County Deploys Smoke Safety Hoods, First in U.S.

Montgomery County announced the deployment of smoke safety hoods — a first not only in the county but in the entire country — funded by a donation from the Diaz family in memory of their daughter Melanie Diaz, who died in the Arrive Fire. The initiative involved the county's Department of Permitting Services, Fire Chief Smedley, and state Delegate Lorig Charkoudian.