Tag Archives: Fire

Christmas Tree Fire Risks

December 14, 2023 WaMedia

Christmas tree fires aren’t just a cautionary tale, they’re real and very dangerous. US Fire response teams put out around 200 Christmas tree fires per year, and while the odds may seem low that you’d be one of those 200, the severity of a Christmas tree fire makes the risk far more dangerous, despite them being largely avoidable if the proper safety measures are taken.

Approximately 1 out of every 50 house fires that begins with a Christmas tree result in at least one death.
25% of Christmas tree fires start due to electrical issues or heat sources near/on the tree, such as lights, fireplaces, heaters, candles, and more.
About 50% of all holiday decoration fires occur due to proximity to a heat source.

Following these simple safety tips can help prevent a catastrophe during your holiday season:

Check light strings before hanging them. Cords can degrade over time, whether naturally or from outside forces like rodents or weather.
Dispose of Christmas lights with damaged cords.
Do not exceed the maximum number of light strings attached to each other. This number should be in the manufacturer’s instructions that came with your lights.
Unplug or turn off your Christmas lights before leaving the house or going to sleep.
Do not place your Christmas tree near a heat source, such as a fireplace or heater.
Do not hang burning candles on your Christmas tree. Use LED candles instead.
Place a temporary smoke detector near your Christmas tree.

Real Tree vs Synthetic Tree

Real Christmas trees are significantly more likely to catch fire than synthetic trees. While this does not mean synthetic trees are 100% safe from this risk, it does mean that extra caution and steps should be taken when using a real tree. A real tree is nearly 3 times more likely to catch fire than a synthetic one.

Make or ask for a fresh cut on your real Christmas tree stump before putting it up.
Water your tree daily, as long as it continues to take in water.
Look for a tree that isn’t already shedding needles, and ideally has sap on the trunk.
Clean up fallen needles daily, and if possible gently brush your tree to get the dried needles off.

We obviously want everyone to have a fun and safe Christmas, and a tree fire is a real danger that can be easily avoided. Take these steps to ensure your safety, and have a wonderful holiday season!

Recent News

Decorate Safely This Halloween

October 27, 2023 WaMedia

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!

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Fire Extinguisher Guide and Why You Need One

July 21, 2023 WaMedia

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.

Did you know:

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.

Messages to share

Always look for the “UL Listed” or “ULC Listed” label on a fire extinguisher to ensure it is certified for use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Fire extinguishers vary in size and weight, but it is recommended to select the largest fire extinguisher that a user can safely and comfortably operate.
How to read the classification label: The number before the “A” represents a multiple of 1.25 gallons of water whereas the number before the “B” represents a multiple of the area or size in square feet of fire to be extinguished. For example, a fire extinguisher classification of 1A:10B:C indicates that it provides the equivalent of 1.25 gallons of water applied on a Class A fire. The number 10 indicates it can extinguish Class B fires up to 10 square feet in size, and the C indicates that it can be used for Class C fires.

Encourage people to contact their fire department if they would like fire extinguisher training or have any questions. Help spread the word by sharing the following information and tips for using and maintaining fire extinguishers.

Help people decide when to use a fire extinguisher

Consider providing a checklist to help people prepare to use a fire extinguisher. For example:

Have I alerted others in the building that there is a fire?
Has someone called the fire department?
Am I physically able to use a fire extinguisher?
Young children and older adults should not use fire extinguishers.
Is the fire small and contained in a single object or to a surface (like a pan or a wastebasket)?
Am I safe from the fire’s toxic smoke?
Do I have a clear escape route?

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.

Teach people how to use a fire extinguisher

When operating a fire extinguisher, tell residents to remember the word PASS:

Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Educate on the importance of fire extinguisher maintenance

Remind community residents to check fire extinguishers for:

Easy access in an emergency: Be sure nothing is blocking or limiting your ability to reach it.
The recommended pressure level: Many extinguishers have gauges that show when pressure is too high or too low.
Working parts: Make sure the can, hoses and nozzles are not damaged, dented or rusted.
Cleanliness: Remove any dust, oil or grease that might be on the outside of the extinguisher.
Guidelines and instructions: Some extinguishers need to be shaken monthly; others need to be pressure tested every few years. You can recharge some fire extinguishers while others will need to be replaced if the pressure is too low.

Original Post from FEMA and Additional Information (Click Here)

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Proposition 1 – Levy Lid Lift Facts

July 12, 2023 WaMedia

Information and facts on Proposition 1

Recent News

Fire Prevention Tips

July 31, 2017 WaMedia

Follow these tips for preventing fires around your property!

Clear any buildup of pine needles, leaves, and other flammable materials from your roof, gutters, porch, and under your deck.
Trim larger trees’ limbs to heights of at least 10 feet. Make sure there is about 5 feet between branches of other large trees.
Weed-whack or mow long grass around your home. Ideally, you want to have at least 30 feet of short, watered lawn around your home.
Move wood piles more than 30 feet from your home.
Remove propane tanks from within 30 feet of your home. In a wildfire, they can vent and shoot flame vertically.
Install visible house numbers on your home, driveway, and street.
Repair shingles, tiles, and other roofing material.
Use metal mesh (1/8-inch mesh is good) to prevent embers from landing in vents and eaves and under decks.
Know your family’s emergency plan if a wildfire comes quickly.

Recent News

Pictures from the 4th of July Holiday Weekend Fires

July 7, 2015 WaMedia

Fire burns a field off of Old McKenna Highway during the 4th of July Holiday weekend.

SETFA (Yelm & Rainier) fire engines respond to 4th of July holiday weekend fire.

SETFA (Yelm & Rainier) fire engines respond to late night fire during the 4th of July holiday weekend.

SETFA (Yelm & Rainier) Fire Captain Eric Hetland walks the burnt field with Department of Natural Resources and SETFA personnel.

SETFA (Yelm & Rainier) Fire Captain Eric Hetland walks a burnt field with Department of Natural Resources and SETFA personnel.

SETFA (Yelm & Rainier) Fire Captain Eric Hetland surveys the damage to a field in Yelm that burned during the 4th of July weekend. Fire in field near manufactured housing community in Yelm. Fire was extinguished without incident or damage to homes. No evacuation was needed.