Spurred by a deadly Silver Spring high-rise fire, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue is equipping every fire truck with smoke hoods thanks to a family’s donation

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials announced that firefighters have added new rescue equipment designed to give firefighters more time inside burning buildings, a purchase spurred in part by the 2023 high-rise fire in Silver Spring that killed 25-year-old Melanie Diaz.

The Diaz family donated new smoke hoods to the fire department and said they hope to expand the effort across the state and eventually nationwide, WTOP reported. The hoods provide respiratory protection in smoke-filled environments, giving rescuers more time to remove people from buildings while reducing the risk of smoke inhalation.

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Fire Chief Corey Smedley said that smoke hoods are commonly used in Europe and the United Kingdom, but remain relatively rare in the United States. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials said the hoods will soon be carried on every county fire truck and can provide about 15 minutes of escape time by reducing toxic byproducts of combustion to more survivable levels.

“We are learning, we are adapting and we are applying those lessons in real time,” Smedley said. “Melanie Diaz’s story reshaped fire safety, not just through remembrance, but through action. Because of her legacy, leaders asked harder questions. Communities demanded change, and fire departments like ours adapted in ways that save lives.”

The Dräger PARAT Escape Hoods are portable emergency respiratory protection devices designed to help wearers safely escape hazardous environments by filtering out toxic gases and particles for at least 15 minutes, with easy donning and a design that accommodates a wide range of users. The hoods have a long service life when filters are replaced as required.

Smedley said the county has more than 75 high-rise residential buildings without automatic sprinklers, posing risks for residents and firefighters.

He said the Diaz family’s donation will equip every county fire engine, ladder truck and heavy rescue squad with an evacuation smoke hood to help protect crews and save lives.

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