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Show Volume XXX Issue VII The Ogden Valley News Page 7 November 15, 2023 Time to Check Smoke Alarms: Home Fires Claim More Lives Every Year Than All Other Disasters Combined The American Red Cross of Utah wants to make everyone safer, beginning in November. And it only takes a few minutes. When daylight saving time ended Nov. 5, it was time for the inaugural Utah Turn and Test November to begin. The American Red Cross is encouraging Utahns to use that extra hour gained to test their smoke alarms and to replace batteries. Home fires are unexpected disasters, but last year alone, there were more than 325,000 home fires nationwide. These fires resulted in over 2,600 deaths and about 11,000 injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association. “Smoke alarms are the first line of defense in a home fire,” said Benjamin Donner, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Central and Southern Utah Chapter. “Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.” Given the significance of working smoke alarms, the Red Cross of Utah has dedicated the entire month to “Utah Turn and Test November.” It is to remind all to test smoke alarms and replace batteries this month. Smoke alarms should be on every level of your home and replaced every ten years. “Working smoke alarms can mean the difference between escaping a home fire unharmed and facing a tragedy,” Donner said. Preparing for a Home Fire - Fire officials agree that a fire can spread rapidly through a home, leaving families two minutes or less to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. When checking your smoke alarms, also ensure that an escape plan is in place for everyone in the home and practice it. Too many home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. To combat this, the Red Cross of Utah collaborates with community partners to provide free smoke alarm installations and fire safety education. “Our staff and volunteers are trained to educate families on how to evacuate safely if a fire breaks out in their home,” Donner said. Residents seeking fire prevention assistance can schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation at SoundTheAlarm.org/Utah. During the 20-minute home visit, Red Cross volunteers and community partners will also share information on home fires, prevention strategies, actions to take if a fire starts and how to establish an escape plan. “If you can’t afford a smoke alarm or are physically unable to install one or check its batteries, contact the Red Cross of Utah. We may be able to assist,” Donner said. “‘Utah Turn and Test November’ serves as an important reminder to practice your two-minute home fire escape drill and test your smoke alarms.” Aiding Utahns affected By Home Fires - Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers and staff frequently respond to home fires, which can leave families in need of immediate assistance. Home fires are the nation’s most common disaster. Last year, Red Cross of Utah Disaster volunteers and staff responded to more than 300 home fires and assisted over 800 Utahns, providing emotional support, financial assistance access and valuable information to help families begin recovery. About the American Red Cross - The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. Have Santa Visit Your Home & Give Back to the Community! If your kids have been hoping to see Santa before Christmas, now is your chance to make their wish come true. Community Foundation of Ogden Valley (CFOV) is fortunate enough to have Santa working with us again this year, and he’s now making appointments before his busiest night of the year approaches! Santa will be available to make house calls in the Valley and meet with your children to personally hear what is on their Christmas wish list anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Santa will come from the North Pole and attend a party, sit for photos, or just drop off a special gift you have purchased. Another great gift—Santa will be donating the proceeds from his visits to the nonprofit Community Foundation of Ogden Valley. The donations will go toward CFOV’s Matching Fund, which is disbursed to fifteen incredible nonprofit organizations that help make our Valley such an amazing place to live. Santa’s elf, Lisa Arbogast, can help arrange visits. Please call her at 801-540-4743. A minimum donation of $50 includes a fifteen- to twenty-minute Santa visit with a photo opportunity—you get to take the photo! For larger groups or parties and a forty- to fifty-minute visit, a $150 donation is suggested; for $200, Santa will lead the party in a few Christmas carols and sit for photo ops with each child or family. Contributions can be made to CFOV at cfov.net. Since starting this tradition several years ago, Santa has delivered magic to some very happy families. Sign up early to secure the best dates! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! About CFOV - CFOV is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that currently supports fifteen local nonprofits organized and administered by community volunteers. When you give to CFOV, you give back to Ogden Valley by supporting these different groups that are invested in bettering the community for all. These nonprofits include local PTOs, Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports, Ogden Avalanche, Great Basin K9 Search and Rescue as well as nonprofits that support open space preservation, and the arts, and recreation. Please visit CFOV.net for more information and a full list of the non-profit organizations we support. If you love Ogden Valley and are able to contribute, please consider investing in our community through CFOV. It’s easy to donate online at CFOV.net or by mailing a check to: CFOV PO BOX 684 EDEN UT 84310 Thank you for supporting your community! “Live Here, Play Here, Give Here.” Wildfire Safety Precautions in Place for High-Risk Areas in Utah Over this past summer, Rocky Mountain power has been communicating to customers through mail, email, and text about the additional safety precautions it is taking in specific areas in Utah, including Ogden Valley, due to elevated wildfire risk. These safety precautions include the use of protective devices on our lines with more sensitive settings that will deenergize power equipment when a short circuit is detected. A power outage is more likely to occur when these settings are utilized. As a result, if an outage occurs during wildfire season, customers may experience a longer-than-typical outage as our field personnel work to confirm that power can be safely turned back on. These measures are intended to promote public safety, and we appreciate your patience. Our system is built to withstand extreme weather and other unforeseen issues; however, outages can happen. It is important to: • Plan ahead and be prepared year-round. • Create a plan with your medical provider for appropriate backup power if you have medical devices that rely on electricity in your house. • Review your contact information, so we can reach you if necessary. • If an outage does occur, 昀椀nd restoration information on the Rocky Mountain Power outage map. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Providing safe, reliable service is our highest priority at Rocky Mountain Power. If you have questions, please call us anytime at 1-888-221-7070 or visit RockyMountainPower. net/Ready for emergency preparedness and wildfire safety information. PLENTIFUL PANTRY hEARTY soUPs Treat yourself and friends to all of these delicious,easy-to-make soups. Try These Flavors: • Creamy Chicken • Corn Bisque • Tortilla • White Bean Chili • Cheddar Jalapeno • White Cheddar Potato • Tomato Parmesan • Cheddar Broccoli • Thai Coconut • Chili Fixins $7.99 each MOUTH OF OGDEN CANYON 801-621-1606 www.rainbowgardens.com OPEN Monday - Thursday 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. | Friday - Saturday 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. | Sunday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. |