Safety – Southeast Weld Fire Protection District

Fire Loss Prevention

With warm and dry weather approaching, we wanted to take the opportunity to provide some information to minimize property loss in the event of a ground cover fire. The transition from spring to summer brings low humidity, high temperatures, high winds, and overgrown vegetation. These conditions can present a higher than normal threat to your property in the event of a ground cover fire. With a few simple steps you can further protect your property from fires started adjacent to or on your property.

Have a defensible space around structures free of dry fuels, weeds, and brush.
Keep vegetation mowed, especially around property lines and outbuildings.
Clear flammable/scrap materials from property when possible.
Avoid storing large amounts of flammable/scrap materials against buildings.
Do not perform open burning on Red Flag days, or during dry and windy weather conditions.
To report a fire Dial 911

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact your local fire department.

TEXT-TO-911 Service

WELD COUNTY LAUNCHES TEXT-TO-911 SERVICE

WELD COUNTY, CO — In a county registering almost 4,000 square miles, facilitating quick responses in an emergency is a big responsibility.

Beginning December 4, residents and visitors throughout Weld County will have another tool to use in an emergency: Text-to-911.

Promoted under the national theme Call if You Can, Text if You Can’t, the Text-to-911 service allows people throughout Weld County to reach 911 via text during an emergency if calling is not an option. Text-to-911 can be beneficial in many different scenarios, including assisting those with hearing disabilities, allowing contact with 911 during a crime when calling might put someone in danger, or contacting 911 when signal strength is too weak to place a call.

“We are proud of the work our Public Safety Communications team has done to make this service available to residents,” Weld County Chair Julie Cozad said. “It provides another method for people to request help when it’s desperately needed. It’s a great asset to Weld County.”

Text-to-911 is available to anyone who has a phone with text message capability and is using a participating wireless provider. Currently, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon support Text-to-911 in Weld County.

“The county has the equipment in place to handle Text-to-911 calls,” said Public Safety Communications Director Mike Wallace, “and we have requested that all providers enable the Text-to-911 ability on their customer’s phones. So far the three largest providers have done just that. As others come on line, we will make sure to let the public know.”

The Weld County Public Safety Communications Department is responsible for implementing the Text-to-911 program in Weld County. Staff has worked on understanding new technology, worked with wireless carriers to implement the service, and done training to ensure the service meets the emergency needs of the public of Weld County.

While text messaging does have its benefits, calling 911 should still be the first option considered in an emergency. If you must text 911, it’s important to know the limitations:

No video – Currently, Text-to-911 technology only understands words. No pictures or videos sent will be received.
Location – Your location will need to be provided to dispatch to receive help quickly.
Messages can be delayed – Text Messages can be delayed by wireless providers causing dispatch to receive messages out of order. This can cause a delay in receiving help.

More information about Text-to-911 including examples of when and how to use the service is available at www.weldgov.com.

TIME CHANGE MEANS BATTERY CHANGE!

It’s that time of year again, clocks change Sunday morning. Remember, it is good practice to change your smoke detector and CO detector batteries when the time changes. This could mean the difference! We are here to assist you if you need help with your battery change, feel free to contact us! Stay Safe!

Child Safety Seat Technicians Available

We offer Child Safety Seat Installation and education for anyone needing assistance. Please feel free to contact us to make an appointment to have your car seat installed and become educated on installation and child safety in vehicles. Feel free to stop in as well.

Know the Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Southeast Weld Fire Protection District would like to take the time to remind homeowners/businesses to take steps to help prevent potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by incomplete combustion in home heating systems, gas ovens, dryers, fireplaces and automobile engines. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can be fatal.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are flu-like and often include headache, sleepiness, weakness, vomiting, dizziness and tightness in the chest. If you or your family experiences these symptoms: Call 911 or seek emergency medical attention. Stop using the suspected gas appliance immediately and call Atmos Energy’s Emergency hotline at 1.866.322.8667. Do not use the appliance until it has been inspected, serviced and determined to be safe by a qualified plumber or a heating contractor.

Help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

Hire a qualified heating system professional each year to inspect all natural gas appliances and venting systems in your home to ensure that they are working properly. Atmos Energy customers can find qualified plumbers and contractors by visiting www.atmosenergy.com
Install carbon monoxide detectors in the home on all floors where bedrooms are located. Detectors identify traces of carbon monoxide in the home and sound an alarm when carbon monoxide is detected.
Do not idle a car in an attached garage. Doing so allows a large amount of carbon monoxide to enter the home. Instead, back the car completely out of the garage and close the garage door while the vehicle warms up.
Make sure that your chimneys and flues are clean and unobstructed and that appliances have proper ventilation systems.
Remove clutter from around gas furnaces and water heaters to ensure an adequate supply of fresh air. Change furnace filters regularly.
Do not use natural gas ovens as a heating source. The burning of natural gas produces carbon monoxide that is safely ventilated when the oven door is closed, but is released into the kitchen when the door is open.
Do not use charcoal indoors for either cooking or heating. Burning charcoal releases carbon monoxide.
Make sure kerosene and other portable heaters are vented to the outside.

Fire Escape Planning

Be prepared for a fire:

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.
Know your local emergency numbers. In most areas the number is 911.
Practice finding your way out of the house with your eyes closed, crawling or staying low to the ground, and feeling your way out of the house.
Never open doors that are hot.
Teach your family to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if their clothes catch fire.
Decide on a meeting place outside your home and check to see if anyone is missing. Everyone must get out and stay out of the house or apartment.
Remember to escape first, and then call the fire department.
Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two ways to escape from each room in the house or apartment.
Help children and senior citizens to escape from a fire.
NEVER go back into a fire once you have escaped.

Alternative Heater Fire Prevention and Home Fire Safety

About 3,400 Americans die each year in fires and about 17,500 are injured. You can stop the fire before it starts. Use this fact sheet to learn how to prevent a fire in your home and know what to do if you have a fire.

Stop an alternative heater fire before it starts:

Kerosene heaters are not allowed in most places.
If you use a kerosene heater, only use the type of fuel listed in the instructions.
Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
Keep the fire inside the fireplace by making sure you have a fireplace screen large enough to stop flying sparks and rolling logs.
Have your chimney inspected at least once a year. Tar build-up inside of the chimney can cause the chimney, roof, and the whole house to go up in flames.
Space heaters need space. Keep items at least three feet away from each heater.
When buying a space heater, only buy one with a safety feature that automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over.
Carefully follow manufacturers’ set up and maintenance instructions.
For wood stove fuel, use only seasoned wood – never use green wood, artificial logs, or trash. Seasoned wood looks dark, or gray when compared to green wood. Seasoned wood is white on the inside.

Be prepared for a fire:

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.
Prepare an escape plan and practice it twice a year. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two (2) escape routes from their bedrooms.

Fire Prevention and Home Fire Safety for Children

Stop children from starting a fire, before it starts:

Keep matches and lighters in a locked drawer or cabinet out of the reach of children. This should be a location where a child is least likely to explore.
Teach your children to tell you when they find matches and lighters.
Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches or other clues your child is playing with fire.

Be prepared for a fire:

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.
Let children know what a smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.
Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal flammability standards, which means if the pajamas are exposed to a small open flame, the flame will go out. Avoid dressing children for sleep in loose-fitting, 100 percent cotton clothes, such as oversized T-shirts.
Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out of the house quickly and call for help from somewhere else.
Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house.
Show them how to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if their clothes catch fire.
Make and practice a home fire escape plan and set a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two (2) escape routes from their bedrooms.

Rural Fire Prevention

Stop the rural fire before it starts:

Burning yard waste is a fire hazard. Call your fire department on their non-911 number for fire permit requirements and restricted burning times.
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly by a certified specialist.
When building a home or addition, use fire-resistant roofing materials. Avoid using wood materials that offer the least fire protection. Use fire-resistant siding like stucco, brick, stone, etc.
Create a landscape that can defend your property from fire. You can defend you home from wild fires by thinning trees and brush at least 30 feet away from your home.Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and other structures.
Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and other structures.
Store flammable materials, liquids, and solvents in metal containers outside the home, at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences.

Be prepared for a fire:

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a “Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm.” A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.
Make sure emergency vehicles have access to your home by having driveways and roadways at least 12 feet wide with turnaround space.
Post home address signs that are clearly visible from the road.
Prepare an escape plan and practice it twice a year. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two (2) escape routes from their bedrooms.