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Montgomery County fire official urges vigilance in heat: don’t leave children or pets in hot cars, heed water and grill warnings
Summary
Óscar Méndez of Montgomery County Fire & Rescue advised residents to stay hydrated, never leave children or pets in parked cars, use life jackets and supervise children around water, and follow safe grilling practices as extreme heat continues.
Óscar Méndez, manager of the Office of Risk Prevention for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue, urged residents to take basic precautions as summer heat intensifies, saying, “Mantenernos hidratados es lo principal.” He warned that interior vehicle temperatures can rise rapidly and advised never to leave children, older adults or pets unattended in cars.
Why it matters: County officials say heat and humidity can produce life-threatening conditions in minutes. Méndez noted that when ambient air reaches about 90°F, interior car temperatures can climb to roughly 120°F — a difference he said can produce fatal outcomes. “No dejar a los pequeñines o mascotas encerrados en los vehículos,” he said, adding the county monitors such incidents and runs public-education campaigns.
Méndez offered practical, preventive steps: keep water on hand, avoid dehydrating beverages (he singled out coffee), dress in light, light-colored clothing, and schedule outdoor work for cooler morning hours. To avoid accidentally leaving a child in a vehicle he suggested simple routines — leave a purse, phone or bag in the back seat — and noted market devices that attach to child seats and pair with phones to trigger alerts.
On water safety, Méndez emphasized active supervision at pools and beaches and cautioned that the presence of a lifeguard is not a substitute for a guardian’s attention. “La responsabilidad última es de aquel que lleva a los niños,” he said, and recommended life jackets for non-swimmers and available loaner vests at county pools (which require an ID when borrowing equipment).
Addressing river hazards, including the Potomac, Méndez described strong currents and submerged debris and urged all boaters and river-goers to wear personal flotation devices. Drawing on his experience responding to rescues, he said recovery efforts can be prolonged and not always successful.
Méndez also reviewed grill and fire safety ahead of summer barbecues: operate grills outdoors only, keep grills at least three feet from anything that can burn, properly extinguish and store hot coals in metal containers, and inspect gas hoses for wear. He cited a July 4 house fire he said began with hot coals left on a deck as an example of risk.
The fire official encouraged residents to use county resources during extreme heat, including registering for county alerts (dial 3-1-1) and using air-conditioned community spaces such as libraries and designated community centers.
The interview closed with the host thanking Méndez and highlighting the county’s ongoing public-safety outreach.
