In the face of extremely dry conditions, we bring your attention to a pressing concern: over the last few days, more than 36 acres have been burned by brushfires. The relentless heat and dryness have heightened the risk, making it imperative for each of us to be proactive in preventing fire incidents. Your commitment to fire safety matters immensely—exercise caution, remain vigilant, and join us in safeguarding our community.
As summer temperatures continue to rise, staying cool can become challenging. For many, heat is difficult to avoid.
When heat becomes dangerous, here are some steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe.
If you are unable to keep your home cool, it’s important to find alternate places to cool down. Public places such as libraries, museums and shopping malls can offer relief. You can also contact your local office of emergency management or try entering your zip code at www.211.org to find a community cooling center near you.
If you are unable to get someplace cool, use cool cloths or even a T-shirt from the freezer to wear around your neck during extreme heat advisories or warnings.
Windows alone can cause roughly 40% of unwanted heat buildup in our homes. There are some simple ways you can cool down your house. You can:
When it’s hot out, you may want to find relief in a pool, lake, stream, ocean or even a cool bath. However, water present its own safety hazards, especially for children. Make sure you talk to children about water safety. You can visit redcross.org for some video resources that help you explain water safety to different age groups.
You should also designate a specific person to keep an eye on the water and supervise people during water activity. If you use a kiddie or inflatable pool, after each use make sure to drain the water and flip the pool over.
Extreme heat can cause serious health problems, especially for those unable to access air conditioning, those who are unable to adjust their daily activities despite the heat, and older adults who are more suspectable to heat illnesses.
If you are alone and in high heat, let someone know and set regular check in times.
If you are a caregiver to an older adult, make sure you have a plan for keeping the individual cool and comfortable during a heatwave or summer power outage.
Even if you are not responsible for your neighbors, family and friends, it’s a good idea to check in on them when you can. Not everyone has the same access to resources and information as you do. Your check-in can save a life.
To stay safe, it’s important to know the signs of heat-related illnesses and how to respond if you suspect you or someone else is suffering.
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
If you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1 or get the person to a hospital immediately. Cool down with whatever methods are available until medical help arrives. Do not give the person anything to drink.
Symptoms of heat cramps include:
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
If you have signs of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, go to a cooler location and cool down by removing excess clothing and taking sips of sports drinks or water. Call your healthcare provider if symptoms get worse or last more than an hour.
To prevent dehydration, heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses, make sure you drink lots of water.
It’s important to understand that with proper training and education, fire extinguishers can save lives and property. Many adults might not know how or when to use fire extinguishers. Fire departments can help with fire extinguisher training and answer questions that community members may have.
Fire extinguishers contain different extinguishing agents such as water, carbon dioxide, dry chemical or wet chemical, depending on the kind of fire the extinguisher is intended for.
There are 5 primary types of fire extinguishers, each designed to put out different kinds of fires.
For use with ordinary materials like cloth, wood and paper.
Often found in homes and businesses
For use with combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil and oil-based paints.
Often found in homes and businesses
For use with combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil and oil-based paints.
Often found in homes and businesses
For use with flammable metals.
Often found in factories
For use with vegetable oils, animal oils and fats in cooking appliances.
Often found in commercial kitchens (restaurants, cafeterias, catering businesses)
There are also multipurpose fire extinguishers that might be labeled “B-C” or “A-B-C” that can be used on most types of home fires. Most home improvement stores carry multipurpose fire extinguishers that cover Class A through Class C.
Consider providing a checklist to help people prepare to use a fire extinguisher. For example:
Use a fire extinguisher when all of these questions are answered “yes.” If you’re unsure about whether it is safe to use a fire extinguisher, and for all other situations, alert others, leave the building, and call 911 from a mobile or neighbor’s phone.
When operating a fire extinguisher, tell residents to remember the word PASS:
Remind community residents to check fire extinguishers for:
Original Post from FEMA and Additional Information (Click Here)
Just click on the link below
Type in your address to check it out to see if your address falls within the red boundary.Information and facts on Proposition 1
Thurston County has implemented a burn ban starting July 5th, 2023. Read this announcement from ORCAA’s website to learn more:
Thurston County Implements Fire Safety Burn Ban starting July 5, 2023
Jul 05, 2023 07:53 am
The Thurston County Fire Marshal, in consultation with the Thurston County Director of Emergency Services, Department of Natural Resources, and the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), determined weather conditions within the county meet the fire danger level necessary to enact restrictions on outdoor burning to all lands regulated by Thurston County.
The Fire Safety Burn Ban applies to residential yard waste burning and all land clearing burns. The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer have resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past several years, according to fire officials.
“The fire safety burn ban is enacted when weather and fire fuel conditions reach a level of danger that may pose a threat to people and their property,” said Fire Marshal, Joshua Cummings. “The Department of Natural Resources has moved their fire risk on public lands in our region to ‘moderate’ which triggers the county’s process to enact the fire safety ban to minimize the threat of fires as much as possible through the restriction of residential and land clearing burns.”
At this time, recreational fires are allowed on private residential properties and in established fire rings within official county, state, and federal campgrounds. Recreational fires must be contained in approved concrete, stone or metal pits like those commonly found in campgrounds. The use of charcoal briquettes, gas, and propane BBQs will continue to be allowed under the burn ban.
The Thurston County Outdoor Burn Ban is effective as of 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 5, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2023. More information about burn bans is available at https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/burn-ban-information
We’re excited to being having an Open House at Station 21 in Yelm!
It will run from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Join us at our headquarters Station 21 (709 Mill Rd SE., Yelm, WA). Bring the whole family, learn more about SE Thurston Fire Authority, kid’s activities, meet your local firefighters, and check out the fire engines. We hope to see you there!
Plus, we have an extra special treat for you! Grab some FREE tacos! They’re limited, so be early!
As we get closer to Independence Day, SE Thurston Fire Authority urges you to be extremely careful when handling fireworks. Thousands of people are injured or killed due to firework related accidents around the 4th of July every year, and many of them can be prevented with some simple safety precautions.
Simply being quick and covering your eyes may not be enough. More than just your eyes and fingers are at risk of firework related injury.
Be careful around fireworks, and always call 911 in case of medical emergencies or fires.
Every second counts in an emergency, and valuable time can be lost if your address number is not immediately clear to responders. SE Thurston Firefighters Association offers high visibility signs in an effort to solve the problem.
The cities of Yelm, Rainier, and surrounding unincorporated are some of the fastest growing cities in the state. More housing developments and new addresses can lead to greater confusion for residents and emergency personnel alike. Though such housing developments dot the landscape, rural areas remain, with long driveway entrances leading to homes that can be difficult to locate from the road.
Our high visibility signs display house numbers with three-inch reflective numbers and are visible up to 300 feet away, day or night. The signs, attached to a metal post, are meant to be installed near driveways to allow emergency responders to quickly identify a home’s address.
Medical emergencies make up the majority of SE Thurston Fire’s calls. Cardiac arrest, diabetic shock and accident injuries are the most common, each with its own set of complications that increase as each minute goes by while the victim waits for aid.
Signs may be ordered from the SE Thurston Firefighter’s Association for $20 (plus $4 for the metal post). SE Thurston Fire offers free installation within their service area for those who purchase the sign and the metal post together.
To order a sign, download this PDF form and mail it to our office.
Make checks payable & mail to:
S.E. Thurston Firefighter Association
High Visibility Address Signs
PO Box 777
Yelm, WA 98597
For additional details or questions, please call us at 360-458-2799. In Case of an Emergency call 911.
Sold by S.E. Thurston Fire Association.
