Don't forget to test your smoke alarm when you change your clock this weekend

Ah yes, it is that time of year again; the Sun is lower in the sky, the air is getting colder, and the leaves are falling from the trees.  Fall is here friends and neighbors, and this weekend marks the time when when we set our clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings.  Years ago, we would tell you to change your smoke alarm batteries when you changed your clocks, but since 1998 Oregon law has required that all battery operated ionization type smoke alarms (ionization is the most common type) sold in our state were to be powered by a ten year battery.  Replacing this battery with a standard nine volt alkaline battery isn't a good idea, as it could cause the smoke alarm to fail.  So what do you do?

•  Smoke alarms over ten years old, regardless of how they operate, should be replaced.

• If they are hard wired into your home's electrical system, and are less then 10 years old, all you need to do is replace the back up battery.  A good old fashioned 9 volt back up battery is fine for these hard wired alarms.
  
• If you have a battery operated smoke alarm, check to see what kind it is.  Somewhere on the alarm it should say if it is ionization or photo electric.  If the smoke alarm is of the ionization type, make sure it's less than ten years old, has a long life battery in it, and then test it to make sure it works.  If the smoke alarm says that it's a photo electric type, than it should already have a long life lithium power cell, as a nine volt alkaline doesn't have enough energy to power a photo electric alarm for very long.  Test your photo electric alarm and call it good. 
  
• It's also a good idea to dust your smoke alarm out, using a can of computer keyboard cleaner or a vacuum, gently clean the device to remove any dust, cob webs, or other debris that could keep your smoke alarm from working properly. 

When you test these smoke alarms we hope that you also practice a family fire drill.  Everyone should know two ways to safely get out of their home, including a plan for when and how to use your window to get out safely.  Once you are out, the family should meet at a designated meeting place; this can be as simple as a tree, mailbox, or the driveway where everyone meets and a roll call is taken to make sure everyone is safely out.  Part of your family fire drill should talk about how no one is allowed to go back into the home unless it is safe, and also where a safe place your kids can go to ask for help and call 9-1-1 from.  

     

Northwest Oregon can have severe weather too

Here we are, nestled in the evening shadow of the beautiful Oregon Coast Range where we get quite a bit of rain, relatively mild summers, and maybe a wintertime dusting of snow if the conditions are just right.  Sure we got inches, upon inches, of rain on a September weekend recently, but for the most part our weather is pretty tame compared to other parts of the country.  Still, wild and crazy weather can happen here.

Damage from the Columbus Day Storm near Newberg

Fifty-one years ago this weekend, a former Pacific Typhoon named Freda was stirring up the waters west of us when she decided to come on shore for a visit.  Weather forecasting in 1962 surely can't match that of 2013, but there was very little warning that this thing was coming in, and for the most part people didn't expect anything beyond a calm autumn day.  By the time the Coast Guard heard radio reports from ships at sea that something big was brewing, the storm was moving at 40 miles per hour and heading our way.  What became known as "The Columbus Day Storm" came in as a 125 mile wide  cyclone, that cut a path of wind swept destruction along 1,000 miles of the Pacific Coast, including our beloved hometown of Forest Grove.  

So, you may ask what is the point?  Well, the point is that things like this can, have, and will, happen to us.  So what do you do to be ready?  A person can go crazy filling their garage with disaster supplies, and hoarding items for the worst case scenario, but we hope that you take some very simple preparatory steps now that can make a difference if and when an emergency of any size, happens later.  

• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in your home, and work with your kids on memorizing these so that they don't have to depend on the contacts list of a cell phone to look up a phone number.  Be sure and include friends, family, and neighbors, that you trust to help in an emergency.
  
• Have emergency food and water available.  We suggest 72 hours worth of food and water for your family.  Food items should be easy to prepare (don't forget your can opener if canned foods are part of your plan), and can be eaten without heating if needed.   Frozen containers of water kept in your freezer can also help you keep perishable food cold, and also allow for drinking water later.  Bleach and wash tubs are also good ideas to help keep things sanitary.
  
• Simple tools, a spare gasoline can safely stored somewhere, and fuel for your camp stove or barbecue, can make all the difference in getting through a short term emergency.
  
• Paper maps of our area are another good thing to have on hand so when power goes out and cell phone towers go down, you can't rely on the trusty apps on your smart phone.  Being familiar with your community can also help, knowing the back roads, rural routes, and surface street short cuts, will make it much easier for you to evacuate if that call comes in.
  
• How well do you know your neighbors?  Simple things like being aware of who needs a little extra help, can ease the demands on emergency responders during a disaster.
  
• Extra supplies of things for your own special needs.  Do you require a particular medication to function, what about eye glasses, or pet food?  These are things we often overlook when thinking about our family's emergency planning.
   

 Again, we aren't asking you to go out and prepare a safe room or a bomb shelter full of things for the apocalypse; instead we hope that you consider just a little extra of some of the things already in your garage or pantry ahead of the winter storm season.  You never know when you'll need it.       

Halloween decorations catch fire outside Cornelius Walmart

This morning before 5:45, firefighters were called to the Walmart at 220 N Adair Street in Cornelius for a reported fire outside the store. When the first crew arrived, they found a display involving hay and pumpkins on fire in front of the store. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the flames, but spent almost an hour breaking the hay bales apart and cooling down the hot spots. Luckily, no parts of the building burned.

After investigating the cause of the fire, it was determined that the bales of hay were placed on top of in-ground spot lights used to illuminate the American flag. These lights were extremely hot and with direct exposure to the lights overnight, the hay was able to easily catch fire.

With Halloween right around the corner, this is a great reminder to cautious with any and all decorations used. Especially hay and corn stalks, it is vital to keep them away from things that can get hot like fire places, stoves, kitchen appliances, and light fixtures. It's also really important that you keep exit paths and doors clear and accessible at all times.

Lieutenant promotion wraps up a series of personnel moves at FGF&R

The 365 days between October 2012 and October 2013 have been full of changes in the staffing at your local firehouse.  Two federal grants, and a retirement have allowed five of our longtime staff members to receive promotions and work in new roles, and brought three new firefighters into the group; the final of these promotions became official this week when firefighter Will Murphy promoted to the role of Shift Lieutenant with our agency, thus filling the final vacancy left by the July retirement of longtime Captain Dwight Lanter.

Will calls Portland his home, where he and his wife Maria raise their three beautiful children, he has been an employee of Forest Grove Fire & Rescue since 2006, and also serves as the department's emergency medical officer. This special EMS role makes him responsible for overseeing what truly is a bulk of our agency's work; with over 70% of the agency's responses being for calls needing emergency medical assistance, this role is obviously a major task that involves establishing policies, protocols, equipment, and training for the career and volunteer firefighters at FGF&R.  An Oregon certified EMT-Paramedic himself, Will routinely works with other Paramedics as well as Emergency Room Physicians from all across Oregon to ensure that the emergency medical program at Forest Grove truly matches or exceeds the high standards for patient care that we all expect if we had to call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency.  In 2010 Will received the EMS Impact award from the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services, and in 2011 he was honored as the recipient of the Forest Grove Fire Chief's Award to recognize his outstanding commitment to emergency medicine in our region.  Fire Chief Michael Kinkade had this to say about Will's promotion "Will is the final piece of a great series of promotions that I think will revolutionize how this department works in the community.  He is a true leader, and what he's already done in our EMS system will without a doubt transfer over to how we works with the firefighters here and our neighbors in Forest Grove."

Will Murphy showcases airway management tools that Paramedics use in the field to visitors at our annual Open House

Will's first official day as Lieutenant will be October 3rd, where he takes over as second in command of our A Shift behind Captain Joe Smith; along with three staff firefighters, these five work together with two college interns as one of the three rotating 24 hour shifts at the Forest Grove Fire Station.  In the near future Will plans on continuing his EMS Officer position and as he transitions into the Lieutenant role he hopes to continue to involve Forest Grove in the regional discussion of emergency medicine, as well as work with our younger group of firefighters here to mentor and prepare them for success in their own careers.  Congratulations Will.

An official oath, and swearing in ceremony for Will is scheduled for the Forest Grove City Council meeting on the evening of November 25th.   

Preparing your car for the winter driving season

Throughout the month of October we'll  be showcasing examples of what you can do to be ready for not only a major disaster type of event, but those local emergencies that may effect only you.  This week we're talking about the upcoming winter driving season, and what you can do with your car now to be ready for a problem during a winter road trip.  It's already snowed in the Cascades, and even if you have a big four wheel drive SUV or pickup, you should still have an emergency kit with you before you head out for holiday visits, ski trips, or whatever takes you to the highways this winter.  

First let's talk about your car itself.  Start where the rubber meets the road, and evaluate your tires.  This starts with a simple visual inspection to look for any damage, and you can use a penny upside down to easily check the depth of your tread.  When you place an upside down penny into the tread grooves, if you can cover any part of President Lincoln's head you have enough tire tread to meet the minimum standard.  When is the last time you checked your spare tire to make sure it's inflated and in good shape?  Would you rather find out that your spare is flat now or when you are sitting on the side of Highway 26 near Government Camp in the blowing snow?  After looking at the visual condition of the tires, it's also essential that you check for proper air pressure, using a simple tire pressure gauge available from an auto parts store, and by reading the side walls of your tires you can determine if you are within the safe operating range.  If you aren't sure about your tires, or can't inspect them yourselves, taking them to a local tire shop is the best way to make sure you are ready for winter.  Next, it's a good idea to evaluate all of the vehicle fluids (motor oil, transmission lubricants, brake fluid, power steering, anti-freeze, etc.) to make sure they are fresh, clean, and at the appropriate level - your vehicle owners guide will help you do this, but if you don't have one there are resources online and even at the local library to help you identify where and how to check these things out.  Your vehicle battery is often an overlooked component of your car, but the cold winter months can be hard on a battery and often times a battery will fail without warning, so checking your connections to make sure they are tight and corrosion free is a good first step for battery care.  Also, batteries have about an average of a four year life span, so if your battery has been in there for awhile you may want to consider replacing it.   Finally, check out your windshield wipers, and all of your lights to make sure they are in good shape and working.  Having an extra set of lamps in your car, and the tools to replace them, is also a good idea for your emergency kit.

So what about that emergency kit, what should one carry in their car in case the worst happens?

• A small assortment of hand tools, Phillips and slotted head screw drivers, a pocket knife, pliers, wrenches, even a small socket set, are all handy tools to have if an emergency happens, or a simple roadside repair job is needed.
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• A small folding shovel 
• Battery jumper cables  
• Tire chains (and practiced putting them on!)
• Fuses that match what your car needs, and extra lamp bulbs and headlights.
• Wool blanket or heavy sleeping bag
• Extra fluids for your car
• ABC rated fire extinguisher that is charged and accessible
• Road flares
• Gloves, socks, an extra jacket, and a pair of water proof boots
• Duct tape
• Spray lubricant like WD-40 or similar
• Non perishable food, and a can opener if you bring canned food
• Water proof matches or lighter, and fire starter materials like paper.
• Car charger for your cell phone
• The all important toilet paper! 

Most of this can fit into a small plastic tote or tool box that can easily find a home in your trunk.  It may seem like overkill to carry these things with you, and we hate to sound all doom and gloom, but wouldn't you rather have simple things like this and not need them then need them and not have them?   

Preparing for a Safe Halloween Holiday Season

Ah yes, October 1st is here, we've had our first big storm of the season, and you can most definitely feel fall in the air.  You've probably noticed the stores have been full of seasonal decorations and Halloween costumes for a few weeks now, especially if you're a parent of a little one that points and begs for you to take them through the costume section when you make a quick stop for groceries.  So for those of you that are decorating your home, and preparing your kids' costumes, we thought now would be the perfect time to talk about a few simple things you can do to make for a safe Halloween season.

Decorating

Halloween decorations don't quite put the ultimate test to the electrical power grid like Christmas does, but that doesn't stop many of you from putting up lights and making your home feel scary in other ways.  Let's talk about lights for a second, as orange colored lights are definitely becoming more popular this time of year.  First off, never use lights that are damaged, if you can see bare wires, or even if the insulation is cracking or showing discoloration, it's time to replace those lights.  With lights come extension cords, because those electrical outlets are never close enough to where you need your lights to go.  Use only good quality extension cords that are the appropriate length for the task at hand.  Light duty cords offer poor protection against a problem in the electrical circuit, and coiling up the excess cord can generate heat where you don't want it to be generated.  Never run a cord through doorways, under rugs, or use staples to attach them to walls or ceilings, as all of these can damage a cord enough to start a fire with it.  

Even if you aren't into making your property look like a haunted house, candles are a popular, and simple, way to make your home feel more like fall, and it seems the stores are full of pumpkin scented things you can burn this time of year.  First off, there are so many battery operated "candles" that you can choose instead, but if you like the ambiance of a real candle we ask that you please use them in a safe location.  Keep candles away from things that can burn, this means at least three feet away from drapes, curtains, and furniture.  Always use candles on a solid surface, and put them in a holder that won't tip over easily.  Finally, be sure and blow that pumpkin scented goodness out before you leave the room.  

What about corn stalks, hay bales, and all the rest of the stuff, it's all pretty harmless right?  Yes and no, like anything - it's the how you use it that makes a difference.  With any sort of combustible decorative material you want to keep them away from things that can get hot like fire places, stoves, kitchen appliances, and light fixtures.  It's also really important that you keep exit paths and doors clear and accessible at all times.  

Costumes

    

Volunteer Firefighter Robert Bade hands out glowsticks to kids on Halloween as part of our annual "Be seen at Halloween" safety campaign. 

Halloween night itself is still weeks away, but if you are preparing the costumes for your family now we hope that you consider a few very important safety points.  First is that it's all about being seen to be safe on Halloween.  With the ultimate kid's candy holiday falling on a work night again this year, there will be a fair mix of drivers and trick or treaters on the roads, reflective materials on the costumes, carrying bright flashlights, or even a simple glow stick can make the difference in being seen by a driver or not.  A costume that affords some visibility for your child is also important, make sure they can see out of their masks and get ups, so they too can be on the lookout for danger as they rush from place to place for the sugary gold.   Costumes should also be made out of a material that is flame resistant, you should avoid plastics and synthetic materials that can easily burn.  Finally, talk to your littlest ones and make sure everyone knows how to "stop, drop, and roll".  It's a simple thing that they can practice at home to be ready if something bad does happen and their costume catches fire.

All of this may seem silly to you, but we hope that you consider these points while you prepare for the season.  If you have questions about the fire safety of your home you can always call us at 503-992-3240 and we would be happy to help you.