By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
THE FIRE LANE
Fire Call Summary, August 2012
fire pic1
Braden Torres shows Turlock Firefighter Matt Campos that he can stop, drop and roll if caught on fire at the Turlock Fire Departments open house at Fire Station No. 1 in 2010. The Turlock Fire website has downloadable activities for kids to help teach fire safety. The website can be viewed at http://ci.turlock.ca/citydepartments/firedepartment. - photo by Journal file photo

The Turlock Fire Department responded to a total of 459 incidents during the month of August. These included a total of 293 emergency medical service calls. Turlock Fire responded to 17 motor vehicle accidents, and 17 commercial/ residential fire alarms. There were a total of 19 fire type calls: 5 building fires, 1 cooking fire, 2 special "outside" type fires, 6 vegetation/ rubbish fires, 2 electrical wiring type fires, 1 Dumpster fire, 3 vehicle fires, and one fire classified as "other." Remaining incidents consisted of public assists, assist to police, animal rescues, smoke checks, gas leaks, haz-mat incidents, and power lines down.
Noteworthy events for the month of August included an elevator rescue. Fire crews responded to the report of an elderly woman trapped in the elevator. Upon arrival to the incident, fire crews were welcomed by a very large crowd surrounding the elevator area. This is a very specialized task performed by the fire department that requires advanced training. Our lead elevator rescue specialist was on duty and was in charge of operations. After completing a series of strict procedures required to safely force entry into an elevator; fire crews were able to use their elevator rescue tools and extricate the elderly woman from the elevator while also calming down the large crowd. After a medical evaluation by fire crews, the elderly woman was a little shaken up but otherwise found in good health.
Please join us in honoring the events of 9-11 by attending one of our two ceremonies: Fire station 1 (540 E. Marshall) and Fire Station 3 (501 E. Monte Vista). Ceremonies begin at 8:40 a.m. with a bagpipe presentation of "Amazing Grace" followed by a moment of silence, ringing of the bell, Speech by Fire Chief Tim Lohman (Station 1) Police Chief Robert A. Jackson (Station 3), chaplain invocation, and will conclude with the raising of the flag at 9 a.m. Both ceremonies will be held on Sept. 11.

SAFETY TIP
Curious kids set fires: Children under five are curious about fire. Often what begins as a natural exploration of the unknown can lead tragedy.
- Children age 14 and under make up 10-15 percent of all fire deaths.
- Fifty-two percent of all child fire deaths occur to those under age 5. These children are usually unable to escape from a fire independently.
- At home, children usually play with fire in bedrooms, in closets and under beds. These are "secret" places where there are a lot of things that catch fire easily.
- Too often, child fire setters are not given proper guidance and supervision by parents and teachers. Consequently, they repeat their fire setting behavior.

Practice fire safety in your home:
• Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for short periods of time.
• Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet.
• Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
• Check under beds and in closets for burned matches, evidence your child may be playing with fire.
• Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your children and designate a meeting place outside.
• Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
• Teach children the nature of fire. It is FAST, HOT, DARK and DEADLY!
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help from another location.
• Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house and stay out in the case of fire.
• Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
• Install smoke alarms on every level in your home.
• Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
• Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery at least once a year.
• Replace the smoke alarm every ten years, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.
Please visit Turlock Fire's website at http://ci.turlock.ca/citydepartments/firedepartment to further educate your children about fire safety with some fun activities you can do at home. We have downloadable coloring books, home fire safety plans, and the steps on how to perform "stop, drop, and roll."
At the website, navigate your way to the "safety programs & services" link and located on that page is the "Kids Corner" section. If you need further assistance teaching your kids about fire safety, stop by your local fire station and we would be more than happy to assist you.