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| FIRE PREVENTION WEEK | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015
F IRE P REVENTION & P ROTECTION
M ESSAGE FROM F IRE M ARSHAL
S EAN B ARRETT
Happy fire prevention week! Another great year working
with our community has passed and we at Siuslaw Valley
Fire and Rescue are still continuing our mission: “To pre-
serve and improve the quality of life for all who live, work,
visit and invest in the community of Florence, Oregon and
the rural district that surrounds the city through the efficient
delivery of emergency services supported by aggressive fire
prevention and public education.” As last year we continue
focusing on three main goals. These goals are universal:
Number one: “if we can’t find you we can’t help you.”
Can we see your address from the road or street? Our goal is
to have an address sign for all driveways where the house
numbers are not visible from the street or road.
Number two: “if we can’t get to you we can’t help you”
Over fifty percent of the south coasts fire districts are rural
in nature. Many have long driveways. In most cases the
occupants or owners drive very small vehicles and do not
realize that emergency vehicles cannot traverse the drive way
due to inadequate width and height. Due to the sheer size of
the emergency vehicles to include ambulances we need a
very minimum of a 9 foot clear wide driveway with an un
obstructed height of 13 feet 6 inches. In most cases just clear-
ing the brush will allow us access. If you need an inspection
to determine what needs to be done, do not hesitate to contact
your local fire department for more information.
Number three: “working smoke alarms save lives” Our
highest priority is life safety, period. Houses can be replaced;
personal possessions can be replaced; however a life is not
replaceable. From the time a fire starts to the time the fire
department may arrive can be up to 10 minutes. Siuslaw
Valley Fire and Rescues average response time is 8 minutes
unless you live more than 5 miles from a fire station and that
response time can be as much as 20 minutes. When fire can
double in size every 30 seconds, there needs to be an early
warning device. Smoke alarms save lives. It is a proven fact
that your chances of survival with a smoke alarm during a
fire are 50% better than without one. It is and has been our
goal to have at least one working smoke alarm in every home
no matter what that home is. Contact Siuslaw Valley Fire and
Rescue for information on our programs.
Should have any questions, comments or concerns about
this article, please do not hesitate to contact Fire Marshal,
Sean Barrett at:
Office: 541 997-3212
Cell: 541 999-0600
Email: sean@svfr.org
2015 Scholarship
Recipients
Natalie Madden
A LPHA B IT C AFE
10780 Hwy 126 • Mapleton • 541-268-4311
Volunteer Fire Fighters
Halee Richards
Siuslaw Valley Firefighters
Assoc $1,000: Natalie Madden
Vern E. Passenger $1,000:
Haley Richards
Way To Go!!
Tim Snapp
Mary Dimon
brought to you by the following sponsor
Tony Miller
Christina Ros
Levi Green
S IUSLAW V ALLEY
F IRE & R ESCUE
541-997-3212
Employees Giving Back
to the Florence
Community
Congratulations &
Best Wishes!