October is Fire Prevention Month but it’s important your family is prepared and stays safe all year long! The Operation Save a Life Installation Program has created a list of area smoke alarm and/or carbon monoxide alarm installation programs across West Michigan. Check it out below!
Allegan County:
- Dorr Township Fire Department – 616-681-9874
- Fennville Area Fire Department – 269-561-2148
- Ganges Township Fire Department – 269-227-3806
- Graafschap Fire and Rescue – 616-396-4060
- Salem Township Fire – 616-292-7789
- Saugatuck Township Fire District – 269-857-3000
- Wayland Fire Department – 269-779-2999
Barry:
- Yankee Springs Fire Department – 269-779-2999
Branch:
- Bronson Fire Department – 517-369-6475 – [email protected]
- Coldwater Fire Department – 517-278-4177
Calhoun:
- Battle Creek Fire Department – 269-966-3519
- Marengo Township Fire Department – 269-781-8422 – [email protected]
Eaton:
- Bellevue Community Fire Department – 517-719-0861 – [email protected]
- Olivet Fire Department – 269-492-3340 – [email protected]
Kalamazoo:
- American Red Cross – Raul Galvan – 269-762-1935
- Kalamazoo Township Fire Department – 269-888-2171 – [email protected]
- Portage Department of Public Safety – Fire Division – 269-329-4487
Kent:
- American Red Cross – Nikki Salladay – 269-303-2135 or 616-456-8661
- Cutlerville Fire Department – 616-455-7670
- Dutton Fire Department – 616-541-0119
- Grand Rapids Fire Department – 616-456-3966
- Kent City Fire Department – 616-678-4330 – [email protected]
- Kentwood Fire Department – 616-554-0800
- Walker Fire Department – 616-791-6840
- Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan (must live in Grand Rapids, Kentwood, or Wyoming and have a resident child 14 years of age or younger. Both tenants and owners are eligible) – 616-241-3300 or email [email protected].
Montcalm:
- Home Township Fire Department (Edmore) – 616-902-3923
Muskegon:
- Blue Lake Township Fire Department – 231-288-9220
- Casnovia Township Fire Department – 231-834-7066
- Dalton Township Fire Department – 231-766-3277
- Egelston Fire Department – 231-788-2254
- Fruitport Township Fire Department – 231-773-9312
- Holton Township Fire Department – 231-343-6861
- Montague Fire District Authority – 231-893-3311
- Moorland Township Fire Department – 231-769-9402
- Muskegon Charter Township Fire Department – 231-773-4316
- Muskegon Heights Fire Department – 231-733-8893
- Muskegon City Fire Department – 231-724-6795
- North Muskegon Fire Department – 231-744-1766
- Norton Shores Fire Department – 231-799-6809
- Ravenna Fire Department – 231-638-1142
- White Lake Fire Authority – 231-893-6503
Newaygo:
- Newaygo Fire Department – 231-519-0494 – [email protected]
Oceana:
- Walkerville Area Fire & Rescue – 231-742-1656 – [email protected]
Ottawa:
- Allendale Fire Department – 616-895-6295, ext. 30
- Crockery Township Fire Department – 616-837-6700 (fire station) or 616-837-6868 (township hall)
- Grand Haven Department of Public Safety – 616-842-3460 – [email protected]
- Spring Lake Fire Department – 616-215-1590
St. Joseph:
- White Pigeon Township Fire Department – 269-483-9414
Van Buren:
- Bangor Community Fire Department – 269-427-8980 – [email protected]
For more information on fire safety or to find a smoke alarm installation program near your community, call toll free 1-844-978-4400 or email [email protected].
Listen to the interview on WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 on Friday 09/06/2019 at 7:50 am
When you look at the number of disasters in the U.S., chances are every area will deal with some kind of emergency in the next decade. And between school, sports and social lives, imagine if you are at work or at home when a disaster strikes. Will your child know what to do and where to go to stay safe when you are not around?
National Preparedness Month, is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. The 2019 theme is “Prepared, Not Scared.”
Having a conversation now with everyone in your family about what to do, where to meet and what to place in an emergency preparedness kit is a great way to feel Prepared, Not Scared.
Here is a list of items to consider adding to your emergency preparedness kit:
- Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).
- Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Radio: Battery-powered or hand-crank (NOAA Weather Radio also, if possible).
- Medications: (7-day supply) and medical items
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra Cash: ATM’s may not work during an extended power outage or communications disruption.
- Emergency blanket
- Map(s) of the area
- First Aid Kit: Other items to have available include rain gear, towels, work gloves, scissors and duct tape
Here are some additional items to consider for all family members:
- Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, etc.)
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula., baby food and diapers)
- Games and activities for children
- Pet supplies (collar, lease, ID, food, carrier, bowl) Note: Not all shelters or hotel/motels accept pets. Make a plan which includes what to do with your pet(s) should immediate evacuation be needed.
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
- Manual can opener
“Emergencies such as severe weather, flooding, fire, gas leaks and extended power outages happen when we least expect them and emergency preparedness should be a top priority for every Michigander”, according to Firefighter Michael McLeieer, President of E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety.
Each week of National Preparedness Month 2019, the Ready Campaign will emphasize a unique aspect of preparedness:
- September 1 – 7: Save Early for Disaster Costs
- September 8 – 14: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
- September 15 – 21: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
- September 22 – 30: Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness
For more information about National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.gov. Take the time now to be Prepared, Not Scared Where You Live!
Fireworks during the Fourth of July are as American as apple-pie, but did you know that 2 out of 5 fires reported on that day are started by fireworks, more than for any other cause? Every Independence Day holiday, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks which include devastating burns, injuries to the eyes, hands and face, fires and even death.
According to the latest national data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 54% of those injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated injuries during 2017.
In Michigan, consumer fireworks became legal January 1, 2012, and must meet CPSC standards. They will only be sold to people 18 years of age or older. Low impact fireworks (ground-based items such as sparklers, toy snakes, snaps, and poppers) are legal for sale and use. In December, 2018, new measures were signed into law (House Bill 5939) that reduce the number of days fireworks can be used, give local government more power to regulate the devices and tighten consumer sales and use.
“The best way to stay safe from fireworks is to not use them. Instead, attend a public fireworks display put on by trained experts,” said Firefighter Michael McLeieer, President of the non-profit fire safety charity E.S.C.A.P.E. “Fireworks are dangerous to people and pets. Using them puts you and your property at risk,” according to McLeieer.
You can enjoy your holiday and the fireworks by following a few simple safety tips:
Proceed with caution!
- Be safe. If you want to see fireworks, go to a public show put on by the professionals. To find a fireworks display near you, check out the listings on woodtv.com.
- Parents and caregivers should always closely supervise children at events where fireworks are used.
- Hand-held sparklers burn at more than 1,200 °F and cause 3rd degree burns in seconds. As a comparison, wood ignites at 356 F.
- If you decide to use sparklers, place discarded sparkler wires in a metal bucket filled with water.
- Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter (25%) of emergency room fireworks injuries.
- After the fireworks display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over since they may still be active.
- Adults should not use alcohol with fireworks.
- Follow the local ordinance and state law regarding the use of consumer fireworks.
- Leave pets at home and keep them inside during fireworks displays.
To learn more about the new state law and your local ordinance pertaining to fireworks, click here.
E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety urges Michiganders to use common sense, be aware of your surroundings and follow safety rules this Fourth of July during holiday celebrations Where You Live!