VISIT US: Wildfire: Not Just A Rural Issue Anymore. From The Chiefs Desk. Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department

Transcription

1 Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department Spring 2013 Wildfire: Not Just A Rural Issue Anymore Talk about wildfires and cityscapes in the same breath and people may just roll their eyes. Yet, with a record-setting 2011 fire season that saw flames encroaching on many city boundaries, urbanites are taking cues from their suburban neighbors and pledging to reduce their area's risk of brush, grass and forest fire damage. Firewise is a great program that serves as a platform to spread fire prevention information to those who live in the wildland/urban interface. Our goal is to get every one of our communities to take part in this program and help make our neighborhoods fire adapted and Firewise. About the Firewise Communities Program Brush, grass or forest fires don t have to be disasters. The National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Firewise Communities program encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in the effort to protect people and property from wild- fire risks. The progra m is cosponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the US Department of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters. To save lives and property from wildfire, NFPA's Firewise Communities program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and each other from the risk of wildfire. From The Chiefs Desk Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department Station One: 1126 E. Borgfeld San Antonio, TX (830) Station Two: Bulverde Road San Antonio, TX (210) We started off the new year like it was the beginning of a race. Things have been going fast and furious since January and now it is already April. We have been working on numerous projects that have been on the to do list for some time now. We started a Volunteer Firefighter Academy that will train new members to meet the s t a n d a r d s f o r f i r e - fighting. There are 7 new cadets that will graduate on April 11th after four months of training. Our goal is to have two to three Volunteer Firefighter Academy's every year. April is also the start of wildfire season. We have been VISIT US: working to provide education and guidance to residents on wildfire safety. Our fire prevention officer has been attending workshops and gathering literature that will ensure you are educated and know what to do in the event of a wildfire. In April our new Medical Rescue Vehicle will be arriving. This is our first new medical response vehicle in five years. It will be assigned to Station 1 on Borgeld Drive. My hope is to order another identical unit later this year to be assigned to Station 2 on Bulverde Road. These units will continue to be equipped with advanced life support equipment to provide the highest level of care to people in need as quickly as possible. Our Battalion Chiefs are currently working on an internal audit for our ISO rating. The Insurance Services Organization rates fire departments on their ability to provide fire suppression. The rating scale is between 1 and 10, 1 being the best and 10 being unrated. We are currently rated at 4 for areas that have fire hydrants and are within five road miles of our stations. We have a rating of 8B for areas that do not have fire hydrants, but still are within five road miles of our stations. For residents beyond five road miles, you are classified as a 10. We currently have three areas that are rated 10. The far southwest, the far northeast and the far south east portions of our response areas are rated at 10. We are working very hard to lower the rating for those residents by acquiring Continued On Page 2 Released April 1st, 2013

2 Spring 2013 Fire News Page 2 Grill Fire Year to Date Run Report Total Responses Dispatch to enroute avg time min Dispatch to onscene avg time time min Continued From the Chiefs Desk land for new fire stations. I will keep you up to date on our progress. Our Battalion Chiefs are also working to have our department accredited with the Texas Fire Chiefs Association as having the "Best Practices" for fire department operations. Bexar- Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department is one of only seven fire departments in the state that have chosen to undertake this Grilling Safety There s nothing like outdoor grilling. It s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. Grills can be very hot, well after cooking is done, causing burn injuries. Follow these simple tips and you will be on the way to safe grilling. Safety Tips: major initiative and we are the only volunteer department participating. There are 112 benchmark goals that have to meet and verified by an independent auditor. We have joined other departments like Irving, Terrell Hills, Taylor, Coppell, Tyler and Laredo Fire Departments. In May we will have our open house and Board of Directors meeting, which will include elections. There are three positions on the board that will be Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors. The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. Keep children and pets at least thirty feet away from the grill area. Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. Never leave your grill unattended. Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it. Charcoal Grills: up for election. All residents in our response area are considered members and can vote for the board of directors. We will be updating our website and Facebook page with the details on dates and times of the open house and elections. We invite all residents to come out to visit the fire station and look at the fire trucks. Sincerely, Paul Tarter Fire Chief There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel. If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire. Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources. There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use. When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container. Propane Grills: Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department. If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill. If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 15 minutes before re-lighting it. National Fire Protection Association Burn Ban In Effect Until June 24th Commissioners Court approved an order last week restricting outdoor burning in unincorporated Bexar County because of dry weather conditions and heavy fuel loads on the ground. The ban is effective immediately and will expire on June 24, or sooner if the court finds that a public safety hazard no longer exists. A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. For more information, please contact the Bexar County Fire Marshals Office.

3 Spring 2013 Fire News Page 3 Scorpions and Scorpion Stings West Texas Scorpion The good news is that there are no deadly scorpions in Texas. Their venom is neurotoxin and causes some, or all, of the following symptoms: pain, numbness of the extremity, edema, tongue thickening, a n d d i f f i c u l t y focusing. Scorpions and non-insect arthropods. There are approximately 90 species of scorpions in the United States. At least 20 of those species are found in Texas. The most common scorpion found in, and around, South Texas is the West Texas Scorpion. The good news is that there are no deadly scorpions in Texas. Their venom is neurotoxin and causes some, or all, of the following symptoms: pain, numbness of the extremity, edema, tongue thickening, and difficulty focusing. USFA: 2,900 Residential Clothes Dryer Fires Reported Annually Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings ( ), a special report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), noted that in that time period, 2,900 fires involving clothes dryers in residential buildings were reported to U.S. fire departments. These incidents caused an estimated five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. The report was developed by the USFA s National Fire Data Center and is based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System. The report also highlighted the following: The incidence of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings, higher in the fall and winter months, peaked in January at 11 percent The leading cause of these fires (34 percent) was failure to clean the dryer of lint The leading items first ignited were dust, fiber, and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent) The bite may go systemic and can cause an allergic reaction. If this happens, you need to seek immediate medical attention. Treatment is often ice or warm compress for the pain. Most scorpion bites occur in the warmer months. Scorpions seek shady, even dark areas to hide. They like moist and humid areas, so the bathroom of your house is a prime spot. How do you know if you have an infestation of scorpions? Go out after dark and look around using a UV, or black, light. Their exoskeletons contain a protein that is fluorescent. If you notice your yard has a large amount of glowing spots, you may have a scorpion problem. So what do you do? Spray the interior and exterior of your home with an insecticide that contains chemicals such as permethrin or cypermethrin. You can do an online search for the best place to purchase products containing these chemicals. The big thing to remember when you are stung is that you are not going to die. Yes, it is going to be painful for a while, but you are going to survive! Terry Eaton, UT Health Science Center 54 percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin The report is part of the Topical Fire Report Series and includes recent examples of fire incident related to the report topic in context. Additional information on these topical reports is at Dryer Fire What you can do... Clean the lint trap before and after drying each load of clothes. Don t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can be trapped. The interior of the dryer and venting system should be cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel. If you notice the drying time is longer, clean the vent system thoroughly to ensure proper airflow. Replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or flexible metal venting. Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode. Don t forget to read manufacturers warnings in use and care manuals that accompany new dryers. Also, warning markings can usually be found on the inside of the dryer s lid and take only minutes to read.

4 Spring 2013 Fire News Page 4 Reducing Wildfire Risk Wildland Urban Interface Even if you are located outside the boundaries of the WUI, you can significant damage. sustain fire According to IBHS, one-third of U.S. homes are located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), areas that combine housing developments with natural topography, trees, and vegetation. In recent years, homes in these areas have become common casualties of hard-to-control wildfires. Even if you are located outside the boundaries of the WUI, you can sustain significant fire damage. Burning embers can be blown into the area ahead of the fire front and can start fires by landing on hazardous parts of the building. Deck and patio furniture, lounge chair cushions, awnings, woodpiles, and areas where pine needles or leaves accumulate are some of the places were embers can collect and possibly ignite the structure. Windows Radiant heat from a wildfire can easily shatter single pane windows; choose tempered glass and preferably dual-pane windows for increased protection. An open window is vulnerable to the entry of embers, so make sure your windows are closed. Vents Attic and crawlspace vents are the most likely entry points for firebrands. Cover with 1/8- inch metal mesh screens (usually the finest mesh allowed by the building code). Flying embers driven by gusty winds often pose the biggest fire threat to structures. Embers can enter through vents and burn a house from the inside out. Roofs and Gutters Choose a Class A fire-rated roof covering, which is a roofing material described by an Underwriters Laboratory rating system as being noncombustible and capable of withstanding severer fire exposure without igniting. Keep the roof and gutters clear of debris through regular maintenance. Attachments Decks, patios, and porches are often attached to the house and can act as a wick, bringing flames to the building. Use ignition resistant building materials and keep the top and underneath clear of debris and combustible items. Enclosing the bottom of your elevated deck patio or porch or screening the top area are both good options for reducing fire risk. Combustible fences also can be a hazard; separate the fence from the house by using a Metal gate. Yard Structures Arbors, pergolas or trellises, playground equipment, boats, RVs, firewood, and other combustible items can allow fire to touch the building. When possible, relocate at least 30 feet from the house and choose noncombustible or ignition-resistant building materials when possible. Propane and LP Tanks Relocate the propane tanks at least 30 feet from your house or, if relocation is not an option, create a 10-foot noncombustible zone around the tank. An alternative solution is to enclose the tank using noncombustible materials. Proximity to Surrounding Properties Houses located less than 15 feet apart can be significantly threatened by neighboring properties ignited by wildfires Work with neighbors to reduce the risk of cluster burning, which can whip out an entire block of properties within hours. Member Spotlight Neek Razavi While wildfires are inevitable, communities and neighbors in and near the Wildland Urban Interface can come together to make their houses and neighborhoods as fire adapted as possible. USAA Bexar-Bulverde Member Spotlight Neek Razavi is a twenty-one year old Firefighter/EMT-Basic with the Bexar-Bulverde Fire Department and has been a member there for 3 years. Born in Atlanta, GA, Neek moved to San Antonio in In addition to volunteering his time with BBVFD, Neek is a student at Texas State University, studying for his Bachelors Degree in Business Management. Neek currently works for Southern Cross EMS but aspires to get on with the Austin Fire Department. Working on making that goal a reality, in addition to everything else, Neek is also currently enrolled in a TCFP Fire Academy. Neek Razavi is a very dedicated and determined individual, who we are lucky to have here at the Bexar- Bulverde VFD.

5 Winter 2013 Gallery Rope Rescue Class March 2013 BBVFD participates in Hero Rush 2013 Less Mud, More Heroics Hero Rush is the blazingly tough, totally unique and absolutely fun 3-5 mile obstacle race and experience created by real firefighters (for EVERYONE!) that will challenge you to the max. Plus, we ve got kid s races, support great causes all in a family-friendly, awesome event experience! GREAT JOB BEXAR-BULVERDE MEMBERS!!! Page 5

6 Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department Station One: 1126 E. Borgfeld Dr. San Antonio, TX (830) Station Two: Bulverde Road San Antonio, TX (210) The Mission of the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department is to provide fire suppression and prevention with rescue and emergency medical first-responder services thru courteous, caring, and prompt customer service to protect lives and preserve property, while promoting community awareness and involvement. Visit us on the Web!! To subscribe to this newsletter, please visit our website and click on the community portal tab How it all got started The Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department was established in The Department s response area was to cover from the US HWY 1604 & US 281 N interchange north to US HWY 46 in Comal County, going from Blanco Road east to Farm Road 3009 in Comal County and along the Bexar County Line. The department encompassed approximately 300 sq miles of Northern Bexar County and Southern Comal County. The original station was built in 1970 at 1126 East Borgfeld where it still stands today. In 1986, the department was split into two separate departments to establish tax funds more effectively between the two counties for the one department. At that time, the station in Bexar County became the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department and the two stations in Comal County became the Bulverde Area Volunteer Fire Department. The current response area for the Bexar-Bulverde Fire Department is approximately 47 square miles of northern Bexar County. Department Vision To be recognized by the community and our peers as: 1. A model of excellence in providing fire protection, emergency first-responder medical services, and related services 2. A department dedicated to continuous improvement, to every detail, of the services we provide 3. A department that promotes an environment of tolerance, trust, and involvement 4. A department responsive to the community's needs and concerns Department Values The core value of the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department is the belief that out people are our most important asset. Those values include: Professionalism Integrity Compassion Concern Tradition Pride Commitment Camaraderie Caring