By Fire Chief Corey Smedley
Across the United States, fire departments continue to confront the difficult reality that smoke — not flame — is the leading cause of civilian death in high-rise fires. While sprinklers and modern building codes have significantly improved safety in new construction, many older residential towers remain unsprinklered. In these buildings, smoke can travel far beyond the unit of origin, filling hallways and stairwells long before suppression is complete.
Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS) examined this challenge through a research lens and asked a fundamental question: If smoke is the primary killer, how do we better protect residents during evacuation?
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The answer led to one of the most comprehensive operational deployments of smoke evacuation hoods in the country. Today, MCFRS is believed to be the largest fire department in the United States — and possibly the first to implement at scale — a program integrating smoke evacuation hoods directly into high-rise fire operations.
The goal is simple: Give residents breathable air and buy time when it matters most.
Research behind the risk
MCFRS began by analyzing local incident data, national fire fatality statistics, and after-action reports from high-rise fires. The findings were consistent:
- Most civilian fire deaths are attributed to smoke inhalation.
- Smoke spreads rapidly in vertical environments due to stack effect.
- Victims are often found in corridors and stairwells during attempted evacuation.
Even in non-fire units, residents can be overcome by toxic gases migrating through open doors, ventilation systems and common spaces. Conditions deteriorate quickly, and panic increases as visibility drops and breathing becomes difficult.
Traditional tactics focus primarily on fire attack and ventilation. While essential, suppression alone does not immediately eliminate smoke from egress routes. The survivability gap between ignition and suppression can be critical. That gap is where evacuation hoods make a difference.
Why smoke evacuation hoods matter
Smoke evacuation hoods — also known as smoke escape hoods — are personal protective devices designed to filter carbon monoxide and other toxic combustion byproducts while providing a short-duration supply of breathable air. When applied during assisted evacuation, they:
- Reduce exposure to life-threatening gases;
- Improve a victim’s ability to breathe and remain calm;
- Increase the likelihood of successful stairwell descent; and
- Support firefighters operating in smoke-filled environments.
Research and international case studies demonstrate that smoke inhalation incapacitates victims faster than flame spread. Providing filtered air, even for a limited duration, significantly increases survivability during removal. For vulnerable populations — older adults, residents with mobility limitations, and those dependent on oxygen — this protection can be lifesaving.
From concept to operational model
Rather than treating evacuation hoods as specialty or reserve equipment, MCFRS embedded them into frontline high-rise operations. This required a series of steps:
- Outfitting designated units with smoke evacuation hoods: MCFRS recognized the two-fold nature of the potential use of smoke evacuation hoods — for those victims who are located during primary and secondary searches needing immediate evacuation as well as those located during a more planned evacuation. As such, every frontline fire apparatus was equipped with a deployable smoke hood in a fire retardant pouch on the “bucket” firefighter position. So, no matter if an engine company, truck or rescue squad came across someone who needed immediate protection from smoke and the toxic products of combustion, they would be equipped to use the smoke hood to lessen the impact of the hazardous environment and lead to better victim outcomes. As we continue our initial evaluation of the technology, potential future deployments include a move to more “mass evacuation”-style where truck companies and rescue squads may carry 10-15 smoke hoods in a carry bag for those situations.
- Training crews in rapid application under fireground conditions: Initial training consisted of a video distributed to the department and a basic information/use card for review. Each Battalion was equipped with a smoke hood in carry case that was used to deliver the in-station, hands-on portion of training. The technology itself and its deployment are straightforward: If the hood fits on the victim and you are in a suitable environment (non-direct flame or high heat), then open the carry case, remove from the plastic bag and place over the victim’s head.
- Developing deployment criteria during primary search and assisted evacuation: As innovators in this space, our initial use criteria were purposefully broad and gave line officers/firefighters the latitude to make informed decisions regarding when and how to deploy. Our Incident Response Policy defines a “Deliberate, Defendable, and Communicated’ heuristic — and we applied this to our deployment model. We informed the department of the environments and atmospheres where not to deploy the hoods, including high-heat/direct flame and oxygen-depleted areas. Other than that, we empowered our officers to make decisions with the understanding that the goal of the smoke hood is to improve victim outcomes.
- Integrating hood use into high-rise tactical worksheets and preplans: We’re still in the early stages of implementation. As we gain further understanding of the use cases and limitations of the equipment, we will formalize use and deployment strategies. Initial thoughts include mass evacuation bags with 10-15 smoke hoods for each rescue unit. Depending upon the victim population, building layout and our ability to contain smoke through the use of smoke curtains, we may adopt the hoods as part of a defend-in-place strategy.
Today, MCFRS crews deploy with evacuation hoods in high-risk residential buildings, particularly older, unsprinklered structures, as part of their standard operational readiness.
Evacuation hoods are not a replacement for sprinklers, suppression or ventilation. They are part of a layered, research-driven strategy focused on survivability. MCFRS integrates hood deployment with floor-below fire attack tactics, door control and compartmentalization practices, stairwell monitoring and smoke control, and community risk reduction outreach in high-rise communities.
The department’s approach recognizes that smoke control and smoke protection must work together. While suppression addresses the source, evacuation hoods address the human impact of smoke migration.
Measuring success
MCFRS hypothesizes that wearing smoke escape hoods will improve victim tolerance to smoke environments during assisted evacuation and enhance confidence among crews performing removals in contaminated corridors.
MCFRS will collect and review data on the following:
- Hood deployment frequency
- Evacuation times during high-rise incidents
- Patient outcomes related to smoke exposure
- Firefighter operational efficiency
The department is committed to ongoing evaluation and refinement. Research drives practice, and practice informs future research. As more departments explore similar strategies, MCFRS continues to share lessons learned, operational insights and data outcomes.
The broader message
If the fire service accepts that smoke is the leading cause of death in structure fires, then protecting occupants from smoke exposure must be central to strategy. We know that high-rise fires present complex challenges, particularly in legacy buildings that predate modern sprinkler requirements. Retrofitting takes time. Suppression takes time. But smoke does not wait.
Sometimes innovation is not about inventing something new. It is about scaling a proven tool with purpose and discipline. By embedding smoke evacuation hoods into frontline operations, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service has proven how research, innovation and operational commitment can reshape high-rise survivability.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Corey Smedley was appointed Fire Chief of Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS) in July 2024, becoming the County’s fifth fire chief and the first external candidate to hold the position. Smedley leads nearly 2,400 personnel, including about 1,300 career firefighters and 1,100 volunteers, responding to approximately 130,000 calls annually across nearly 500 square miles. Serving a population of over 1 million people from more than 40 stations, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service is the largest accredited combination department in the nation.
With more than 33 years in public safety, Chief Smedley began his career in the U.S. Army Reserves before progressing through leadership roles in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he rose to the rank of deputy fire chief, and Alexandria, Virginia, where he served as emergency manager, deputy and then fire/EMS chief.
