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"Challenges in the Street (CITS)"
Fire & Rescue Training Academy
8751 Snouffer School Road
Gaithersburg, Md. 20879
Coordinators
Battalion Chief Kelvin Thomas Battalion Chief Mark Davis
...."The ideas and opinions expressed during these presentations represent the views of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of MCFRS. Where personnel express ideas that are inconsistent with MCFRS policy and/or practice the viewer/listener is cautioned to follow established policies and practices."
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Season 2 (2021)
Episode 7: UTV Operations
Moderator: Capt. Brady Miller
Presenter: Capt. Mike Stream
Episode 6: UTV Operations
Moderator: Capt. Brady Miller
Presenter: Capt. James Randall
Episode 5: The Fire Department Interfacing with Sprinkler Systems - Beyond the FDC
Moderator: Capt. Brady Miller
Presenter: Chief Mark Dempsey
Episode 4:Portable Ladder Tactics
Moderator: Capt. Brady Miller
Presenter: Lieutenant Franco Martinez has been in the fire service for 26 years with 20 of those years with Montgomery County. He has spent most of his career in the 1st Battalion where he spent 13 years as a Master Firefighter. He is currently a lieutenant with Company 19 where he also serves as a rail officer on C shifts.
Episode 3: Being a CPR Boss
CPR Boss Video : 6 minutes
Air Date: March 24, 2021
Moderator: Capt. Brady Miller & BC Mark Davis
Presenters: Capt. Tim Burns, Lt. Sam Henry
Episode 2: Keeping Afloat as a Float Officer
Air Date: February 18, 2021
Presenters: Lt. E. Escolero, Lt. J. King, Lt. D. Richardson
Lieutenant Joesph King: Lieutenant Joseph King has been with MCFRS for 8 years. He is currently assigned to the 3rd battalion on the A shift. He has spent his entire career in the 1st battalion prior to his promotion, the last 5 years at Company 2 on the B shift. 
Lieutenant "Esco"lero is a 14 year veteran with MCFRS, currently assigned to the 1st Battalion - C Shift. Promoted in 2017, Lt. Escolero has been in the float pool for 4 years, with a stint in the Fourth Battalion. Prior to his promotion he was assigned to Co. 16 C shift and spent most of his career in the first (primarily between Co. 16 & 24). Lt. Escolero has assisted in promotional examinations both outside and within jurisdiction. Lieutenant Diandre Richardson
Episode 1: Firehouse Fitness
Episode 1: Firehouse Fitness
Aire Date: January 27, 2021Presenters: Lt. I. Smith, MFF K. Dennison, FF E. Lyght
Lt. Smith has been with MCFRS for 16 years. He is currently assigned toStation 3 as one of two daywork Lieutenants. Prior to becoming a fire fighter he attendedPoolesville High Schooland then graduatingfrom the University of Maryland with a degree in Criminal Justice. He also was a 4 year lettermanfor the Terrapin's football. Winning an ACC Championship in 1985. After playing a number of year’s in the professional ranks he became a fire fighter in 2004.Since then he has become the CPAT Training Coordinator, Assistant PT Training Coordinator, IPE Coordinator, Former assistant program Manager for the EEO dept., Former assistant to the Community Engagement team.Under Lieutenants leadership he and his team have established one the premier CPAT training programsin the country.
Master Firefighter Dennison has 8 years of service with MCFRS and is currently assigned to 12 A shift. Prior to Station 12, she was assigned to Station 26C and Station 1C. MFF Dennison is a NSCA Certified Tactical Strength & Conditioning Coach and has worked with our CPAT Mentoring and Recruit Class PT programs for the last 5 years. MFF Dennison holds a bachelor's degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kentucky.
Megan Lautz is a Registered Dietitian with a Masters in Sports Nutrition. Megan is also a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor for fire recruits. While a civilian, Megan has strived to understand the challenges firefighters face when trying to stay healthy. She has trained for and passed CPAT, completed a 24 hour ride-along with Station 8, and is heavily involved in fire recruit training and nutrition. Megan’s mission is to help firefighters perform better, recover faster, and live longer.
FF Erwyn Lyght has been with MCFRS since 2007. He is Currently assigned to station 4 on C shift. Prior to station 4, he worked at stations 24, 19 and 15. FF Lyght is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where he graduated with a BS in Kinesiology. While at Maryland FF Lyght was a collegiate letter winner in the sport of Football. After graduating, FF Lyght worked as a personal trainer and was also fortunate to work with Maryland strength and conditioning program for short period. FF Lyght is currently the MCFRS fitness equipment repair coordinator, CPAT/PT instructor at the PSTA.
Season 1 (2020)
Episode 1: RIC Engine Company & Radio Training
Aire Date: February 19, 2020
Presenters: Lt. Matthew Houck and Capt. Brady Miller
Lieutenant Houck 1st Battalion float lieutenant starting his 16th year with MCFRS. He is a father of 3. Matt worked as a supervisor at 2 different 911 centers and held multiple positions as a volunteer firefighter in Hanover, PA before coming to MCFRS. Starting his MCFRS career at Fire Station 12, then spending 6 years at ECC, and now being back at the 1st Battalion as a float officer, he enjoys his time spent working with members of the department. He is a active member with MCFRS TechOps, NCR-CIG radio cache, Maryland Task Force 1, and the department's peer support/CISM team.
Captain Miller A 23 year veteran of MCFRS, and for 7 years has is been assigned to Station 2 on the A-shift. Prior to Station 2, he was assigned to Company 25 and Company 3. Captain Miller is involved in both program development and instruction at the PSTA. He is an instructor with the Recruit Training program, Safety and Survival, flashover training, and for 8 years been the lead instructor for our Company Officer Leadership Academy.
Episode 2: When Comms Go Sideways
Aire Date: July 14, 2020
Presenter: Captain Sam Villani
Captain Villani A 20 year veteran and acting Battalion Chief in the Montgomery County, MD Fire and Rescue Service. He is an instructor at the Fire & Rescue Training Academy, having served two years as the recruit training coordinator. Sam is a charter member, Communications Unit Leader, and deputy program manager with the National Capitol Region (NCR) Communications Interoperability Group. He is a technical panel member for the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute study on residential size-up and search & rescue. Sam was a member of FEMA MDTF1 and was assigned to the Public Safety Communications Center early in his career. Before his start with the MCFRS in 1999, Sam was an elementary educator in Teach for America, DC Corps.
Episode 3: Mechanical Advantage Systems
Aire Date: August 27, 2020
Presenter: FF Jason Eberly
He has been with MCFRS since 2007 and is currently assigned to Station 15A. Previous station assignments include 25 and 29. FF Eberly has spent much of his career involved in technical rescue and special operations. Serving time on the TRT, MD-TF1 Urban Search and Rescue Team, and teaching technical rescue classes at the PSTA.
Episode 4: Standpipes & Fire Pumps
Aire Date: September 27, 2020
Presenter: Chief Mark Dempsey , WVRS
Chief Dempsey has been a volunteer with the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad for nearly 42 years. His second stint as Chief has been for the last 6 1/2 years. He still rides the seat of the Rescue Squad once a week as the Friday Night OIC. His professional career is as a registered Fire Protection Engineer. This career began in 1985 as an Engineer with the Fairfax County Fire Marshall's Office. He currently owns his own fire protection engineering consulting business. His responsibilities include the design, rview, and inspection of fire protection sytems on a daily basis.
Episode 5: Hose Line Deployments - Beyond the Basics
Presenter: Captain Jason Smith
Captain Smith Is a 15 year veteran of MCFRS. He is the Station Commander of Company 32 and has been the Captain of the C shift since 2018. Captain Smith is an instructor at the Fire & Rescue Training Academy, involved with Recruit Training, Volunteer Essentials, Flashover, Safety and Survival and has developed the current Strategies and Tactics Course for the department. Captain Smith is a subject matter expert for the Department of Homeland Security, First Responder Resource Group, Science and Technology Directorate.
Episode 6: Rapid Intervention-Training for Succcess
Presenter: Lieutenant Matthew Machala.jpeg)
Lt. Machala has been with MCFRS since 2012, is currently assigned to Battalion 1 B-Shift and worked as a Firefighter at Company 2 prior to promotion. Lieutenant Machala is an MICRB Instructor currently teaching at the PSTA in areas including recruit training, flashover training and safety and survival. Lieutenant Machala has also had the privilege of serving as an adjunct H.O.T Instructor at FDIC International and being published in Firehouse Magazine. Episode 7: High-Rise Fire Alarm System
Presenter: Chief Mark Dempsey, WVRSChief Dempsey has been a volunteer with the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad for nearly 42 years. His second stint as Chief has been for the last 6 1/2 years. He still rides the seat of the Rescue Squad once a week as the Friday Night OIC. His professional career is as a registered Fire Protection Engineer. This career began in 1985 as an Engineer with the Fairfax County Fire Marshall's Office. He currently owns his own fire protection engineering consulting business. His responsibilities include the design, rview, and inspection of fire protection sytems on a daily basis. 
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Produced by:
Hell's 56 Acres Productions
Digital Media Production Team
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service
