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Spots still available for the Pierce County DEM Disaster First Aid Class in November @ The Fire Station. Click the link to register now! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7547692/Disaster-First-Aid-Registration-Form-November-4-2023

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 172,900 home structure fires per year started by cooking activities in 2014-2018. Home fires caused by cooking peak at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ranges or cooktops were involved in 61% of reported home cooking fires, 87% of cooking fire deaths and 78% of cooking fire injuries. Households that use electric ranges have a higher risk of cooking fires and associated losses than those using gas ranges. Unattended cooking was the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties. More than one-quarter of the people killed by cooking fires were sleeping at the time. More than half of the non-fatal injuries occurred when people tried to control the fire themselves. What you should know about home cooking safety • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop. • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. • If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a cooking fire • Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. • Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave. • If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out. • Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Safety considerations for cooking with oil • Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop. • Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot. • Heat the oil slowly to the temperature you need for frying or sautéing. • Add food gently to the pot or pan so the oil does not splatter. • Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water on the fire. • If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call the fire department from outside. Get the kids involved too! It's never too early to learn about fire safety! Click Below to Download Click Below to Download Credit: nfpa.org, usfa.fema.gov

Joining us for the seasonal flu vaccine clinic with Genoa Healthcare this weekend? Save some time and fill out this consent form beforehand and bring it, along with your health insurance card. See you there!

Wildfire danger is very high for our region, and a Full Burn Ban is now in effect for Anderson Island due to current hot, dry conditions. Fire safety burn bans on island restrict outdoor burning to protect people and property. The current Full Burn Ban prohibits recreational campfires and charcoal grills, as well as burning yard debris. FIRE PROTECTION JURISDICTION Anderson Island Fire/Rescue under leadership of Fire Chief Bixler can, as the authority having jurisdiction over Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 27, restrict outdoor burning and institute a full burn ban to mitigate fire risk under current conditions. Neighboring counties have enacted full burn bans over the past month, recreational fires have been banned in more than a dozen counties, and Washington State Parks banned the use of park grills at the beginning of fire season this summer due to these very concerns. ISLAND FIRE PLANNING We have a resource plan in place. A large brush fire response will scramble our two fire engines, two brush trucks, and two tender trucks to respond. Tender trucks are water tanks on wheels. Our fire department’s two tenders hold 2,000 and 3,300 gallons of water, respectively. If the incident is larger than initially reported, we have mutual aid agreements in place with other fire districts and first responder agencies who will provide additional resources. PIERCE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Any evacuation for Anderson Island would be led by Pierce County Sheriff, in conjunction with the Department of Emergency Management. Anderson Island Fire/Rescue would act as support during the incident. While we do not have a siren system in place on the island at this time, the best way that citizens can stay aware of any developing situation is to sign up for critical alert services like PC Alert. You can sign up online at piercecountywa.gov/alert. You can also text PCALERT to: 888-777. You will be sent a link with registration information. Or you can sign up by calling (253) 798-6595. Further information about alerts can be found in our January post on the fire department’s website at: andersonislandfire.org WHAT YOU CAN DO Another step community members can take to decrease their fire risk is to sign up for a free Wildfire Risk Reduction Survey. You can sign up by contacting Anderson Island Fire/Rescue at (253) 884-4040 and requesting an appointment. It is always a good time to take stock of your supplies and have a “Grab-N-Go” ready kit available in the event you need to leave your house quickly. A handy list for these ready kits can be found on our website as well as in brochures available at the fire station.

Washington has five volcanoes that are listed as high or very high threat potential: Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. These volcanoes are part of the Cascade Range, a 1,200-mile line of volcanoes from British Columbia to northern California. Many volcanoes in Washington are active. Volcanoes do not erupt at regular intervals, so it is difficult to know exactly when or where the next eruption will happen. So how can you be prepared? KEYS TO VOLCANO SAFETY ● Know the hazards to your community. ● Prepare your emergency communication plan and survival kits. ● Obtain volcano updates from USGS and linked resources. ● During emergency, if lahars are present or predicted, get to high ground off of valley floors; find shelter from heavy ashfall. ● Follow the instructions of officials. WHAT TO DO BEFORE AN ERUPTION Sign Up for Emergency Alerts Many communities have emergency alert systems in place that will automatically notify you of hazardous events either by phone, radio, or text message. Learn about alert systems in your community. VOLCANO NOTIFICATION SERVICE (VNS) The U.S. Geological Survey provides the Volcano Notification Service that alerts subscribed users of significant volcanic activity or alert-level changes through email. PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM ASH ● Remain indoors. Close doors, windows, and ventilation systems until the ash settles. ● Protect your lungs. Wear a respirator, face mask, or a use a damp cloth across your mouth. People with existing respiratory difficulties require extra precautions. ● Use goggles, and wear eyeglasses instead of contact lenses. ● Avoid driving in heavy ash fall. If you must drive, reduce your speed significantly. ● Avoid operating engines of any kind. Ash can clog engines, damage parts, and stall vehicles. ● Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you must go outside. Remove outdoor clothing before entering a building. ● Keep roofs free of ash more than four inches. ● Ensure that ash does not contaminate your water. If it does, use bottled water. AFTER A VOLCANIC EVENT ● Stay out of closed areas. They are closed for your safety. ● Be prepared to stay indoors and avoid downwind areas. ● Be aware of additional lahars and landslides. Areas impacted by lahars are often flooded repeatedly by mud long after the initial event. Volcanic Hazards in Washington Booklet Click Below to Download The Beautiful Mountain in the Sky Children's Booklet Click Below to Download Credit: dnr.wa.gov, mil.wa.gov