2019 WHIDBEY ISLAND
SALUTE TO FIREFIGHTERS
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD & WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Page Z2
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Know your fire department Four public fire departments protect Whidbey Island and Oak Harbor city limits, from Deception Pass Bridge to its citizens. Whether it’s a car accident, injury or fire, volun- Libbey Road. North Whidbey Fire and Rescue has grown teers and career firefighters will be there to help. to include seven fire stations, an administrative head-
South Whidbey
South Whidbey Fire/EMS was established as Island County Fire Protection District #3 by local community volunteers in 1950. It serves 15,000 residents and an estimated daily population of 25,000 within 66 square miles of South Whidbey Island.
Central Whidbey
Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue (CWIFR) serves approximately 8,264 residents and many visitors within 50 square miles of Central Whidbey Island from three fire stations. CWIFR’s response stretches from just south of Libbey Road to just north of Mutiny Bay Road and spans the breadth of the island. This predominantly rural area includes the Town of Coupeville and the unincorporated community of Greenbank.
quarters, 15 pieces of apparatus, two basic life support ambulances and three command vehicles, to cover 55 square miles and a population of over 15,000. North Whidbey Fire and Rescue provides services to the community, by organizing, coordinating, and directing available resources to respond to the event and bring the emergency under control. The goal of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue is to protect public health by minimizing the impact of the event on the community and environment.
Oak Harbor
Oak Harbor Fire Department (OHFD) serves the City of Oak Harbor. OHFD protects the 9.714 square mile city (including several miles of shoreline) and an estimated population of 23,000. OHFD is a combination fire department with one station staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by career and paid-on-call firefighters. Station 81 houses four fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and various North Whidbey Established in 1950, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue support vehicles. provides fire services for North Whidbey Island, outside
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Page ;3
OAK HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT Craig Anderson
Jim Anema
Don Baer
Brandon Bailey
Angela Braunstein
Dallas Brodt
Mike Buxton
Mendoza Cameron
Andrew Carroll
Serloyd Carter
Conor Ching
Tom Cross
Mike Engle
Benjamin Fikse
Josh Fikse
Kevin Frondozo
Chris Garden
Zack Greenberg
Otto Haffner
Ron Hancock
Jeff Heiserman
Shannon Holcomb
Fire Chief Ray Merrill Deputy Chief Mike Buxton Captain Don Baer
Haffner, Otto Hancock, Ron Heiserman, Jeff Holcomb, Shannon Hopkins, Cameron Jansen, Dwayne Jansen, Jake King, Mike Lange, Ryan Martin, Dan Mccalmont, Steve
Captain Mike Engle Captain Paul Schroer Captain in Training Craig Anderson Lieutenant Ed Klaszky Administrative Assistant Angela Braunstein Anema, Jim Bailey, Brandon Brodt, Dallas Cameron, Mendoza We are grateful Carroll, Andrew and very proud of Carter, Serloyd the work you do. Ching, Conor Thank you! Cross, Tom Fikse, Benjamin Fikse, Josh Frondozo, Kevin Garden, Chris Greenberg, Zack Resource and Design Center for Contractors and Homeowners CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
1694 802 1694MAIN MAINSTREET STREET •• PO BOX 802 FREELAND, WA 98249 BSI@WHIDBEY.COM
Merriman, Ryan Mirabal, Robert Reynolds, Jim Roberts, Jon Rodgers, Rich Soika, Mark Stanford, Travis Sy, Frank Titherington, Lolly Williams, James Wright, Dennis
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY & SERVICE Come To Play... Come To Stay
TARA
VACATION RENTALS 360-331-0129 5565 Lotto Ave • Freeland www.whidbeyvacation.com
BRAD AND K AREN JAEGER OWNER/BROKER
Tara Property Management South Office Address: 5565 Lotto Ave Freeland, WA 98249 Mailing Address: PO Box 383 Freeland, WA 98249 www.tarapropertymanagementsouth.com Josh Coleman Broker/property manager 360-331-7100 office 360-632-5386 mobile josh@tpmsouth.com
On behalf of your co-workers and your community, thank you women and men of EMS and Firefighters. Your hard work and dedication serve to keep us safe and healthy every day. WhidbeyHealth Medical Center 101 N. Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239 360.678.5151 or 360.321.5151
www.whidbeyhealth.org
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Page Z4
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
OAK HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT Cameron Hopkins
Dwayne Jansen
Jake Jansen
Mike King
Chief Ray Merrill
Ryan Merriman
Robert Mirabal
Jim Reynolds
Travis Stanford
Ed Klaszky
Ryan Lange
Dan Martin
Steve Mccalmont
Jon Roberts
Rich Rodgers
Paul Schroer
Mark Soika
Lolly Titherington
Frank Sy
James Williams
Dennis Wright
Be aware of hazards, and the top causes of fires
COOKING
■ Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. HEATING ■ Heating equipment is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes. Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 52,050 fires involving heating equipment each year in 2012-2016, accounting for 15 percent of all reported home fires during this time.
These fires resulted in annual losses of 490 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and $1 billion in direct property damage. ELECTRICAL ■ Electricity helps make our lives easier but there are times when we can take its power and its potential for fire-related hazards for granted. SMOKING ■ Smoking materials, including cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, started an estimated 17,200 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2014. These fires caused 570 deaths, 1,140 injuries and $426 million in direct
property damage. Smoking materials caused 5 percent of reported home fires, 21 percent of home fire deaths, 10 percent of home fire injuries, and 6 percent of the direct property damage. CANDLES ■ From 2012-2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 8,200 home structure fires that were started by candles per year. These fires caused an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries and $264 million in direct property damage. (National Fire Prevention Association)
The Team at Freeland Medical Tattoo Instructor for Plastic Surgery Centers Doctor Referred and Recommended Center Washington State Tattoo Advisory Board Member Washington State Licensed Instructor, Technician & Center Whidbey Island School of Micropigmentation 25 Years’ Experience Artist & Clinician
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE 10% OFF deliveries for First-Responders *call for details
Master Clinician Expertise Areas
Thanks You All For Your Service to Our Whidbey Island Communities Mon-Sat 8am-7pm • Sun 9am-6pm 331-6799 • 1609 E. Main, Freeland
3-D Areola Complex referred by 7 Washington Plastic Surgeons Tattoo Removal & Correction Corrective Camouflage for burn victims Nano & Micro Skin Needling • Hair Loss Scalp Treatment Technician Consulting • Insurance Documents Provided
Coupeville, WA www.ForeverPretty.net
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE WHIDBEY ISLAND FIREFIGHTERS!
PO Box 989 Oak Harbor, WA 98277 (360) 675-5445 or 360-321-6699 coreyoilandpropane.com
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Page Z5
NORTH WHIDBEY FIRE & RESCUE NWFR Staff Adespya, Andrey Beard, Lindsay Biller, Joe Interim Chief.jpg Boberg, Mark Bonet, David Brandhorst, Lt. Shane Breaux, Nikki Browning, Ben Canty, William Carnes, David Chastain, Chris Cheman, Bill Conto, Ann Cooper, Bill Dahl, Dylan Dorosrenko, Meagan Drieu, Antionne Eby, Ian Esperum, Dale Fealey, Guy Fisher, Tim Goen, Comm. Jerry Goen, Comm. Jerry Hanson, Dave Hanson, David Henderson, Catherine Henderson, Mike Hernandez, Chris Hoctor, Thomas Holly, Slothower Hoover, Richard Horr, Cliff Horton, Lt. Dan Jackson, Scott Kelsey, TJ Koorn, Commissioner
Koorn, Joshua Lacy, Captain Steve Lacy, Jon Lamont, Chairman Levandowski, Skye Maletto, Michael Marc, Boberg Mayhew, Tom Mohlsick, Lt. Tom Myrum, Micheal O’Conner, Captain Jim O’Conner, Captain Jim (of the marine rescue team) O’Neill, Nicole Pelzer, Micheal Powell, Ken Powell, Ken Powell, Michael Powell, Micheal Powers, Lauren Reinstra, Mike Rogers, Deborah Rogers, Ron Schmal, Andrew Schultz, Tim Schultz, Tim Soberman, Andrew Swiger, Batt. Chief Chris Torgerson, Monica Tripp, Hannah Turner, Chris Valencic, Frank Walker, Jon Walton, Ian Wilkie, Carlee Wilson, Lacy Young, Karley Zimmerman, Jimmy de Baker, Paul
Commissioner Marv Koorn
Commissioner Jerry Goen
Commissioner TJ Lamont
Batt. Chief Chris Swiger
Interim Chief Joe Biller
Captain Jim O’Conner
Captain Steve Lacy
Lt. Dan Horton
Lt. Shane Brandhorst
Lt. Tom Mohlsick
Torgerson, Monica
Andrew Soberman
Catherine Henderson
David Carnes
David Hanson
Ken Powell
Lacy Wilson
Marc Boberg
Michael Powell
Mike Henderson
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Thank you for your service!
OAK HARBOR 31720 WA-20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277 (360) 679-1535 TIRES • WHEELS • BATTERIES • BRAKES • ALIGNMENTS
11038 State Route 525
150 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277 (360) 679-3533
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Page Z6
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Paul de Baker
Tim Schultz
Tom Mayhew
Andrew Schmal
Andrey Adespya
Ann Conto
Antionne Drieu
Ben Browning
Bill Cheman
Bill Cooper
Carlee Wilkie
Chris Chastain
Chris Hernandez
Chris Turner
Cliff Horr
Dale Esperum
Dave Hanson
David Bonet
Deborah Rogers
Dylan Dahl
Frank Valencic
Guy Fealey
Hannah Tripp
Ian Eby
Ian Walton
Jimmy Zimmerman
Jon Lacy
Jon Walker
Joshua Koorn
Karley Young
Ken Powell
Nicole O’Neill
cial Ave WA 98221 776
1331 SW BARLOW OAK HARBOR, WA 98277 360-675-9588
1706 Commercial Ave ANACORTES, WA 98221 360-293-4776
©2017 HRB Tax Group, Inc.
©2017 HRB Tax Group, Inc.
Help better Help protect better you p Help better protect yoi Help better protect Help better yourself protect yourself Help better protect yourself against tax against identity tax th against tax Help identity against tax identity Help better yourself better theft protect yourself theft Help better protect yourself against tax protect identity theft against tax identity th against tax identity theft Help better protect yourself when you file when next you year file when you file when next year. you file next year. A big THANK YOU to all against taxwhen identity theft against tax identity theft Thank You when you file next year. you file year. against taxnext identity theft Whidbey Island Firefi ghters to our Whibey Island when you file next yea when you filewhen next year. when you file next year. Firefighters you file next year. ©2017 HRB Tax Group, Inc.
©2017 HRB Tax Group, Inc.
Lauren Powers
Lindsay Beard
Meagan Dorosrenko Mark ©2017 Boberg HRB Tax Group, Inc.
Michael Maletto
Micheal Myrum
Micheal Pelzer
Micheal Powell
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
5595 Harbor Ave. Freeland, WA 98249 Porterwhidbey.com 360-331-1500
Thank you to our brave fire fighters for Get your service! your taxes won. Get your taxes won. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner 7 Days a Week
ANACOR Ou
CaC 18205 HWY 525, Suite 1A 1706 360 HRBLOCK.COM co as stress-free as possible. NoWA. matter how big or small your FREELAND, 98249 HRBLOCK.COM ANACO issue — no matter who prepared your taxes — we're here to 360-331-3292 help with an expert on yourHRB side. Tax Group, Inc. OBTP#B13696 ©2016 H&R Block tax professionals, who go through extensive
training on this topic every year, can help make this situation
17-251
Call us or stop by today for a free quote!
and EMS Responders
may be able to file a fraudulent tax may return be able in your to and file name. a fraudulent forthieves your service bravery tax retur and some information, yourbasic taxpersonal refund. Withisaaidentity stolen Social Security Number DI Tax Identity Shield® H&R Block solution can may be able to file aby fraudulent tax return in yourthat name. 1331 SW BARLOW and basic information, identity thieves help. Be suresome to askShield® us about personal Tax Shield® when ST Tax Identity byIdentity H&R Block Tax is a Identity solution Shield® that can by H&R Block is a so you visit our tax office to file your 2016 taxes. Tax Identity Shield® by H&R Block is a solution that can S OAK HARBOR, WA 98277 may able to fileusa about fraudulent tax return in your name. AS 1331 SW BARLOW help. Bebe sure toabout ask Taxwhen Identity help. BeShield® sure toSW when ask us about Tax1331 Identit 1331 BARLOW help. Be sure to ask us Tax Identity Shield® 360-675-9588 OAK HARBOR, WA 98277 you visit our tax office to file your 2016 taxes. Make anvisit appointment today. you our tax office to file your 2016 you visit taxes. ourHARBOR, tax office to file your 2016 ta OAK WA 98277 OAK HAR Tax Identity Shield® by H&R Block is a solution that can 360-675-9588 360-675-9588 Make an appointment today. 1706 Commercial Ave 360 133H& DID YOU GET A LETTER FROM THE IRS OR help. sure to ask us about Tax Identity Shield® when Make anBe appointment today. Make an appointment today. tra ANACORTES, WA 98221 STATE REQUESTING AN AUDIT OR 1706 Commercial Ave 1706 COMMERCIAL Ave you visit our tax office to file your 2016 taxes. OAK HA as ASSESSING A PENALTY? ANACORTES, WA 98221 360-675-9588 iss ANACORTES, WA 98221 1706 Co hel 36 360-675-9588 Make an appointment today. 360-675-9588
36
OBTP#B13696 ©2016 HRB Tax Group, Inc. Our tax professionals are available year-round. For Food “To Go” Call 360-331-9945 800-HRBLOCK to schedulewon. your free in-person Get your taxes won. GetCall your taxes 1642 Main St • freelandcafe.net consultation today.
17-251
& EMS Volunteers
Tax Identity theft is a growing problem Tax Identity that could theftimpact is a growing problem t
Tax Identity theft is a growing problem that could impact your tax refund. With a stolen Social your Security tax refund. Number With a stolen Social Sec your tax refund. With a stolen Social Security Number and some basic personal information, identity thieves and some basic personal and some identity basic thieves personal information, id Tax Identity theft is a growing problem information, that could impact may be able to file a fraudulent in Number yourproblem name. Tax Identity istaxareturn growing that could impact your tax refund. With a theft stolen Social Security
Get your taxes won.
HR H OBTP#B13696 ©2016
Amended or original filed return fees are in addition to tax notice s
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Mike Reinstra
Nikki Breaux
Richard Hoover
Ron Rogers
Page Z7
Skye Levandowski
Scott Jackson
Holly Slothower
Growing a vibrant and strong business community Tim Fisher
Tim Schultz
TJ Kelsey
William Canty
STAY CONNECTED.
We salute our brave firefighter heroes. Thank you for your bravery and sacrifice. www.freeland-wa.org
your local news, in print and online.
WHIDBEY ISLAND CALL TODAY AND RECEIVE ONE (1) ADDITIONAL MONTH
FREE
PICK ONE:
Thomas Hoctor
Call (800) 684-8733 www.evergreentlc.com
“Thank You” isn’t enough to express the gratitude we have for our first responders. The stamina and mind set it takes to be a first responder! They see the worst of the worst. They are the best of the best and show up every day with a gentle hand and kind soul. They show up on scene, nurture and protect you to the best of their ability. Calm you when you are probably in the most stressful moment of your life. It takes a special personality to be a first responder. We appreciate you for choosing to do what you do day in and day out!
SUBSCRIPTION SPECIAL
News-Times WHIDBEY
OR
RecoRd
SOUTH WHIDBEY
12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES OR SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD
$49 per year and get ONE ADDITIONAL MONTH FREE! SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES FULL ACCESS TO ONLINE CONTENT AT
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM or WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM NAME:
PHONE:
ADDRESS: CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
CREDIT CARD Credit Card Number
Expiration Date
CHECK / MONEY ORDER
CVC Number
Signature: PO Box 1200 • Coupeville, WA 98239 • 360-675-6611 • 360-221-5300 • whidbeynewstimes.com • southwhidbeyrecord.com Please fill out and send to Circulation Division address shown or bring to our business offices in Oak Harbor, Coupeville or Freeland. On island non-mailed delivery only, within specific north/south delivery routes. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer good through 11-30-19. No Cash Value
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Page Z8
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
CENTRAL WHIDBEY FIRE & RESCUE Staff Fire Chief Ed Hartin Acting Lieutenant Bob Moore Acting Lieutenant Marvin Raavel Apparatus Operator Brent Stevens Apparatus Operator Chuck Hathaway Apparatus Operator Edward Pratt Captain Andy Griffin Captain Jerry Helm Chief Ed Hartin Commissioner Engle Commissioner Hutchinson Commissioner Messner Deputy Chief Charlie Smith EMT Jessica Shaffer FF Dalton Martin FF Frank Gesing FF Jim Colton FF Ken Lindenstein
Chief Ed Hartin
Capt. Jerry Helm
FF Kolton Kellison FF Mindy Paturzzio FF Ryan Barrett FF-EMT Alex Majestic FF-EMT Dillon Rogers FF-EMT Greg Behan FF-EMT Holly Slothower FF-EMT Jeff Rhodes FF-EMT Jesse Leyva FF-EMT Jim Huff FF-EMT Justin Burnett FF-EMT Keith Andrews FF-EMT Michael Maletto FF-EMT Ryan Smith FF-EMT-Mechanic Mike Matros FF-EMTChris Harris Lieutenant Derik Vrable Lieutenant James Meek Lieutenant Jen Porte
Capt. Andy Griffin
FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS HEROES
American Legion Post 141 South Whidbey Island, WA
PO Box 221, Langley, WA 98260 360-321-5696 post141@whidbey.com southwhidbeypost141.com
Commissioner Hutchinson
Lt. James Meek
Lt. Derik Vrable
Chris Harris
Mike Matros
Ryan Smith
Michael Maletto
Keith Andrews
Justin Burnett
Jim Huff
Jesse Leyva
Jeff Rhodes
Holly Slothower
Greg Behan
Dillon Rogers
Alex Majestic
Ryan Barrett
Mindy Paturzzio
Kolton Kellison
Ken Lindenstein
Jim Colton
Frank Gesing
Dalton Martin
Jessica Shaffer
Commissioner Engle
THANK YOU WHIDBEY ISLAND
Since our charter in 1936, our American Legion Post has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of our Armed Forces. Today, we continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country. Joining our Post enables you to continue serving your God, Country and Community. Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families embodied in our preamble.
Lt. Jen Porte
Commissioner Messner
find us on
facebook! Island Disposal would like to give our sincerest thanks to all first responders and their families, for their personal sacrifice of their time away from their loved ones in order to keep the Island safe. We appreciate you!
19832 ST RT 20/P.O. Box 990 Coupeville WA 98239 (360) 678-5701/321-1331 Fax (360) 678-3279 A Waste Connections Company
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Page Z9
CENTRAL WHIDBEY FIRE & RESCUE
Chris Harris
Derik Vrable
James Meek
Jen Porte
SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS Adam Conley
AJ Agnew
Alex McMahon
Anne Collins
Billy Piepenbrink
Brent Davison
Brian Boyd
Carlee Wilkie
Carrie Allen
Chris Blasko
Christina Turnbull
Chuck Baker
Commissioner Adrienne Hawley
Commissioner Frank Mestemacher
Commissioner Kenon Simmons
Dennis Batey
Eldon Baker
Chief H.L. Rusty Palmer
Heidi Beck
Hershel Rostov
Jake Newling
Jeff Cravy
Jeff Simmons
Jesse Jennings
Adam Conley AJ Agnew Alex McMahon Anne Collins Billy Piepenbrink Brent Davison Brian Boyd Carlee Wilkie Carrie Allen Chris Blasko ChristinaTurnbullAgnew Chuck Baker Commissioner Adrienne Hawley Commissioner Frank Mestemacher Commissioner Kenon Simmons Dennis Batey Eldon Baker
H.L. Rusty Palmer_Fire Chief Heidi Beck Hershel Rostov Jake Newling Jeff Cravy Jeff Simmons Jesse Jennings Jim Towers John LeDrew Jon Beck_Deputy Chief Jon Gabelein JudithCanfield Kathy Eyth Kelly McDonald_Admin Ken Lindenstein_ Maintenance Ken Starkweather Kiel Rasp Leah Kalahiki Liz Ratterman
Marc Swenson Mari StAmand Melissa Simmons Michael O’Brien_ Maintenance Mike Cotton_Deputy Chief Naomi Blair Paul Shimada Rebekah Pomeroy Rene Kinser Robert Husom Sarah Pedersen_Admin Sean McDougald Terry Welch Tom Gideon Tom Peterson Tony McNair Vicki Lange_Admin Wendy Moffatt_Deputy Chief
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & BRAVERY
1690 Layton Rd, Freeland, WA 98249 (360) 331-5211 freelandfamilydental@gmail.com www.freelandfamilydental.com
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
www.wiws.org
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Page Z10
Jim Towers
John LeDrew
Jon Beck, Deputy Chief
Jon Gabelein
Judith Canfield
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Kathy Eyth
Kelly McDonald, Admin
Ken Lindenstein, Maintenance
Ken Starkweather
Kiel Rasp
Leah Kalahiki
Marc Swenson
Mari St. Amand
Melissa Simmons
Michael O’Brien, Maintenance
Mike Cotton, Deputy Chief
Naomi Blair
Paul Shimada
Rebekah Pomeroy
Rene Kinser
Robert Husom
Sarah Pedersen, Admin
Sean McDougald
Terry Welch
Tom Gideon
Tom Peterson
Tony McNair
Vicki Lange, Admin
Wendy Moffatt, Deputy Chief
Liz Ratterman
Thank you for keeping us safe Whidbey Firefighters & EMS! (360) 341-4060
CLINTON 11038 State Route 525 360-341-3313 TIRES • WHEELS • BATTERIES • BRAKES • ALIGNMENTS
Create a fire safety plan for your family Fire safety protocol gives people the ability to get out of a building promptly and safely in the event of a fire. Fires are unpredictable and can cause devastating loss of life and property. The U.S. Fire Administration states that, in 2017, there were 1,319,500 reported fires that resulted in 3,400 deaths and 14,670 injuries in the United States. Travelers Insurance company advises people to develop a comprehensive fire safety plan, which can help save lives when used in concert with functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. However, the National Fire Protection Association says only about one-quarter of households actually have developed and practiced a fire-escape plan or have taken measures to prevent fires around their homes. Here are some ways to stay safe. • Repair or replace malfunctioning kitchen appliances promptly. Keep them clean and always use them according to manufacturer’s instructions. • Do not leave a room while cooking. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that most kitchen fires, which can ignite in as little as one minute, start after someone left the room. • Keep a fully charged and functioning fire extinguisher on the premises, preferably one on each floor of a home or business. • Do not overload power strips with plugs, and have a licensed electrician inspect and suggest updates to antiquated wiring systems. • Teach children about the dangers of playing with fire. Keep matches and lighters away from children. • Pull together all members of an office or household to come up with an effective evacuation plan.Walk through the building and inspect all possible escape routes. Mark two ways out of each room. If a window exit is recommended, have a functioning ladder that can provide safe egress. • Choose an outside meeting place that is far away from the residence or building, but close enough that it can be easily reached by all. • Set up a buddy system so that certain members of the family or company will be responsible for helping elderly, young or disabled people exit the premises. • Practice identifying escape routes, and institute regular evacuation plans so that everyone can function quickly should a fire occur. Fires can spread quickly and easily claim lives. By addressing fire risks and implementing safety plans, people can save lives.
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
Page Z11
What you should know about Smoke Alarms Save Lives
The most important things you need to know are smoke alarms save lives and they should be in every home. Follow these important smoke alarm safety measures: • Make sure your smoke alarms are working. This means testing smoke alarms monthly, replacing batteries once a year or when a low-battery alarm chirps and performing other maintenance as NFPA and your smoke alarm manufacturers recommend. And of course, a smoke alarm disabled because of nuisance alarms provides no protection at all. • It is important to have not just one smoke alarm but smoke alarms in every location required by NFPA standards. (On each level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom.) Tens of millions of U.S. homes are estimated to have smoke alarms but not enough smoke alarms to meet the standards and protect their homes. • Interconnect your smoke alarms so that a fire detected by any smoke alarm will sound an alarm at every location where a smoke alarm is installed. Interconnection can be done using hard-wiring or wireless broadcast technology. Interconnected smoke alarms provide early warning of fires that are still far away or are located on the other side of a door or wall that may block sound. • Develop and practice an escape plan so that everyone in the home knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds. That includes planning a second way out from every room in your home. Every household that develops and practices an escape plan with two ways out from every location improves its time to escape in every type of fire.
There Are Different Types of Smoke Alarm Technologies—Ionization and Photoelectric
The two most commonly recognized smoke detection technologies are ionization smoke detection and photoelectric smoke detection. Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”). For each type of smoke alarm, the advantage it provides may be critical to life safety in some fire situations. Home fatal fires, day or night, include a large number of smoldering fires and a large number of flaming fires. You can not predict the type of fire you may have in your home or when it will occur. Any smoke alarm technology, to be acceptable, must perform acceptably for both types of fires in order to provide early warning of fire at all times of the day or night and whether you are asleep or awake.
SPONSORED BY
The best evidence has always indicated that either type of smoke alarm will provide sufficient time for escape for most people for most fires of either smoldering or flaming type. However, research is ongoing, and standards are living documents. If at any time, research points to a different conclusion, then that will lead to proposals for changes in the NFPA standard or the closely related Underwriters Laboratories standard for testing and approving smoke alarms. Both organizations currently have task groups looking at smoke alarm performance in the current home environment.
For Best Protection Use Both Types of Smoke Alarm Technologies
For best protection, it is recommended both (ionization and photoelectric) technologies be in homes. In addition to individual ionization and photoelectric alarms, combination alarms that include both technologies in a single device are available.
Nuisance Alarms Can Be Minimized
Ionization type smoke alarms are more susceptible to nuisance alarms due to cooking, the leading cause of nuisance alarms, but both types have some susceptibility to nuisance alarms from cooking fumes, and both have susceptibility to nuisance alarms from the steam from a hot shower. In the past decade or so, a number of steps have been taken to reduce the likelihood of nuisance alarms, including hush features and refinements to installation rules that include guidance on safe distances from nuisance sources.
TV Demonstrations of Smoke Alarm Performance Can Be Misleading
Informal demonstrations, such as ones done for TV news shows, of smoke alarm performance can seriously mislead the viewer and do not provide a sound basis to assess performance. These demonstration tests are not performed in a controlled or scientific way that compares the time of smoke alarm operation to the time when occupants would be incapacitated. The selected fire scenarios may not be representative of real fatal home fires. Passing or failing a “test” of this sort may have nothing to do with performing well or badly in the wide range of real fires. A valid engineering analysis must select fires that are realistic and analyze them accordingly. In an informal demonstration, the eye reacts to conditions that look dangerous, mostly visible smoke and visible flame. However, most people are killed by invisible gases, which do not necessarily spread at the same rate as smoke or flame. A valid engineering analysis must measure conditions caused by fires and assess them according to their real danger. For more information go to www.nfpa.org/smokealarms
Oak Harbor Fire Department
North Whidbey Fire & Rescue
www.oakharbor.org Follow us at Facebook.com/OHFire
www.nwfr.org Follow us at Facebook.com/northwhidbeyfire
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Page Z12
Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times
OCTOBER IS
FIRE PREVENTION MONTH
FIRE FIRE PREVENTION PREVENTION MONTH MONTH FIRE FIRE PREVENTION PREVENTION MONTH MONTH FIRE FIRE PREVENTION PREVENTION MONTH MONTH
page sponsored This page This is sponsored by: FIREby: DISTRICT #7 This page sponsored by: This page is sponsored by: FIRE DISTRICT #7 South Whidbey Fire/EMS
JOIN US! South Whidbey Fire/EMS JOIN US! JOIN US! VolunteerJOIN to be aaFirefighter! US! Volunteer to be Firefighter! Volunteer to be a Firefighter! Volunteer to be a Firefighter!
Every Second Counts, Know 2 Ways Out If your clothes catch fire . . .
It’s very important that you take precautions when it comes to fire.Always practice these safety tips: It’sNever veryplay important thatoryou take precautions when with matches lighters it Do comes to fire.Always these safety tips: not handle gasoline or practice other liquids that burn
Safety Fire
Safety Fire
Never playaround with matches lightersand open fires Be careful stoves,or heaters handle gasoline or other liquids that burn Do not cook unless an adult is present carefulisaround heaters open fires IfBesmoke around,stoves, stay low to theand ground Do not cookif unless an adult is present REMEMBER, something catches on fire, get help. Call 9-1-1 Kids and adults should work together to form an emergency If smoke is around, stay low to the ground plan, including an escape route. Don’t forget to practice the plan. REMEMBER, if something catches on fire, get help. Call 9-1-1 Kids and adults should work together to form an emergency plan, including an escape route. Don’t forget to practice the plan.
If your clothes catch fire . . . STOP where you are. DROP to the ground STOP where you are. ROLL over and over until the DROP to the ground flames are out, covering your ROLL over and over until the face and mouth with your hands flames are out, covering your face and mouth with your hands