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THE FIRE LANE
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Fire Call Summary, April 2012
The Turlock Fire Department responded to a total of 452 incidents during the month of April. These included a total of 298 emergency medical service calls. Turlock Fire responded to 18 motor vehicle accidents, and 23 commercial/ residential fire alarms. There were a total of 15 fire type calls: two building fires, three vehicle fires, three unauthorized burnings, two special "outside" type fires, three vegetation/ rubbish fires, one electrical arching, and one Dumpster fire. Remaining incidents consisted of public assists, assist to police, extrication, smoke checks, gas leaks, water leaks, locked in vehicle, etc.
Noteworthy events for the month of April included a pedestrian on a bicycle hit by a vehicle. Fire crews arrived on scene to find a pedestrian down in the center of the street. Fire crews immobilized the patient taking c-spine precautions to prevent further injury to the patient. Following the incident Turlock Fire Fighters Local 2434, Random Acts of Kindness repaired the patient's bicycle back to working condition. The patient was very thankful following the incident stating that the bicycle was their only means of transportation.
Second noteworthy event for the month of April was an alarm sounding at Sierra Oaks Apartments. Fire crews arrived on scene to find an apartment complex garage with smoke and flames inside. The sprinkler system was activated, however, its effectiveness was limited because the garage door was open and blocking the sprinkler head. Fire Crews quickly extinguished the fire and kept the damage contained to a small area of the structure. Fire Engines 31, 32, 33, Battalion 1, and Fire 3 all responded for a total of 11 firefighters.

SAFETY TIP
Memorial Weekend means people are headed to the water. Water is all around us, and while it's safe, it also carries certain dangers you should be aware of when you head out to the water this summer for recreation. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
Learn to swim
• Children should always swim with an adult.
• Swim in safe designated swim areas only.
• Stay away from canals; they are not safe for anyone; big, small, young or old.
• Fish at designated sites only
• When at lakes or reservoirs always follow the rules set up by the authorities.
• Always wear a life vest while boating or on the lake or out on the ocean.
• Obey all hazard signs because they are in place to save lives.
• Look before you leap or dive, and only leap or dive where it is allowed and safe.
• Know your limits on how good of a swimmer are you, how far you can swim, etc...
• Don't mix alcohol consumption with recreation.
• The water may look calm, but there are potential strong currents beneath.