Summer is almost here. Many schools have already released students for the summer break. Make sure your family knows that fire does not take a summer break.
E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety and the United States Fire Administration offer these fire safety tips to remind children and their caregivers ways to have a fire safe summer.
- Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with your children.
- Have a fire escape plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. Talk about who will help each child get out safely.
- Children should know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm and there is no adult around. Help them practice going to an outside meeting place.
- Teach children to never go back inside a building that is on fire.
- Keep smoking materials locked up in a high place and out of children’s reach.
- Never play with lighters or matches when you are with your children.
- Never allow your child to pick up or bring you a lighter, matches or cigarettes.
- Keep children at least 3 feet away from anything that can get hot.
This summer, stop by any of the five Maranda Park Parties. The E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety team will have their mobile smoke demonstration trailer and Jake the Fire Safety Dog on site to teach kids and families how to develop and practice their home fire escape plan, how to stop smoke from entering a room and provide information on how to obtain free smoke or carbon monoxide alarms to those who need them.
Here is the 2018 Maranda Park Party lineup close to Where You Live:
- June 21: Lamar Park | Wyoming
- June 28: Smith Ryerson Park | Muskegon
- July 12: Kollen Park | Holland
- July 19: East Kentwood High School | Kentwood
- July 26: Bronson Park | Kalamazoo
Park Parties run from noon-2pm at the dates listed above. Free lunch will be served to anyone 18 and under starting at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last.
White Pigeon firefighters (left) and Michigan State Firemen’s Association Executive Board (red jackets)
LAPEER, Mich. – Saturday May 19th, four members from the White Pigeon Fire Department in St. Joseph County were presented the 2018 Heroes Award by the Michigan State Firemen’s Association at the 143rd Annual Conference dinner and banquet in Lapeer.
Fire Chief Troy Andrews (with 19 years of service), Lieutenant Jeff Wagaman (with 14 years of service), Firefighter Thomas Law (with 14 years of service), and Fire Cadet Merlin Zehr (with 1 year of service) were recognized for their heroic efforts from a rescue which occurred on January 27, 2018, when a 54-year old man fell through thin ice while fishing. Upon arrival, White Pigeon firefighters noticed the fisherman was in frigid water holding on to the edge of the ice shelf.
White Pigeon firefighters worked together as a team following the Incident Command System and utilizing their frequent training to execute this rescue. Chief Andrews donned the department’s ice and cold water rescue suit, climbed into the water and rescued the hypothermic fisherman.
“These men have it in their heart to serve their community,” said Assistant Chief Tyler Royce, who nominated his brother firefighters for the Heroes Award. “They dedicate countless hours of their own time preparing our department to respond to and mitigate the next emergency,” said Royce.
White Pigeon Fire is a WOTV 4 Women Operation Save A Life department. Firefighters provide free smoke alarms and community risk reduction messaging to residents in need.
On March 27th, 2018 Lt. Michael McLeieer from the Olivet Fire Department in Eaton County, President and Founder of the non-profit public charity E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. and the only member from the fire service, received the 2018 Professional Excellence Award from The 100 Club of Greater Lansing at their annual meeting held at the Royal Scot banquet facility in Lansing.
This award is in recognition of leading a team of public safety professionals and other community advocates who collectively identify leading risks causing home fires, reducing fire fatalites and eliminating risky behavor which often results in injury or death. Over the past 4 years, West Michigan has seen a 62% reduction in home fire deaths across a 14-county region thanks to the great work by our firefighters, police officers, American Red Cross Disaster Responders, businesses and other community advocates.
McLeieer is the 1st Vice President of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association and is the Fire and Life Safety Program Coordinator for WOTV 4 Women and WLNS 6 News Safety For You providing free smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and fire safety information to West Michigan fire departments in order to educate families on ways to stay safe.
Firefighter Michael McLeieer, President and Founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. spoke with Ken Lanphear this morning on WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 about outdoor burning risks.
Each year wildfire burns millions of acres of land throughout the United States. Here are some safety tips when conducting outdoor burning:
- Create a safety zone of up to 100 feet around your home.
- Remove pine needles and dry leaves from around your home.
- Keep woodpiles at least 30 feet from your home.
- Before conducting open burning, check with your local fire department to determine if a burn permit is required in your community.
- People conducting illegal burning, or who allow a fire to get out of control, may be held liable for the costs of extinguishing the fire in addition to fines or imprisonment.
- Weather and air quality can change rapidly, especially in the spring when humidity levels are low. Avoid burning during high wind and extremely dry conditions.
- Be prepared to extinguish the fire if the wind picks up or the weather changes. Use common sense.
- Have fire control tools handy – this includes a water supply, fire extinguisher, shovels and rakes.
- Avoid burning tires and trash.
- A responsible adult should always be present during outdoor open burning until the fire is extinguished.
- Children and pets should be kept a safe distance away.
- Use paper and kindling to start the fire and add progressively larger pieces of wood.
- Never use gasoline, kerosene and any other flammable liquid to start a fire because the risk of personal injury is high.
- Burn one small pile of material at a time and slowly add to it. This helps keep the fire from getting out of control.
- Select a burn location away from any utility lines and buildings.
- If a fire gets out of control, call 911 immediately to request the fire department.
The Morning Show with Ken Lanphear talks with Firefighter Michael McLeieer of E.S.C.A.P.E. and the Michigan State Firemen’s Association about a new statewide campaign that will prevent home fires, connect families with resources and keep Michiganders S.A.F.E.! If you have questions about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms or fire safety, please call 1-844-978-4400 or email [email protected]!
