All general news stories will be filed under this category.
While it’s important to stay warm during the winter, it’s also important to avoid fires and stay safe. While most heating methods can be used safely, there are some essential tips for keeping fire risk down. This safety sheet from FEMA has some excellent advice for keeping your space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, and other heating devices safe!
We’ve had several nights in the last couple of weeks that reached freezing temperatures, and thus ice on the roads is becoming a risk. When ice forms on roads, they get significantly more slippery and increase the risk of accidents. Staying safe is a top priority, and these tips can help you avoid injury while on the roads.
While sticking to the speed limit is always recommended, refraining from excessive speeds is especially important when ice is present. Even posted speed limits can be too fast when roads are slick, especially on curves or slopes. When driving, don’t drive your vehicle faster than you can control, and when curves and other vehicles are present it’s best to slow down.
As much as possible, give yourself plenty of time to slow down for stops and turns. Suddenly braking or turning your vehicle significantly increases your chances of losing control.
Tires need replaced over time, as they slowly wear down and lose their tread when driven on. Tires with low or compromised tread have reduced control and stopping power, and when ice is present this effect is amplified. Check your tires and ensure they have a safe amount of tread, and if not, replace them with tires suitable for driving in winter conditions.
While the hope is that you’ll never end up stranded in freezing weather, being prepared for such an event can significantly help you get out of that situation. Important items to have in your vehicle include a spare tire, a tire jack, jumper cables, and an automotive repair kit. In addition to the usual maintenance pack, put a bag of emergency supplies together in case you end up stranded for a long period of time. Things such as cold weather clothing, a blanket, non-perishable food, water, a phone charging bank, and handheld heat packs can keep you comfortable for longer times.
While sometimes you can’t avoid driving in hazardous conditions, it’s best to stay where you are when roads are dangerous. After all, you can’t get into a car accident when you stay home. Even if you’re cautious and sure you won’t lose control of your vehicle, the presence of other drivers still poses a risk of accidents.
As the days and nights continue to get colder, staying safe should be everyone’s top priority. In the case of an automotive emergency, try to get out of the flow of traffic and call 911.
Halloween is this upcoming Tuesday, and as such many people will be decorating, hosting parties, and setting up Jack-o-Lanterns. While being festive can be a lot of fun, it can also be dangerous when precautions aren’t taken. Decorations and costumes can present fire hazards, though there are some easy steps you can take to minimize this risk!
Use Battery Operated Lights in Jack-o-Lanterns
Putting an open flame inside of a carved pumpkin can present a significant fire hazard. While the pumpkin itself could begin to burn, an even larger risk comes from decorations or costumes accidentally falling onto the jack-o-lantern. When lighting up your jack-o-lanterns, try to use battery operated lights such as LED tea lights or glow sticks. If you do use an open flame, make sure the pumpkins aren’t placed inside, near structures, or in walkways to minimize accidents.
Avoid Long Trailing Fabric
When putting together your costumes, avoid long trailing fabric as it can drift into candles or jack-o-lanterns and catch fire.
Keep All Decorations Away from Flame and Heat Sources
Dried vegetation, crepe paper, and more are common Halloween decorations, however they can very easily catch fire when they come in contact with open flame or heat sources. In addition to keeping your jack-o-lanterns in a safe place, avoid placing flammable decorations near candles, lights, heaters, and other potential heat sources.
Teach Children to Stay Away From Jack-o-Lanterns
Whether out trick-or-treating or at a party, teach your children to stay safe and keep their distance from jack-o-lanterns and other open flames. It’s better to keep at a safe distance than risk a costume catching on fire.
Keep Exits Clear of Decorations
When decorating your home, keep all exits clear of decorations. In case of an emergency, blocked exits can restrict escape routes and cause unwanted harm.
Make Sure All Smoke Alarms Are Working
Finally, ensure all of your home’s smoke alarms are working in case a fire does start. If you happen to be in another room when something catches fire, the smoke alarms can alert you before the fire spreads or significant harm is done.
Have Fun!
Safety and fun aren’t mutually exclusive. Whether you’re out trick-or-treating, hosting a party, or just decorating for your family, remember to have fun, stay safe, and enjoy your Halloween!
As we near Halloween, many people are excitedly putting up decorations, making jack-o-lanterns, and getting into the Halloween spirit! As fun as this can be, some decorations can be fire hazards. Knowing how to safely get into the spirit could help avoid fires and other issues this Halloween. This tip sheet from the NFPA has some great advice on how to stay safe during the spooky season!
The burn ban affecting Thurston county has been lifted as of 10/1/23. While there has been significantly less rainfall than average, the increase in moisture has lowered the risk of fire enough to warrant the lifting of the ban. The risk is not gone, however, and the Washington Department of National Resources still holds the fire risk at “moderate”, and as such some state-protected lands and land clearing burns are still restricted. Please read this article from ORCAA for more information:
In August, your 31 Firefighters/EMTs responded to 386 calls for service. That’s over 9.5% increase in calls from August 2022.
Now that we’re fully within the season of fall, temperatures are starting to drop. While we may not be to freezing cold and sweater weather yet, it is just around the corner, and due to this many people will be firing up their heating systems or lighting up old fireplaces again. There are numerous fire safety concerns when it comes to heating devices and furnace systems, and the number one way to prevent fires is to be aware of the risks and know ways to stay safe. This quick read from the National Fire Protection Association has some great tips for staying safe and warm during these chilly months.
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.
Information and facts on Proposition 1
