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It’s not an unusual sight in the Puget Sound – a boat partially submerged in the water or floating on the tide with no evidence of human activity onboard. What do you do? Who do you contact? Marine Emergency or Derelict Vessel? The first thing to determine is whether this is a Marine Emergency or a Derelict Vessel. If you witness someone in distress or see other signs of an emergency in progress you can contact the Coast Guard (USCG Puget Sound) by calling 206-217-6001 or activate local emergency agencies by calling 911! If an unmanned vessel shows no signs of recent activity or is observed to be leaking engine or waste fluids, has significant algae growth, is stagnant in one area for an extended amount of time or is moored illegally then you’re looking at a Derelict Vessel. Derelict Vessels The Washington State Department of Natural Resource (DNR) has instituted a Vessel Removal Program. This program is the state's key mechanism for addressing the problem of derelict or abandoned vessels in Washington waters. These vessels can have significant and diverse effects on the coastal environment, including oil pollution, marine debris, and wildlife entrapment. They become hazards to navigation, illegal dumping of waste oils and hazardous materials, and are public health hazards. Derelict Vessels not only pose a hazard to the environment but also pose many direct hazards to people. Please keep this in mind when gathering information and remain a safe distance from derelict vessels. DO NOT go onboard unless you are trained to do so! The recommended first step is verifying if a derelict vessel has already been reported by accessing the DNR Inventory and Removal Lists available at dnr.wa.gov. If it is not listed, then contact DNR by using the Derelict & Abandoned Reporting Tool or DART. Visit dnr.wa.gov/vessel-reporting to utilize this online reporting tool or call 360-902-BOAT (2628). Vessel Turn-In Program If you are the owner of a marine vessel and find you are lacking the resources to care for your boat, don’t just abandon ship! You can access DNR’s Vessel Turn-In Program. This program allows boat owners who can no longer take care of their vessels to turn them in for responsible disposal. Disposing of a vessel before it becomes derelict in Washington’s waters is considerably less expensive and less damaging. Credit: dnr.wa.gov, kingcounty.gov, noaa.gov

We need your input for Disaster Planning! Please fill out a short survey and participate in a vital planning stage for the Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery of Anderson Island. There's three ways to access the survey. Click the link here for direct access: https://tinyurl.com/4azednes Download the PDF below. 3. Stop in at the Fire House at 12207 Lake Josephine Blvd Monday-Friday (8AM-4PM) for a physical copy.

We are proud to feature Firefighter Aiden Manning in our first member spotlight. Through the year, we will highlight all our members so that you can meet the volunteers and staff of your fire department!

Don’t drive in flooded areas — turn around, don’t drown! Floodwater can pose a drowning risk for everyone— regardless of their ability to swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. When entering water over the roadway, vehicles may stall or be swept away. Many of the deaths occur in cars swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable. Never drive around the barriers blocking a flooded road. The road may have collapsed under that water.  It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters. When floodwaters have receded, watch out for weakened road surfaces. Floodwater contains many things that may harm health. We don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time. Floodwater can contain: Downed power lines Human and livestock waste Hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological) Other germs and contaminants that can lead to illness Physical objects such as lumber, vehicles, and debris Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes Exposure to contaminated floodwater can cause: Wound infections Skin rash Gastrointestinal illness Tetanus It is important to protect yourself from exposure to floodwater regardless of the source of contamination. The best way to protect yourself is to stay out of the water. If you come in contact with floodwater: Wash the area with soap and clean water as soon as possible. If you don’t have soap or water, use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer. Take care of wounds and seek medical attention if necessary. Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent before reusing them. If you must enter floodwater, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles. Prevent injuries. Floodwater may contain sharp objects, such as glass or metal fragments, that can cause injury and lead to infection. Prompt first aid can help heal small wounds and prevent infection. If you receive a puncture wound or a wound contaminated with feces, soil, or saliva, have a health care professional determine whether a tetanus booster is necessary based on individual records. For more information, visit: Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster Prevent infection of open wounds and rashes. Open wounds and rashes exposed to floodwater can become infected. To protect yourself and your family: Avoid exposure to floodwater if you have an open wound. Cover clean, open wounds with a waterproof bandage to reduce chance of infection. Keep open wounds as clean as possible by washing well with soap and clean water. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing, seek immediate medical attention. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if: There is a foreign object (soil, wood, metal, or other objects) embedded in the wound; The wound is at special risk of infection (such as a dog bite or a puncture by a dirty object); An old wound shows signs of becoming infected (increased pain and soreness, swelling, redness, draining, or you develop a fever). Be aware that floodwater may contain sewage, and eating or drinking anything contaminated by floodwater can cause diarrheal disease. To protect yourself and your family: Wash your hands after contact with floodwater. Also be sure to wash children’s hands with soap and water often and always before meals. Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas. Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by floodwater and have not been disinfected. Do not bathe in water that may be contaminated with sewage or toxic chemicals. This includes rivers, streams, or lakes that are contaminated by floodwater. Protect yourself from animal and insect bites. Floodwater can displace animals, insects, and reptiles. To protect yourself and your family, be alert and avoid contact. Avoid electrical hazards inside or outside your home After a hurricane, flood or other natural disaster you need to be careful to avoid electrical hazards both in your home and elsewhere. Be extremely careful when removing car batteries. Even if they are in floodwater, car batteries may still have an electrical charge. Use insulated gloves and avoid coming in contact with any acid that may have spilled from the damaged car battery. Shut off electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks in your home to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions. NEVER touch a fallen power line. Call Tanner Electric Coop to report fallen power lines. Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup and other activities. Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water. If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call or have someone else call 911 or emergency medical help. Credit: cdc.gov, weather.gov

Did you know there's two kinds of Burn Bans in Pierce County? You can always check our website for Anderson Island's current Burn Ban Status. www.andersonislandfire.org FIRE SAFETY BURN BANS - Are issued by the Pierce County Fire Marshal to help prevent uncontrolled outdoor fires. These bans typically take place during the hot, dry summer months. Fire Safety Burn Ban Hotline: 1-(253)-798-7278 AIR QUALITY BURN BANS - Are issued by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to protect air quality in the region. These bans typically take place during calm, cold winter months. Air Quality Burn Ban Hotline: 1-(800)-595-4341

Anderson Island Fire/Rescue is warning people to shut their doors before they go to bed in case there is a fire in their home while they sleep. 50% of house fires happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Closing your doors before you hit the hay helps keep you safe. Closing your bedroom door at night can help save your life, but the reason may surprise you. More than a decade of research conclusively shows that simply closing your doors can slow the spread of fire giving you and your family precious time to escape, or to be rescued by the fire department if you cannot get out safely. During a fire, closing the door could have a potentially life-saving impact. Today, there’s an average of three minutes or less to escape a home fire due to synthetic furnishings, open floor plans and lightweight construction materials that can combine to accelerate the spread of a fire. The Fire Safety Research Institute’s (FSRI) exploration on fire service horizontal ventilation, begun in 2008, analyzed the effect of doors and windows on a fire’s spread. Bedrooms on the first and second floor of a home were tested during the scenario. Using thermal imaging cameras, researchers found that closed-door rooms on both floors during the fire’s spread had average temperatures of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit versus 1000+ degrees in the open-door rooms. Gas concentrations were markedly different as well. The open-door bedroom measured an extremely toxic 10,000 PPM CO (parts per million of Carbon Monoxide), while the closed had approximately 100 PPM CO. Based on these findings, ‘Close Before You Doze’ encourages those both trapped in a room during a fire as well as those who can safely leave a home to close as many doors as possible. With the doors and windows closed, the fire won’t have oxygen to burn and it’s going to stay right there, giving other people in the house more time to get out and also helping protect your property. You should also create a fire escape plan. It should include two ways out of every room, and a meeting place outside. And you should practice it. A surprise drill is a great way to teach your children what your smoke alarms actually sound like. Credit: fsri.org, closeyourdoor.org