As fall approaches once again, so does the annual East Pierce Fire & Rescue Open House. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 14, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Headquarters Fire Station located at 18421 Old Buckley Hwy in Bonney Lake (next to the Post Office). Many of the old favorites (such as bike helmet fitting, the Puget Sound Energy electrical safety demonstration and the East Pierce Fire & Rescue children’s fire safety trailer) will be returning along with several new and exciting things to see and do. There are fun and educational activities for the entire family. Get an up close look at a helicopter used for transporting medical patients and watch firefighters tear apart a car to get to an injured occupant. The action is non-stop and it’s free. SEE YOU THERE!!!
For more information, contact Lieutenant Eric McLeroy at East Pierce Fire & Rescue – (235) 863-1800
The winter months are the leading months for U.S. home fires and home fire deaths. On average, more than one-third of home fire deaths in the United States happen during the winter months. Statistics indicate heating equipment fires are the second leading cause of fire deaths in American homes and the leading cause December through January. Experts say that taking simple safety precautions could have prevented most home fires caused by heating equipment.
“The home heating fire problem is largely one of human error, particularly with the misuse of portable heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves," says Assistant Chief John Mc Donald. "The critical elements of home heating safety have to do with correct installation, maintenance, fueling and operation of portable and space heaters, as well as safely arranging household items around them." According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association, the major causes of U.S. home heating fires are:
lack of regular cleaning of chimneys in fireplaces and woodstoves
placing things that can burn too close to space and portable heaters
flaws in design, installation or use
fueling errors involving liquid or gas-fueled heaters; and
leaving portable or space heaters unattended
Tips for Preventing Heating Equipment Fires
When purchasing new heating equipment, select equipment bearing the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Install and maintain the equipment correctly, and be sure it complies with local fire and building codes. Where possible, have local building or fire officials check the installation and maintenance. In many cases, you can prevent a fire just by reading and following the manufacturer's instructions. This is especially important when you are using a new heater for the first time. Here are specific fire prevention tips to keep in mind when heating your home:
Portable and Other Space Heaters - Portable and space heaters can be either electric-powered or fueled by gas, liquid fuel (usually kerosene), or solid fuel (usually wood). All types must be kept at least 36 inches from anything that can burn, including furniture, bedding, clothing, pets and people. Space heaters must not be left operating when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep. Children and pets should be supervised at all times when space heaters are in use. Ensure everyone is aware of the high fire hazard associated with drying clothing or placing combustibles over heaters. If you have an electric space heater, check each season for fraying or splitting wires or overheating. Replace the equipment if problems are noted.
Portable Kerosene Heaters - If you have a liquid-fueled space heater, use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never use gasoline or any other substitute fuel, because the wrong fuel could burn hotter than the equipment's design limits and cause a serious fire. When refueling, always turn off the heater and let it cool down completely before adding fuel. Wipe up any spills promptly. If you are considering buying a kerosene heater, be sure to check with your local fire department first to find out if it is legal in your community. Store the kerosene away from heat or open flame in a container approved by the local fire department, and be sure it is clearly marked with the fuel name.
Fireplaces - Have your chimney inspected by a professional before the start of every heating season and cleaned if necessary. Creosote builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not removed through cleaning. Always protect your home and your family by using a sturdy fireplace screen. Remember to burn only wood, never burn paper or pine boughs, which can float out of the chimney and ignite your roof or a neighboring home. Do not use flammable liquids in a fireplace. If you are purchasing a factory-built fireplace, select one listed by a testing laboratory, and have it installed according to local codes. If you decorate your fireplace with Christmas stockings or other seasonal decorations, don't burn fires in it.
Wood Stoves - Be sure your wood stove bears the mark of an independent testing laboratory and meets local fire and building codes. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper installation, use and maintenance. Chimney connections and chimney flues should be inspected at the beginning of each heating season and cleaned when necessary. Follow the same safety rules for wood stoves as you would for space heaters. Burn only wood, and be sure the wood stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and hot coals.
If you have questions, contact Captain Barry Barquest or Assistant Chief John McDonald at (253) 863-1800.
I have received a number of questions recently about the types of emergency services that your fire department provides, and how we deploy those services throughout the community. One common question is why are there often several emergency vehicles at a scene, even in cases where the emergency is not of a large scale. Isn’t that a waste of manpower, fuel, etc? The answer is twofold. First, the fire department does not always get accurate information from 911 calls, and we always seek to err on the safe side, in sending resources to emergencies. The second reason has to do with staffing. Our limited budget seldom provides for more than one unit to be staffed in each station. Typically we have either two or three firefighters on duty in one station. So in cases that may require more than two rescuers, we must send a second station, coming from a different area, and of course driving a different vehicle. Then when you add the private
ambulance that transports our patients to the hospital, possibly a police unit or two, and perhaps a chief officer in a staff car, you can see that it may look to a passersby like overkill, but in fact the number of vehicles and personnel is appropriate for the type of emergency.
Another frequent question is “Why does the fire department send fire engines to medical emergencies, instead of a medic unit (ambulance). The answer is simply one of cost, in terms of the number of employees that we can fund. We simply cannot afford to staff both an ambulance and a fire engine from the same station at the same time. So the station crew (2 or 3 firefighters), takes the vehicle that can cover the widest range of emergencies. While you can treat medical patients with equipment carried on a fire engine, you can’t put out a fire with an ambulance. Ergo; fire engines are used to respond to medical aid calls as well as fire incidents.
I certainly welcome questions from the community. Your fire department is absolutely committed to providing the highest level of service that your hard-earned tax dollars can provide. Receiving questions and input from the community helps us identify areas for improvement. Please feel free to call me at 863-1800, or you can send Email to dpacker@piercefire.org.
If you had a chance to protect your family and your home from fire for less than the cost of new carpet, would you do it? Fire kills more people in the United States annually than all natural disasters combined. Of the approximately 4,500 people who die in fires each year, 82 percent die in fires in their own homes. For years we have been protecting our businesses by installing fire sprinkler systems. This same level of protection is now available for your home.
If you are like most people, several questions immediately come to mind when you think about installing residential fire sprinklers. How much does it cost? Will it flood my entire house if I have a fire? Aren’t sprinklers ugly? All of these questions result from common misconceptions about fire sprinkler systems.
If installed at the time a new home is constructed, the cost of installing a residential fire sprinkler system is usually only 1 to 1˝ percent of the total building cost. The cost is only slightly higher in an existing home. In many cases, the cost of installation can be recovered through a reduction in fire insurance premiums.
Many people assume the water damage from sprinklers is worse than the damage from fire. This could not be farther from the truth. A residential fire sprinkler system will control a fire with far less water than a fire department hose. Fire sprinkler systems spray water only in the immediate area of the fire, usually with only one head spraying 10-26 gallons of water a minute compared to 125 gallons per minute from a fire hose. Therefore, not only is the fire damage reduced, but so is the amount of water needed.
Most people are familiar with the fire sprinkler systems they have seen in warehouses and office buildings. Large sprinkler heads and exposed piping don’t fit well with most home decors. Residential sprinkler heads are inconspicuous and can be recessed into walls and ceilings. In fact, some heads can be completely concealed by plates that actually match your paint. As for the pipes, they can be easily concealed in walls and ceilings when a new home is being built or behind soffits for installations in existing homes.
Residential fire sprinkler systems are an affordable option for protecting your family and your property. For more information, contact Assistant Chief John McDonald or Captain Barry Barquest at East Pierce Fire & Rescue – (235) 863-1800 or go to the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition website.
East Pierce Fire & Rescue strongly supports the schools in our community and jumped at the opportunity when asked to participate in a fund-raising auction hosted by Lake Tapps Elementary School last spring. EPF&R contributed a child’s birthday party package to the bidders at the event. That’s how we became acquainted with David Creigh, his family, and friends. We had the opportunity to celebrate David’s ninth birthday at the fire station.
With the help of a few local Bonney Lake merchants, such as Domino's Pizza, Morford’s Hallmark Shop, Safeway Food and Drug, Fred Meyer, Bonney Lake Supermarket, and Paper Factory’s Party World, the birthday boy and his guests enjoyed a fun-packed afternoon. Highlights of the day’s festivities included a ride in a fire engine, squirting water from a fire hose, a bunker gear relay race, and a surprise appearance from “Sparky”!
Outdoor burning will be significantly reduced due to recent changes enacted by the State of Washington. The new regulations, which will be enforced by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, become effective January 1, 2001. The enforcement delay was implemented in an effort to give local jurisdictions the opportunity to educate the public on these changes. Several of the regulations adopted by the state will mean significant changes for the citizens living within East Pierce Fire and Rescue’s boundaries. Many people who were able to conduct land clearing or residential burns in the past, will no longer be able to do so. These changes are the result of the designation of the majority of the area as a carbon monoxide non-attainment area. This means that unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide are present in the air and additional carbon monoxide released during outdoor burning present a significant health hazard to the public. In addition to the prohibition of burning in a majority of the area covered by the Fire District, the times when burning will be allowed has also been significantly reduced. The new law limits the time periods in which burning is allowed to the first and second weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in April and the third and fourth weekends in October. The Fire Commissioners recognize the potential impact on the citizens within East Pierce Fire and Rescue’s area, and will be reviewing the newly enacted regulations. If you have any questions about these new regulations, please feel free to contact East Pierce Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief John Mc Donald at (253) 863-1800 or the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at (800) 552-3565.
Captain Barry Barquest started his fire service career in 1978 as a volunteer firefighter with Lake Tapps Fire Department and was promoted to a career Captain in 1991. Barry currently works in our Fire Prevention and Logistics Division. He has been instrumental in starting several of our most successful programs including the Fire Safety program in our schools, the Fire Stoppers program for juvenile fire setters and our Fire Safety Trailer. Barry also serves as one of our four fire investigators as well as holding an IFCI certification for fire inspections. In addition, Capt. Barquest serves as our department Safety Officer and assists with many other projects and programs. Barry is married with 2 young adults in College.
Captain Jay Adams began his fire service career in 1986 with the Bonney Lake Fire Department and now works in the Operations and Training Divisions of East Pierce Fire & Rescue. In addition to maintaining the training calendar, reviewing and creating operational guidelines and monitoring personnel performance, Jay recruited and trained several department personnel for the EPF&R Wildland Firefighting Team. Jay is certified as a Wildland Engine Striketeam Leader and has participated in the large fires this summer throughout Eastern Washington and Montana. This experience will be very useful if the potential threat of similar fires within our own jurisdiction come to pass. Jay is married with 3 boys, one who is already following in Dad’s footsteps by working for the Department of Natural Resources during the summer.
Kim Johnson became part of our Administrative Support team in October of 1999. She is now the Financial Secretary for our department. Kim is responsible for the payroll, accounts payable and the expense budget. During the summer if she is not at work, you will most likely find Kim at the drag races supporting her husband Mark.
This year has been the worst in 50 years for forest fires. East Pierce Fire & Rescue is responsible for wildland fire control in our district. We currently have 4500 acres of unimproved timberland south of 120th Street East as well as many smaller parcels in the more urban areas of our district.
With fires burning all across the western states, East Pierce Fire & Rescue Wildland Fire Team was prepared. Our team members meet the National certification for wildland firefighters. They also spend many weekends during the summer months training to control these fires. Members are required to show proficiency in all aspects of fighting wildland fires. This training culminates in a live fire scenario during the month of July.
On Saturday, July 8th, our team hosted a “Live Fire” training day that included participants from East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Department of Natural Resources, Bates Technical College and the Buckley Explorer Scouts. During the training we practiced methods of advancing hose lines and constructing control lines using hand tools under live fire conditions. The fire was approximately one acre in size.
Our team members have responded to fires in Pierce County as well as several large fires in Eastern Washington. We sent engines and crews to assist on the 24 Command Fire at Hanford, WA, the Rocky Hull Fire in Oroville, WA and the Goodnoe Hills Fire at Goldendale, WA.
Under certain weather conditions, even small parcels of undeveloped land can spell disaster for an adjoining homeowner. A fire can grow from a small flame to an uncontrolled fire in very little time. Take a look at your yard and surrounding property. Do you see continuous fuels next to your house or garage? Are there small fuels that will allow the fire to spread into the tops of the trees? Does this bed of fuels reach to less than 30 feet of your home? If so, there is something that you can do. Clear all brush from near your residence. Remove tree limbs that would allow the fire to spread up into the tops of the trees. For more information on keeping your home safe check out the following web sites: http://www.firewise.org/ or http://www.nifc.gov/preved/protecthome.html.
This year, the fire danger danger in our state was rated as “EXTREME” by the Department of Natural Resources and there were burn bans in effect state wide. For more information on current burn bans contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at 1-800-595-4341 or East Pierce Fire & Rescue at 253-863-1800.
Voters living within East Pierce Fire & Rescue’s service area (Fire District No. 22), will be able to vote for two additional representatives on their Fire Commissioner Board this fall. On the ballot on November 7 will be a measure raising the number of Fire Commissioners from three to five.
The current Board of Commissioners placed the measure on the ballot in order to strengthen representation from the community. Fire Commissioners are elected officials charged with policy oversight of a fire district, in much the same capacity as City Councilmembers in a City form of government. After the unification (merger) of Fire Districts 22 & 24, and the City of Bonney Lake last fall, the current Board of Commissioners felt that adding two more members to the board would be a great benefit to the community. “By raising the number of commissioners from three to five, said Commissioner Karlyne McGinnis, we offer the community a greater voice in the policy development of the fire district.”
Look for this ballot measure under Pierce County Fire District No. 22 on the November 7 ballot.