# Montgomery County eyes smoke hoods for tall apartment fires

> A new bill would require high-rise rental buildings to stock emergency masks that help residents escape through smoke.
- Title: Montgomery County eyes smoke hoods for tall apartment fires
- Summary: A new bill would require high-rise rental buildings to stock emergency masks that help residents escape through smoke. Montgomery County could become the…
- Keywords: montgomery county, kate stewart, fire safety, smoke escape hoods, apartment buildings, melanie diaz, silver spring, maryland, fire code, smoke inhalation, emergency devices, news
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/fire-smoke-hood-montgomery-county-adu-AGQCR2HJXJG4BBE5W3ALUKY4XI
- Author: Ginny Bixby
- Published: 2026-09-19T09:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: montgomery county, kate stewart, fire safety, smoke escape hoods, apartment buildings, melanie diaz, silver spring, maryland, fire code, smoke inhalation, emergency devices, news
## County considers smoke hood requirement
Montgomery County could become the first U.S. jurisdiction to require apartment buildings with five or more stories to stock smoke escape hoods for fire emergencies. Council member Kate Stewart introduced the bill Tuesday.
## What smoke escape hoods do
The heat-resistant masks contain a transparent airtight bag that seals around the wearer's head, with an air filter in the mouth connecting to outside air. They help people escape through toxic smoke and fumes during fires.
## Bill inspired by 2023 fire death
The legislation follows the death of 25-year-old Melanie Diaz in a Silver Spring apartment fire in 2023. She died of smoke inhalation while evacuating a high-rise without sprinklers. Her family later donated hoods to the county fire department.
## Smoke inhalation is top fire killer
Smoke inhalation causes more fire deaths than flames and can create lasting health problems for survivors. Council member Stewart called the hoods life-saving equipment during Tuesday's introduction.

> Extended inhalation of toxic smoke and chemicals can cause sustained and life-altering injuries.
## Low-cost interim safety measure
Hood models cost between $265 and $450, averaging around $335 each. Stewart said they offer a relatively low-cost way for landlords to improve fire safety while waiting for state-mandated sprinkler retrofits, which aren't required until 2033 for pre-1974 buildings.
## Building requirements under the bill
Multifamily buildings with five or more stories would need to stock enough hoods for 5% to 10% of occupants, with the exact number determined by the fire chief based on each building's needs. Hoods have a shelf life of 5 to 15 years.
## Landlord group wants more research
The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington said it is researching the issue. The group noted the hoods are mostly untested as a fire safety tool and this would be the first such requirement in the country, so they want to understand implementation challenges.

> Because the fire hood device is mostly untested as a fire safety tool and this requirement would be the first of its kind in the United States, we are working to learn more about how residents would use it, implementation challenges, and potential operational impacts for housing providers.
## Public hearing set for October
The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing on the smoke hood bill at 1:30 p.m. on October 6. The bill is cosponsored by Council President Natali Fani-González, Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, and council members Shebra Evans, Sidney Katz and Dawn Luedtke.
## Key takeaway

Montgomery County could become the first U.S. jurisdiction to require smoke escape hoods in apartment buildings, a move inspired by a 2023 fire death.