Fire can spread through a home within two minutes. But many fires can be prevented with these simple precautions.

1. Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms

• Smoke alarms double the chance of your family surviving a fire, so you should have several.
• Please don’t neglect to test them and change the batteries regularly.
• You know the drill — make it a habit to change batteries twice a year when you turn your clocks.

2. Beware of Common Fire Risks in the kitchen

• Most home fires start in the kitchen during cooking — usually on stovetops —not in the oven. So be sure to stay in the kitchen when cooking, frying, or grilling on your stovetop.
• Check for curtains, towel racks, or even paper towel dispensers sitting too close to the burners.
• If your microwave is not built in, make sure it’s clear of surrounding clutter and its vents are not obstructed.
• If you don’t already have one, buy a fire extinguisher to keep within easy reach while cooking.
• Remember, don’t toss water on a grease fire if caught without an extinguisher. If a fire starts in a pan, put a lid on it to suffocate the flames.

3. Use Home Heating Equipment Safely

• Always keep anything that gives off heat at least 3 feet away from flammable materials or items.
• Only plug up to one heating appliance into an outlet.
• Keep portable gas generators outside and away from windows to avoid poisoning from carbon monoxide.
• If you have a fireplace, ensure your chimney is checked and cleaned by a professional once a year. Use a metal or glass screen that is large enough to prevent escaping embers.
• Never leave fires (or candles) burning or heating appliances plugged in, while asleep, in another room, or when you leave your home.

4. Maintain Your Appliances – Especially Dryers

• Check yours — in fact, check all your appliances — for testing labels that indicate you purchased them in safe working order. You may not find them on some older appliances, so consider whether it’s time to replace them or have them checked by a professional.
• Make it a habit to clean out the lint screen every time you use your dryer. It may be an annoyance, but this simple action can save you much more pain and aggravation later.

5. Inspect & Repair Electronics and Outlets

• Are any outlets overloaded or showing signs of wear?
• Rearrange things so that as many appliances as possible have their own outlets and use extension cords to reach more distant outlets.
• This option may be unsightly but avoid running extension cords under rugs.
• Ensure your lamps are all using bulbs with wattage equal to or less than what the manufacturer recommends.
• When it comes to electronics, unplug them when they’re not in use whenever possible.
• Lastly, remember that items like televisions and computers need space from anything flammable because they can overheat!

6. Don’t Neglect Basements, Backyards, and Other Storage Areas

• Avoid cluttering debris or junk near your furnace or heater.
• Old newspapers piled in damp, warm places can self-combust — they don’t have to be close to a heat source.
• If you have gasoline or other flammable liquids at home, keep them tightly sealed in metal containers and make sure they’re far away from heat sources, including the gas or charcoal grill you love to use in the summer.
• The grill should be at least 10 feet from your home and placed away from any overhead branches or structures.

7. Practice Your Escape Plan

• Create an escape route that provides two possible exits from each room, such as a window and a door.
• Avoid using any windowless rooms as bedrooms.
• Keep escape routes as clutter-free as possible so no one trips and falls on the way out during an emergency.
• Practice your plan at least twice a year and ensure everyone can safely escape in less than two minutes.
• Remember that members of your household may need extra assistance — have a plan for who will help them and practice!

Work in the mornings or late evenings to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and postpone your work when the weather calls for low humidity or high wind.

Keep a water hose or bucket, or fire extinguisher on hand.

Use a nylon or plastic weed whacker line instead of metal.

Be careful not to put a hot tool down on dry grass or leaves.

Allow power engines to cool before refueling, and ensure the hot exhaust is kept away from dry grasses, weeds, and shrubs – only use such equipment that’s in good repair and has installed spark arresters when applicable.

Stay home for an hour after finishing your work – this way, you will be around to notice if anything begins to smolder and smoke.

If conditions suit outdoor burning, keep your debris piles small and have a hose ready should your fire escape. 

Before lighting fire, please check for any local burn restrictions.

Stay fire safe this summer! Follow these grilling safety tips. 

 Only use your grill outside. Keep it at least 3 feet from siding, deck rails and eaves. 

 Keep a 3-foot safe zone around your grill. This will keep kids and pets safe. 

 Open your gas grill before lighting. 

 Keep an eye on your grill, fire pit or patio torches. Don’t walk away from them when they are lit. 

 Clean your grill after each use. This will remove grease that can start a fire. 

 Place the coals from your grill in a metal can with a lid once they have cooled. 

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Cold Water Can Be Dangerous

Warm air doesn’t always mean warm water in lakes, streams or oceans. Fifty five degree water may not sound very cold, but it can be deadly. Plunging into cold water of any temperature becomes dangerous if you aren’t prepared for what the sudden exposure can do to your body and brain. Warm air temperatures can create a false sense of security for boaters and beach goers, so if you are planning to be on or near the water, arrive knowing the conditions and how to protect yourself. Cold water drains body heat up to four times faster than cold air. When your body hits cold water, “cold shock” can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone creates a greater risk of drowning even for confident swimmers in calm waters. In rougher open water this danger increases. Unplanned immersion in cold water can be life-threatening for anyone without protection from the temperatures or a lifejacket to help you stay afloat. When Cold Shock and Hypothermia begin to impact your ability to think and act, lifejackets and floatation can create extra time for help to arrive or for you to get out of danger. Even the most experienced cold water surfers, swimmers or boaters know to prepare for the conditions.

Cold water risks include immersion into any body of cold water: oceans, lakes, rivers, streams or pools. In many places, parts of the year and bodies of water warm air temperatures may not coincide with safer, warm waters. Many areas of the country have warm days and yet the water stays cold. In the Pacific Northwest ocean temperatures may stay in the 60’s. Weather conditions along any large body of water can cause dramatic drops in water temperatures even in the middle of summer. In the waters around Annapolis, MD temperatures may only be above 60F for 5.5 months of the year. Cold Shock and the dangers of sudden cold water immersion can happen along almost any shore at any time of the year. Water activities that put people at risk include kayaking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, paddle boarding, and lake boating.

Risks that may cause immersion in cold water include:

• Turbulent water, waves and surf which can overturn watercraft or fill a boat with water.
• Falling off watercraft, docks, rocks or jetties.
• Falling through the ice.
• Sneaker waves that can pull beach walkers into the surf.
• Rising tides, rising rivers, tidal currents and rip currents.

Be Prepared

S.E. Thurston Fire Authority DNR CO-OP Position

Job Description: SETFA is seeking a summer seasonal employee to work on a WA DNR wildland engine. The position is a 40hr work week 0930-1800 for 5 consecutive days (days to be determined) and extended hours.

You are managed by the regional fire forester and the assigned engine leader. Your job will be very labor intensive at times and you may deploy throughout the region for weeks at a time during an assignment. This position will provide experience in the industry and have opportunity for further training. Employment period for this position is June 12th– September 15th but, as the season allows and the department’s needs, it may extend further (i.e. October).

Minimum requirements:
• Must be age 18 and possess a high school diploma or equivalent at the time of hire.

• Ability to pass physical fitness requirements

• Obtain upon hire or currently possess wildland FF2 (“Red Card”)

• Ability to deploy regionally on short notice and be away from home for 14 days or longer at a time.

• Certificate of completion for the ICS-100, 200 and IS-700 courses (due on or before the wildland FF2 training)

Compensation:
You will be paid $17.16/hour & ($19.16/while on a fire). And Overtime is paid at $25.74/hour & ($28.74/while on a fire). (Overtime is in hours excess of 40 hours per week). There are no medical benefits or PTO associated with this position. You will be paid on or around the 15th of each month.

Working Conditions:
Many of the duties performed on these jobs require considerable physical exertion; working outdoors in all terrain and weather conditions, working long hours, and extended periods of time away from home. Duties include but may not be limited to the ability to carry up to 60 pounds, run, bend, twist, walk and/or climb. A work capacity test or “pack” test that measures the physical fitness of candidates is administered as part of the selection process. Candidates are required to pass at the “arduous” level for a firefighter crew member or natural resource worker position. Below is a chart describing what the work of a wildland firefighter may include:

Time/Work Volume:
• long hours (minimum of 12 hour shifts or more)
• irregular hours
• shift work
• multiple and consecutive assignments
• pace of work typically set by emergency situations
• living out of a backpack for 2 or more weeks

Physical Requirements:
• using shovels, hoses, and other hand tools
• lifting and loading boxes and equipment
• driving/riding for long hours
• extensive walking, climbing, hiking, kneeling, stooping

Environment:
• very steep terrain rocky, loose, or muddy ground surfaces
• thick vegetation
• down/standing trees
• holes and drop offs
• very rough roads
• isolated/remote sites

Physical Exposures:
• light (bright sunshine, UV)
• burning materials
• extreme heat
• airborne particles
• smoke, fumes, gases
• falling rocks and trees
• allergens
• loud noises
• snakes, insects, poisonous plants
• trucks and other large equipment
• close quarters, same people, limited/disrupted sleep
• hunger, irregular meals, dehydration

Job training will be provided for all firefighter positions at DNR.

DNR provides fire crew members with required safety clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This clothing is expected to be worn during regular work hours and must be worn while firefighting. Crew members are required to wear lace-up boots with Vibram soles and constructed entirely of heavy leather that extends a minimum of 8 inches above the heel cup (inside of boot). DNR will provide up to $370 to purchase required boots.

To apply please write a letter of interest and include a resume for review and send to kcorey@setfa.org

Subject line DNR Co-op position. There will be a review of the applicants and an interview prior to the appointment to the position. (APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES MARCH 20th, 2023 @ 1700)

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How fast does fire move? Very fast. You could have less than 2 minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Please download the attached flyer to practice your escape plan.

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Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. As you stay cozy and warm this winter, be fire smart!

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