Summer is also known as

the “drowning season”.

Over ½ of all drownings occur in swimming pools

Every day, about ten peo-

ple die from unintention-

al drowning. Of these,

two are children aged 14

or younger. Click Here

for more information

According to the Centers for

Disease Control and Preven-

tion (CDC), drowning is the

leading cause of “injury death”

among children ages 1 to 4..

The Montgomery Coun-

ty Fire Marshal’s Office

was established by

Commissioner’s Court

in 1967.

The MCFMO’s primary

responsibilities are the

investigation of the

cause and origin of fires

and explosions, as well

as fire prevention and

code enforcement in

unincorporated Mont-

gomery County.

The MCFMO routinely

assists other Fire and

Police agencies

throughout the area,

including several local

municipalities.

Please feel free to share

this newsletter with

your friends and family.

Each year, thousands of

Americans are killed in

home fires and many

times that are injured or

left homeless after a

fire.

Summertime brings

warmer temps and out-

door fun, but with that

comes new risks and

dangers.

This newsletter contains

valuable tips on how to

keep your home and

family safe.

For year round updates

and more information

Like us on Facebook!

Our Role in the Community

Become a Firefighter!

Interested in serving your

community? Want to learn

new skills or explore new

careers?

While most County Fire

Departments now have

career staff, many still rely

on Volunteer Firefighters

as well.

Consider joining your local

Fire Department.

You can make a difference

as a Volunteer Firefighter

serving Montgomery

County.

To find out more, contact

your local fire station.

All training and equipment

is provided for you by your

Fire Department. Your

only commitment is your

time and desire to serve.

August 1st,2014

Montgomery County

Fire Marshal’s Office

Inside this

issue:

Drowning— Get

the Facts

2

Who is most at

risk of drowning?

2

Boating Safety

“Wear it”

2

LPG and Natural

Gas Safety

3

Is our Drought

over for SE Texas?

4

MCFMO Fire

Scenes

5

Montgomery Co.

Fire Scenes

6

Summer Grilling

Safety

7

Summer 2014 Prevention and Safety

Special points of

interest:

Drowning Prevention

Boating Safety

Propane Safety

Status of Drought

Every day, about ten peo-

ple die from unintentional

drowning. Of these, two

are children aged 14 or

younger. Drowning ranks

fifth among the leading

causes of unintentional

injury death in the United

States.

How big is the problem?

•From 2005-2009, there

were an average of 3,533

fatal unintentional drown-

ings (non-boating related)

annually in the United

States — about ten deaths

per day. An additional 347

people died each year

from drowning in boating-

related incidents.

•About one in five people

who die from drowning

are children 14 and

younger. For every child

who dies from drowning,

another five receive emer-

gency department care for

non-fatal submersion inju-

ries.

•More than 50% of drown-

ing victims treated in

emergency departments

(EDs) require hospitaliza-

tion or transfer for further

care (compared with a

hospitalization rate of

about 6% for all uninten-

tional injuries). These

nonfatal drowning injuries

can cause severe brain

damage that may result in

long-term disabilities such

as memory problems,

learning disabilities, and

permanent loss of basic

functioning (e.g., perma-

nent vegetative state)

Click Here for more on

how you can prevent

drowning accidents.

Always wear life jackets

Where cause of death was

known, 77% of fatal boat-

ing accident victims

drowned. Of those

drowning victims, 84 %

were not wearing life jack-

ets.

Eight out of every ten

boaters who drowned

were on vessels less than

21 feet in length.

In 2013, the Coast Guard

counted 4,062 accidents

that involved 560 deaths,

2,620 injuries, and ap-

proximately $39 million

dollars of damage to

property as a result of

recreational boating acci-

dents.

On average, there were

4.7 deaths per 100,000

registered recreational

vessels.

Boater Safety Education

80% of deaths occurred on a

boat where the operator had

not received boating safety

instruction.

Operator inattention, improp-

er lookout, operator inexperi-

ence, excessive speed, and

machinery failure rank as the

top five primary contributing

factors in accidents.

Boating and Drinking was

listed as the leading factor in

16% of deaths.

Boating Safety — “It will never happen to me”

A four-sided isolation

fence (separating the pool

area from the house and

yard) reduces a child’s

risk of drowning 83% com-

pared to three-sided prop-

erty-line fencing.

Lack of Supervision:

Drowning can happen

quickly and quietly any-

where there is water (such

as bathtubs, swimming

pools, buckets), and even

in the presence of life-

guards

Location:

People of different ages

drown in different loca-

tions.

For example, most chil-

dren ages 1-4 drown in

home swimming pools.

The percentage of drown-

ings in natural water set-

tings, including lakes, riv-

ers and oceans, increases

with age, accounting for

more than half of drown-

ings in those 15 and older

What Factors Influence Drowning risk?

Swimming Ability:

Many adults and children

report that they can’t

swim.

Research has shown

that participation in for-

mal swimming lessons

can reduce the risk of

drowning among children

aged 1 to 4 years.

Lack of Barriers:

Barriers, such as pool

fencing, prevent young

children from gaining ac-

cess to the pool area with-

out caregivers’ awareness.

Page 2 Montgomery County

Over 1/2 of all drown-

ings occur in swim-

ming pools

Who is most at risk?

Nearly 80% of people who die from drowning are male.

Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. In 2009, among children 1 to 4 years old who died from an unintentional injury, more than 30% died from drowning. Among children ages 1 to 4, most drownings occur in home swimming pools.

Click on the life jacket for

more on Boating Safety

In the past year, two homes

in Montgomery County have

been destroyed by explo-

sions linked to flammable

gas accumulations, killing 2

people and severely injuring

4 others.

In the wake of last week’s

home explosion in Willis,

many Montgomery County

residents may have concerns

about the safe use of pro-

pane in their homes. With

proper safety procedures and

routine maintenance propane

can be a safe alternative fuel,

but when these precautions

are not followed, the results

can be catastrophic.

In suburban and rural Texas, propane

is an everyday part of our lives. Un-

like cities which have natural gas

systems, many residents in Mont-

gomery County rely on propane

(sometimes called LPG or LP-gas) to

heat their water, homes and cook

their meals.

Propane is transported in trucks and

stored as a liquid in tanks on rural

property and the flammable vapors

are piped into each home and gas

fired appliance. In its natural state,

propane is a colorless and odorless

gas. Since propane is odorless, it is

intentionally odorized so leaks can

be detected. The odor is similar to

rotten eggs. Propane differs from

natural gas in that its vapors are

LPG and Natural Gas Safety

Never store propane cylinders or

containers inside any enclosed

building.

Treat all propane gas odors serious-

ly. Any odors may indicate a very

dangerous situation.

Never assume that propane odor is

only the result of your tank being

near empty. If the odor persists, you

may have a serious leak.

You should always contact your local

propane supplier if you suspect a

leak.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is another

danger when using natural gas or propane in

your home. It occurs most often when equip-

ment is not vented properly.

CO deaths have been on the rise since 1999,

and estimates range as high as 700 deaths

annually. Carbon monoxide poisoning is most

fatal to adults 65 or older.

If your homes has gas appliances, make sure

you have a working carbon monoxide detec-

tor on You may want to purchase a combina-

tion LPG/ CO detector for your home. They

can be found in the smoke detector aisle of

most major retail locations.

Propane Safety Tips for the Home

Always keep flammable and

combustible materials (e.g.,

paper, clothing, wood, gaso-

line, solvents) away from any

open flames.

Know how to shut off the gas

supply from your tank or

cylinder.

If you do not know how,

contact your propane suppli-

er for instructions. Click the

link below for more infor-

mation from the Texas Rail-

road Commission.

Texas RRC Propane Safety

Page 3 Prevention and Safety

heavier than air and may accumulate

in low-lying areas such as basements

and ditches or along floors. Propane

is flammable when mixed with air

(oxygen) and can be ignited by many

different sources.

If your home uses either natural gas

or LPG, it should be equipped with a

carbon monoxide detector on each

floor. You may want to consider pur-

chasing a dual purpose detector de-

signed to alert you to either a build-

up of carbon monoxide or a gas leak.

These dual purpose units are general-

ly available in the smoke detector

aisle of most major hardware and

home improvement stores.

Montgomery County and

most of SE Texas has been

blessed with ample rainfall

over the last several months,

dramatically improving condi-

tions throughout the area.

Current forecasts call for a

return of an El Nino pattern

late this summer or in early

fall, which could continue to

bring rainfall and a milder

winter to Southeast Texas.

What does this mean for us?

While some still forecast one

to two months of drier weath-

er this summer, we should

start to see wetter conditions

beginning this fall and last-

ing throughout the winter.

Our area has been in the grips of a

multi-year drought since 2009 culmi-

nating with our worst wildfire season

ever in 2011.

During the 2011 fire season, thou-

sands of homes and millions of acres

were lost to wildfire, including 100

homes during the Riley Rd Fire which

burned through Grimes, Montgomery

and Waller Counties beginning Labor

Day in 2011.

While conditions are improving, you

should always look for ways to im-

prove your home’s wildfire defenses.

For more info check out the Texas

Forest Service website.

http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/

main/default.aspx

What a Difference a Year Makes!

6) Consider fire-resistant

material for patio furniture,

swing sets, etc.

7) Firewood stacks and pro-

pane tanks should not be

located in this zone.

8) Water plants, trees and

mulch regularly.

9) Consider xeriscaping if

you are affected by water-use

restrictions.

Zone 2 (Moderate and High

Hazard Areas) Plants in this

zone should be low-growing,

well irrigated, and less flam-

mable.

1) Leave 30 feet between

clusters of two to three trees,

or 20 feet between individual

trees.

2) Encourage a mixture of

deciduous and coniferous

trees.

3) Create ‘fuel breaks’, like

driveways & gravel walkways.

4) Prune trees up six to ten

feet from the ground.

Zone 3 (High Hazard Areas)

Thin this area, although less

space is required than in

Zone 2.

Remove smaller conifers that

are growing between taller

trees. Remove heavy accumu-

lation of woody debris.

Reduce the density of tall

trees so canopies are not

touching.

Firewise Landscaping and Construction

Use the Zone Concept.

Zone 1— All Hazard Areas

This well-irrigated area encir-

cles the structure and all its

attachments—(wood decks,

fences, and boardwalks) for

at least 30 feet on all sides.

1) Plants should be carefully

spaced, low-growing and free

of resins, oils and waxes that

readily burn

2) Mow regularly & prune

lower limbs from trees

3) Space conifer trees 30 feet

between crowns. Trim back

trees that overhang the

house.

4) Create a ‘fire-free’ area

within five feet of the home,

using non-flammable land-

scaping materials and/or

high-moisture-content annu-

als and perennials.

5) Remove dead vegetation

from under deck and within

10 feet of house.

Page 4 Prevention and Safety

The primary goal for

Firewise landscaping is

fuel reduction — limiting

the amount of

flammable vegetation

and materials around

the home.

Click here for more info

MCFMO Fire Scenes

MCFMO and Conroe Fire Investigators working togeth-

er at the scene of a 4 alarm condo fire in April Sound

Dobbin 2013— Fatal Home Explosion July 2014 — Willis home destroyed in explosion

seriously injuring 3 residents

Montgomery County Fire Scenes

Porter– Firefighters rescue seriously injured man from tree

Lake Conroe Fire Department - 4 alarm condo fire Magnolia Firefighters rescue victim of house fire

The Woodlands—lightning strike ignites home fire

North Montgomery County ESD #1 Fireboat training Montgomery - Fire sprinkler saves apartments

Safe Grilling Tips

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills

should only be used outdoors.

The grill should be placed well away

from the home, deck railings and out

from under eaves and overhanging

branches.

Keep children and pets away from

the grill area.

Keep your grill clean by removing

grease or fat buildup from the grills

and in trays below the grill.

Dispose of Charcoal Safely

When you are finished grilling, let

the coals completely cool before

disposing of them in a metal con-

tainer.

Be sure to use safe grilling practic-

es as summer is the peak time for

grill fires.

Gas grills constitute a higher risk,

having been involved in an annual

average of 7,200 home fires in

2007-2011, while charcoal or other

solid-fueled grills were involved in

an annual average of 1,400 home

fires.

Propane grills

Check the gas tank and

hoses for leaks before its

first use each summer.

Summer is Grilling Time!

The Montgomery County Fire

Marshal’s Office would like to

thank our fellow firefighters

and other Law Enforcement

agencies that have assisted us

during what has been a very

busy summer so far.

Our office hours are 8 AM to 5

PM weekdays and our office is

located at 2247 N. First,

Conroe, Tx 77301. Our office

phone # is (936) 538-8288

For after hours emergencies,

MCFMO personnel are dis-

patched through the Montgom-

ery County Sheriff’s Office and

County Fire Dispatch Center.

You can also email us 24/7

with fire safety and code ques-

tions - fire.codes@mctx.org

MCFMO Newsletter Summer 2014

We’re on the Web!

www.mctx.org/fire

Download these NFPA

grilling safety tips .