vernonia rural fire protection district
november21
2013
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Thanksgiving Day Fires
Facts:
• Cooking is the leading cause of home
fires on Thanksgiving Day, occurring
more than twice as often than on another
day.
• Cooking fires are the number one cause
of home fires and home fire injuries.
• Thanksgiving Day home fires cause
more property damage and claim more
lives than home fires on other days.
Safety Tips:
With
fire-wise
common
sense,
you can make sure
tragedy does not
come between you
and the festive
holiday you have
planned.
Follow
these fire prevention
tips to help you and
your family enjoy a
safe and happy Thanksgiving:
• Keep smoke detectors on every level
of the house, in every bedroom and in
the halls adjacent to the bedrooms. Test
smoke detectors monthly and replace
batteries at least twice a year.
• Have a fire extinguisher available not
more than 10 feet from the stove, on the
exit side of the room. Make sure that you
know how to use your fire extinguisher.
• Start holiday cooking with a clean stove
and oven.
• Keep the kitchen off-limits to young
children and adults that are not helping
with food preparations.
• When cooking, do not wear dangling
jewelry or clothing with loose sleeves.
• Cook on the back burners when possible
and turn pot handles in.
• Never leave cooking foods unattended.
If you must leave the kitchen while
cooking, turn off the stove or have
someone else watch
what is being cooked.
• Keep Thanksgiving
decorations and kitchen
clutter away from
sources of direct heat.
• If you use a turkey
fryer, make sure it is
outdoors and in an open
area away from all
walls, fences or other
structures that could
catch on fire. Also, keep it away from
moisture that can cause serious burns
from steam or splattering hot oil. Always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If candles are part of your holiday
decorations:
◦ Make sure all candles are out before
going to bed or leaving the house.
◦ Place candles out of children’s
reach and where guests will not
accidentally brush against them.
◦ Place candles in a sturdy fireproof
candleholder where they cannot be
knocked over.
◦ The candle should not have
combustible decorations around it.
Sources: American Red Cross, U.S.
Fire Administration, National Fire
Protection Association.
Calls responded to October 1-31
Fire
Emergency Medical Service
Hazardous Condition
Service Call
Good Intent Call
False Alarm
1
30
1
7
1
2
Total
42
Driving Safety
Can you honestly say that you are
traveling our rural roads at a safe speed?
No matter what the posted speed limit
is, road and weather conditions and time
of day always take precedence! With
winter weather upon us, temperatures
are dropping and roadways are slick.
Be extra cautious on corners and shadowed
areas. Make sure your headlights are on at all
times to ensure visibility. Our local roads are
not a race track. Please slow down and plan
ahead so that you are traveling safely!
Toy & Joy
Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 22- Donation Barrels Out
Dec. 14- Application Deadline
Dec. 20- Toy Wrapping, 6-9pm
Dec. 21- Toy Wrapping, 9am-finished
Dec. 23- Toy Delivery
Applications are available at Sentry, City Hall
and the Library as well as online on the Toy & Joy Face-
book page (www.facebook.com/vernonia.toyjoy), or our
website (www.vernoniafire.us). Completed applications
may be dropped off in the red mailbox in front of the Ver-
nonia Fire Station. Community members are welcome
and encouraged to help our elves on wrapping days.
Contact Becky Carlton (503-791-3994) to volunteer your
time or if you have any other Toy & Joy questions.
Check out this link for more information and tools to help you prepare!
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/nationalpreparednessmonth
15
