At the Maryland State Firemen’s Convention held in Ocean City June 16-19, 2013, Montgomery County volunteers scored big in important leadership positions and as award recipients.

Johnie Roth, Jr., past president and past chief of the Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department and a life member of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad was elected as Second Vice President of the MSFA. Traditionally, the Second Vice President moves up to the First Vice President position the following year and then to President.

This year, the MSFA elected its first female president, Jackie Olson from the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company in Glen Burnie, MD.

Carol Hayden, from the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department was elected as President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the MSFA.

Danielle Crane, also from the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department was elected as the MSFA Miss Fire Prevention Queen.

Michael A. Simmons from the Glen Echo Fire Department was inducted into the MSFA Hall of Fame.

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad was First Runner Up for the Zembower Fire Service Training Award. 232  members provided an average of 57.87  student hours in training with a total of 13,425 training hours.

At the MSFA Parade:

Bryan Pilpel, son of Rockville Volunteer Fire Department members Ken and Joy Pilpel, received Honorable Mention as a Junior Fire Chief Making Best Appearance.

Kensington VFD’s Canteen 705 received an Honorable Mention for an Emergency Services Special Unit Making Best Appearance (Canteen, Forestry, Hazmat, Jeep, Gator, etc.)

Congratulations to all.

Cari McHenry, representing Montgomery County, was crowned the Maryland State Firemen’s Association North Central Junior Miss Fire Prevention on April 28, 2013. Cari, the daughter of Germantown VFD Assistant Chief Bob McHenry, is the first contestant from Montgomery County to win this honor.

The North Central region consists of Montgomery, Carroll, Frederick and Howard counties. Cari is available to attend events throughout the region. To request an appearance, please contact the region coordinator at mcfireprevention@yahoo.com

Chief James Seavey, Sr. of the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department was honored with the Chief Leslie B. Thompson Award for Distinguished Service by the Maryland Fire Chief Association (MFCA). The award, sponsored by the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department and the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department, was announced at the MFCA spring meeting on April 14, 2013.

The award, which is the highest presented by the MVFC, also recognizes Chief Seavey’s over 30 years of distinguished and valuable service. Among the activities for which Chief Seavey is being honored are: Chief of the CJPVFD since 1992, past Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council,, member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, past officer of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association, member of the Executive Committee of the Maryland State Firemens Association, and service with other organizations, various committees, both regionally, and nationally. He was responsible for developing a sister-city relationship between the Halstenbek VFD located outside of Hamburg, Germany and CJPVFD.  He has also received numerous State, local and nationally recognized awards.

Chief Paul Sterling accepted the award on behalf of Chief Seavey who is out of the country. It will formally be presented to Chief Seavey at the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue  Association  meeting on May 18, 2013 by the Damascus VFD Chief Darron Long, a representative from Chestertown VFC, and a MVFC Officer.

Frank “Chubby” King, 85, of Damascus, Maryland, died Monday March 11, 2012 at his residence, with his family by his side.

Chubby was an outstanding individual and contributed greatly to the fire and rescue service in Montgomery County. He was a life member of the Hyattstown Volunteer Fire Department, and held many positions in his fire department, the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, including as President in 1976-77, the Maryland State Firemen’s Association and other organizations.

Friends may call at the Molesworth-William P.A. Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus, Md  on Friday, March 15, from 3-5 and 7-9 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 16, at the Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church Street, Damascus Md.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mountain View United Methodist Church, 11501 Mountain View Road, Damascus, Md. 20872

Deepest sympathies are extended to his family and friends.

For further information, see his obituary on the funeral home web site.

The MCVFRA held its annual convention on Thursday September 27, 2012. At the convention, hosted by the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department and held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad’s banquet hall, awards were presented to various fire/rescue personnel and annual elections were held.

For photos from the annual memorial service and election meeting, please click here.

Award winners for 2012 are:

MCVFRA Hall of Fame inductees:
John Bentivoglio from Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
James Lee Hunter from Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department

George Hillard Award for Firefighter of the Year:
Master Firefighter Robert James from Rockville Volunteer Fire Department

EMT of the Year
Rebecca Leval from Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad

John White Memorial Award for Paramedic of the Year
Lt. Jerry David from Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad

Administrative Member of the Year
Carol Hayden from Kensington Volunteer Fire Department

President’s Award
Lois Bell from Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad

Election results:

President – Marcine Goodloe

Vice President – Earl Moore

Secretary – Russell W. Dawson

District 2 Representative to the Board of Directors – Joseph Chornock

District 4 Representative to the Board of Directors – Elmer Hamm

Montgomery County Isiah Executive Leggett and the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association are pleased to announce that an agreement between the County and the Volunteer Association has been reached that will improve fire and rescue services for residents and visitors in Montgomery County. The agreement will boost communication, promote further cooperation and enhance the volunteer contribution to the County’s combined volunteer and career emergency fire and rescue service.

The County’s Emergency Medical Transportation Insurance Reimbursement Act, which will take effect January 1, 2013, will raise an additional $18 million a year that will be dedicated to additional staffing, apparatus, facilities and equipment – all at no cost to County residents. The money will come from insurance company reimbursements for medical transport. No County resident will ever receive a bill, pay a co-pay or deductible. Non-County residents will receive a bill that can be submitted to their insurers for reimbursement. Those without insurance will be able to file for a waiver of the fees.

“Although we are concerned that non-County residents will receive a bill for emergency transport, we do not support a referendum on the Emergency Medical Transportation Insurance Reimbursement Act,” said Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association President Marcine Goodloe. “The fire and rescue service enhancements that will result from this agreement are too critical to jeopardize. The Act will result in significant improvements to emergency services and the safety of County residents.

“County residents, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and career and volunteer personnel will benefit from enhanced fire and rescue service with the implementation of Emergency Medical Transportation Insurance Reimbursement Act,” said Goodloe. This agreement fosters a relationship of trust and support and recognizes the valued contributions by our volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services personnel.”

“The State of Maryland has decided to shift to Montgomery County what could very well be more than $400 million over 10 years in state teacher pension costs,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. The State has also approved a new ‘Maintenance of Effort’ law on school funding that could force us to add millions more to our reserves each year above and beyond what we already do. These are changed circumstances of monumental significance. The additional revenue the County will receive from insurance reimbursements is vital. It will enable us to enhance fire and rescue services to keep pace with population growth, without cutting other essential County services.
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“I appreciate the work and efforts by our County officials and representatives from the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association,” said Leggett. “In particular I want to acknowledge Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association President Marcine Goodloe, Executive Director Eric Bernard and Counsel John Bentivolio for their leadership and efforts in forging this agreement.”

The MCVFRA does not solicit donations by phone or in person. Some organizations are misrepresenting themselves as the volunteer association when soliciting by phone. If you would like to donate to the MCVFRA, please send to: MCVFRA, PO Box 1374, Rockville, MD 20849. Donations are not tax deductible.

A ground breaking ceremony for the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad’s new station will be held on Saturday July 14, 2012 at 11am. The new station will be located at 2400 Arcola Ave. at the intersection of Georgia Ave. The public is invited to the ceremony whose participants will include WVRS President Tom Brown and Chief Alan Platky, County Executive Ike Leggett and other Montgomery County representatives.

The station construction is a cooperative effort between WVRS and Montgomery County. In the event of inclement weather, call 240-777-2474 for updated information. Continue reading →

Congratulations to MCVFRA Fire Prevention Queen Solveig Petersen on her selection as 1st runner state-wide Fire Prevention Queen at the Maryland State Firemen’s Association convention in Ocean City, MD.

Woodrow "Skip" Marth

June 18 2012 – It is with deep sadness the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. announces the death of Life Member Woodrow “Skippy” Marth (July 23, 1945 – June 17, 2012). Firefighter Marth joined RVFD on January 28, 1964. FF Marth was also a career firefighter in Montgomery County for 26 years.

Visitation Wednesday June 20, 2012 from 2p to 4p and 6p to 8p At Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opposumtown Pike, Frederick, MD.

Funeral on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11a at the funeral home. A reception will follow immediately at the Independent Hose Co. 310 Baughmans La. Frederick, MD

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1393 Progress Way, Suite 908, Eldersburg, MD 21784.

Online condolences may be expressed at staufferfuneralhome.com.