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.

• Never light fireworks indoors
• Always stand clear of fireworks after lighting
• Wear eye protection if you are lighting fireworks or nearby when they are lit
• Do not attempt to handle or relight fireworks that failed to go off
• Never allow young children to handle fireworks

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.

• 34% of injuries involved the head, face, ears, or eyes
• 28% of injuries involved the hands or fingers
• 24% of injuries involved the legs
• 14% of injuries involved the torso or other areas

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.

Click on the image below to download the order form.

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.