Every year fire departments in the Washington, DC area respond to house fires caused by improperly discarded fireplace ashes. RVFD and MCFRS personnel have responded to multiple fires this winter causes by improperly discarded fireplace ashes. FACT: Many people don’t realize the length of time required for ashes to cool enough for disposal. Coals and ashes from fires can remain hot enough to reignite and start a fire for many days after the fire is out. The exact amount of… Read more »

The final phase of Maryland’s revised smoke detector law requiring homeowners to replace their older-style removable battery detectors with the newer sealed-in battery detectors went into effect on January 1, 2018. For more information about this law, click here. The law originally went into effect in 2013 and outlines a phased-in approach that started with new construction. The final phase affects all smoke detectors in all homes. The sealed battery detectors do not require or allow battery replacement or removal. After… Read more »

  The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all those who participated in the funeral services and procession for Capt. Sander Cohen. Capt. Cohen, a volunteer at RVFD, was also a Deputy Chief Maryland State Fire Marshall, was killed in the line-of-duty on Friday December 8, 2017. While a very sad day for Capt. Cohen’s family, friends and colleagues, both in the fire/rescue service and law enforcement communities, we took strength from the large show of support from… Read more »

The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Rockville City Police and FOP Lodge 117, in partnership with Top Dog Services, are asking for community support in donating items to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.  Donations of personal hygiene items and other supplies will be accepted at Saint Mary’s Church, 520 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, Maryland, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, 2017.  Donations will be loaded on a truck and delivered to the Houston area providing much… Read more »

August 31, 2017 – The RVFD membership elected a new fire chief at their regular meeting on August 30, 2017. Deputy Chief James Vagonis was elected as the new fire chief after Chief Scott Emmons stepped down after 6 1/2 years in the position. Chief Emmons will still serve as a deputy chief. Chief Vagonis moved to the Potomac area from the Detroit, MI area in 1990 and joined the RVFD in January of 1991. He has served in multiple… Read more »

June 14, 2017 – Several RVFD members were honored at the Rockville Public Safety Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, held at Lakewood Country Club. A HUGE and heartfelt congratulations to the following RVFD members. The citations from the program are below: Fire Chief Scott Emmons – Distinguished Service Citation:  Chief Scott E. Emmons joined the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department over 27 years ago. Not only does he make a contribution to day-to-day fire-rescue operations, but he… Read more »

January 12, 2017 – RVFD is pleased to announce our newest vehicle is now in service. Known as Support Unit 703, it is a multi-function 4-wheel drive specialty unit that is equipped to support fire/resuce incidents, emergency medical incidents, special events and mass casualty incidents. The unit was purchased using donated and grant funds and cost, equipped, $100,000. The unit is equipped with a wide variety of tools and other equipment such as: Elevator rescue equipment Power saws EMS supplies Special event… Read more »

December 20, 2016 – Incorrectly discarded fireplace ashes caused a fire that gutted a Rockville home on Tuesday night. RVFD Station 3 and other Rockville and Montgomery County units were alerted for a house fire at about 9:40p. Due to numerous calls to 911, PSCC alerted the rapid intervention dispatch units prior to any first alarm units’ arrival. When Station 3 units arrived, they found a large 2-story single family home with heavy fire showing in the attached garage with… Read more »

November 2, 2016 – RVFD and MCFRS Haz-Mat units were dispatched to a reported diesel leak on a train in the vicinity of the Randolph Rd. crossing at about 5:30p. Upon arrival, and after walking abut 1/2 mile down the tracks, Station 23 personnel found a MARC (Maryland commuter rail) train stopped after experiencing a diesel lead in the engine compartment of the locomotive. The engineer advised it had likely been leaking for several miles. There appeared to be a… Read more »

October 10, 2016 – Officers and Members of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department presented ALS703 to the Rockville Mayor and Council. The unit which was recently placed in service was purchased with grant funding from the City of Rockville. The RVFD would like to thank Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and the council for their support to the RVFD and the citizens we serve. ALS703 staffed with a Paramedic responds to reported critical emergency medical calls alongside an ambulance staffed with Emergency Medical Technicians.  ALS703 allows the paramedic to… Read more »