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Show PANGUITCH • PANGUITCH LAKE ••HATCH • BRYCF: • TROPIC • ANTIMONY • HENRTCVILLE • CANNONVIIJ.E • ESCALANTL; • BOULDER • DUCK CREEK Thursday, September 7, 2006 • Issue # 76 UTAH SAFETY COUNCIL HOME HEATING TIPS Winter will shortly be her, and during chilly wi nter months, we rely on heating equipment to keep us warm. No matter which heating source or brand we choose, it's important that the equipment used is safely installed, operated, and maintained. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) cites heating equipment as one of the leading causes for home fires in the months of December, January, and February. Many fires result from equipment that has not regularly been cleaned, been placed too close to combustible items, improperly fueled, or contained flaws in construction or design. Supplemental heating appliances must be given special attention, as nearly two out of three home-heating fires and five out of six associated deaths involve devices other than central furnaces or water heaters, according to the NFPA. Here are some basic safety tips for using heating equipment in your home: Fireplace/Wood Stove • Each season, before using your fireplace, have your chimney, flue, and vents inspected and cleaned by a certified professional. • Use dry, seasoned wood that's cut into WEATHER SPp Vf|J 0 -,r- 'J : - »•.. • i 7op 1 1 -.•<- 1 ~ t I ' *• • - 7/°F ' ': o • • V Sdp l:t On August 18-19, 2006, members of the Tropic Volunteer Fire Department attended Summer Fire School at Utah Valley State College in Orem to learn new techniques and increase their skills. This was the 40Ih year of Summer Fire School at Utah Valley State College. There were record numbers in attendance with over 600 attendees. This was due to the offering of a new class, Fire Officer Academy, which brought over 200 attendees alone. Many of the nations top fire chiefs were in attendance to train those that attended the Fire Officer Academy. Keynote speaker at the Fire Officer Academy was Retired Phoenix Fire Chief Alan Brunacini. He heads a fire department with over 1700 personnel that ser- . vices over one million customers. Her instructs and presents workshops, seminars, and conferences to many fire departments and training institutions throughout the country in various topics that include Fireground Operations, Health and Fitness, Incident Command, Labor/Management Relationships, Command Safety, and Customer Service. He has authored many fire service books and is working on several other books. One of the other speakers for the Fire Officer Academy was Vincent Dunn, Retired Deputy Chief, Fore Department New York. He has many years as a Field Commander, directing strategy and tactics at fires in high rise buildings, low rise, buildings, major emergencies, and hazardous material incidents. He is a Fire Analyst Consultant to several major television news networks. He is an instructor at the National Fire Academy. Chief Dunn has developed and taught a number of courses for the Fire Department New York, the Federal Bureau Investigation, and the National Fire Academy. On Saturday, August 19"\ the chiefs and participants of the officers Academy attended a luncheon with keynote speaker Amanda Butterfield. Amanda is a coanchor for the KSL weekend edition of the Eyewitness News. She reports during the week for the Eyewitness News at 10. The Utah Fire and Rescue Academy offers a wide variety of classes that allow firefighter and emergency personnel to receive hands on training. Some classes offered this year included a live structure fire, vehicle extrication, firefighter survival, and pump systems. There were dozens of other classes offered including arson detection, instructor certification, and wilderness medicine. Those in attendance from Tropic Volunteer Department were Ron Harris, Fire Chief, and Moylc Johnson. Captain, both of whom attended the Fire Officer Academy. Brad Cowan and Matt Lamas, firefighters, also attended classes in Air Management and Physical Fitness for firefighters. Garfield County Emergency Medical Technician, Yolanda Cowan, attended a Public Information Officer training course. Tropic Volunteer Fire Department is committed lo their community and is continually training to increase their skills lo better serve the community and surrounding areas. 76°F Khp II) *.rp 1?. manageable pieces. If using synthetic logs, follow manufacturer's instructions. Never break a synthetic log apart and only use one log at a time. Don't ever burn garbage. • Always use a fireplace screen or door. • Always extinguish fires before leaving the house or going to bed. Never leave a fire unattended. • Dispose of ashes in a tightly-sealed metal container (only after they have completely cooled). Gas Furnaces • Have a certified professional inspect your furnace each year before the heating season. Make sure the inspection includes the furnace, chimney, vents, and gas lines. • Clean or replace air filters regularly. • Make sure your furnace flame is mostly blue and steady. A persistent yellow or wavy flame could indicate a problem. • Routinely check for problem signs: stains or rust on vents or chimney; soot or carbon deposits on the inside of the furnace; pilot light keeps going out; or furnace runs constantly to heat your home. • If you hear or smell a considerable amount of gas, leave the house and contact your local gas supplier or 911 from a neighbor's phone. Remember, always follow .-'• 7 2 ° F manufacturer instructions regarding the installation, operation and maintenance of all supplemental heating ap/•J'F pliances. Don't Forget Alarms and Detectors LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS ATTEND TRAINING .- . v.;. 76"r- ..•• •:: 7 7 ° F Put your whole self into it, and you will find your true voice. Hold hack and yoit won7. // s that simple. Hugh Macleod PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID LOA, UTAH snapshot@scinternet.net Loa, Utah 84747 PERMIT No. 5 BOXHOLDER THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and distributed weekly to all of Garfield County * Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Thank you. ^5^ m^JiLdK^L Phone: 435-676-2621 |