve $15* Sweatshirts 50% cotton, 50% polyester; adult sizes small through 3XL (2XL for hoodie) Crewneck $20* Hoodie $25* Youth Sizes (small through XL) T-shirts (either style) $10 Sweatshirts (either style) $15 *Add $2 for 2XL and 3XL Orders only accepted by email or text. kevin.horahan@gmail.com 202-306-9851 Shirts will be available on or before March 7th - payment due upon delivery. A limited supply of additional apparel may be available after March 7th on a first-come, first-served basis. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:50:26 GMT http://www.silverspringvfd.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=154