Fire Safety

Cub Scouts from Pack 22 saw a demonstration on how firefighters gear up when responding to a fire. The Cub Scouts recently visited Junior Independent No. 3 Fire Department and Community Rescue Services on Eastern Boulevard. The Cub Scouts took a tour of the fire department, CRS living quarters and saw the various equipment used in emergencies. Pack members were also given a demonstration of the equipment firefighters wear and how CRS uses the "jaws of life" to extract victims from vehicles.

Fire safety official honored Washington County Fire Safety Educator Mike Weller was honored by the Modern Woodmen of America during a ceremony Monday evening at Children's Village on Mount Aetna Road. Weller was recognized for his volunteer service and the impact his fire safety work has had on Washington County residents. "Modern Woodmen deeply believes in volunteer community service and developed a Community Service Recognition program as a way to acknowledge and thank strong volunteers all across the United States," said Lynn Bibbee, Modern Woodmen camp secretary, in a press release.

julieg@herald-mail.com CLEAR SPRING - Asked what he learned at Saturday's fire safety event hosted by the Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Department, the 8-year-old boy at first said he didn't know. Then, coaxed by family members, Jordan Willard demonstrated how he learned to stop, drop and roll if his clothes caught on fire. Willard's mother, Cristina Albright of Martinsburg, W.Va., brought her sons to the event at the invitation of her boyfriend's co-worker, a Clear Spring firefighter.

Ed Ernst, deputy state fire marshal, will discuss fire safety for seniors Tuesday, May 16, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at AMVETS Post 10 at 770 Frederick St. The free event is being sponsored by Triad of Washington County. Those attending are asked to use the side entrance.

Less than a year after Washington County's government bought a downtown Hagerstown building for $3 million, a 2009 study by a Frederick, Md., firm found that the county would need to spend $1 million more to fix the building's fire and life safety problems, The Herald-Mail has learned. The study listed an additional $2.8 million in recommended, but not required, corrective actions. The county could move office workers into the building, which it bought in 2008, without making any changes, but that wouldn't be wise, BMK Architects Inc. of Frederick told the county in the lengthy report obtained recently by the newspaper.

WILLIAMSPORT Each year, approximately 1,100 Americans 65 and older die in home fires and another 3,000 are injured. Senior citizens are three times as likely to die in a residential fire as the rest of the population. Armed with statistics like that, the Williamsport Volunteer Fire Co. has launched a fire safety campaign aimed at people 50 and older. "We wanted to do something new," said the fire company's T.J. Barnes, who has headed up the fire prevention committee for three years.

Most counties have a fire prevention queen who advocates fire safety and typically attends the Maryland State Firemen's Association convention every year to compete for the state Miss Fire Prevention title. Washington County did not have a fire prevention queen for a long time, according to Dale Fishack, a member of the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. The local association, which organizes the program, felt it was important to have an ambassador for fire safety, Fishack said.

The United Way will hold a family fun and fitness fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Robinwood Professional Center atrium, 11110 Medical Campus Road, east of Hagerstown. Interactive stations include kid-friendly cooking demonstrations, games, health and legal information, bike safety and fire safety drills, child fingerprinting and a Zumbathon. A Cycle United bike ride will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the event. To register, go to www.unitedwaywashcounty.org .

Fire-related deaths claimed the lives of more Washington County residents in 2012 than 2011, despite a 22 percent decrease that was reported statewide over the same period, according to figures that were released Thursday by the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office. Fire Marshal's Office spokesman Bruce D. Bouch said three people died in Washington County as a result of fires in 2012, compared to one in 2011. Statistics for the same time show fire-related deaths decreased statewide from 67 in 2011 to 52 in 2012.

Less than a year after Washington County's government bought a downtown Hagerstown building for $3 million, a 2009 study by a Frederick, Md., firm found that the county would need to spend $1 million more to fix the building's fire and life safety problems, The Herald-Mail has learned. The study listed an additional $2.8 million in recommended, but not required, corrective actions. The county could move office workers into the building, which it bought in 2008, without making any changes, but that wouldn't be wise, BMK Architects Inc. of Frederick told the county in the lengthy report obtained recently by the newspaper.

Recommending two escape routes from every part of a home and reminding people to have smoke detectors in their homes were among the fire safety tips firefighters were promoting Sunday at the Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company's fall open house. “Have 2 Ways Out” is the theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week, which began Sunday. In addition to the normal ways people have to exit a room, determining a backup escape route is recommended, Clear Spring Fire Chief Michael Reid said.

After hearing concerns from two people in the county's building industry about a possible regulation requiring homes to have fire sprinkler systems, the Washington County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to opt out of a state requirement that requires the sprinklers in homes. The commissioners, who also voiced concerns of their own about the requirement, voted unanimously to opt out of the regulations during a meeting at the Maugansville Ruritan Building. The commissioners held a public hearing earlier in the day, but took no action.

The Chambersburg Borough Council announced Monday it has received a federal grant for what the borough manager describes as “one of the most important programs developed by the Chambersburg Fire Department.” Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., assisted the borough in obtaining $65,430 from a Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, Fire Prevention and Life Safety Education grant. It will be used to continue the installation of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as to train citizens in fire prevention.

To celebrate Building Safety Month, Washington County government is launching an education campaign focusing on the hot topics in building safety, officials said in a news release. County officials will post daily safety tips on Facebook and answer “ask the expert” questions all month, the release said. In addition, the county will highlight videos that explain building codes and safe structures. Children also can participate by completing educational workbooks available at local libraries.

Marshall Mangold got a little nervous as he got about halfway up the 24-foot rock wall at the Valley Mall. The 6-year-old from Boonsboro got a little coaching from the River Riders wall attendant before jumping off and gliding back down to the floor. “It's really high to the top,” said Marshall, who was with his mother, Carrie Mangold, and 2-year-old sister, Macy. “That was fun when I jumped down.” The Mangolds were among many area families who came out to enjoy Family Fun Day at the mall Sunday afternoon.

County kicks off campaign for building safety in May To celebrate Building Safety Month, Washington County government is launching an education campaign focusing on the hot topics in building safety, officials said in a news release. County officials will post daily safety tips on Facebook and answer “Ask the Expert” questions all month long, the release said. In addition, the county will be highlighting videos that explain building codes and safe structures.