Happy Thursday! As we continue through Fire Prevention Week, we want to build upon what we discussed yesterday about cooking accidents and talk about the risk of kitchen fires.
Range and cooktop fires contribute to 44% of home fires in the US. As such, these fires are a tremendous risk which could happen to anyone, anytime. Here are some tips to avoid kitchen fires:
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Ranges or cooktops cause 62% of home fires according to the National Fire Protection Association. Learn how to stay safe with these tips.
Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
Always unplug countertop alliances when not in use.
Make sure you have, and test, GFCI receptacles in your kitchen to prevent shock and electrocution.
Double-check that everything is off when you finish cooking.
Prevent fires by keeping your oven and stovetop clean of grease and dust.
Never leave the kitchen while cooking.
Never cook while sleepy, drinking alcohol, or taking medication that makes you drowsy.
Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking.
Never use a cooking stove to heat your home.
Today for fire prevention week, we are going to talk about cooking safety!
Every hour, 14 children are injured from fires or burns. Contributing to those incidents are cooking accidents. Here are some tips to avoid cooking-related accidents:
Teach your children to stay a safe distance from hot stoves and
appliances.
Avoid carrying or holding a child while cooking on the stove.
Kids love to reach so use the back burner of your stove. Turn pot
handles away from the edge.
Remind yourself to check on food frequently by using a timer, especially
when baking or simmering.
Check to make sure appliance cords are coiled and away from counter
edges. Take an extra second to make sure hot foods are away from the
edge of your counters as well.
Stay close when you are using a grill or turkey fryer.
Wear short, close-fitting or tightly-rolled sleeves when cooking.
Teach your kids how to cook safely.
Getchell Fire has aggressively been pursuing grant funding for a multitude of different needs to benefit our fire district and community. We recently were notified by our partners at the Stillaguamish Tribe that they would graciously award us with a $168,546.00 grant to assist us with our strategy in replacing antiquated equipment and vehicles.
Today, we were invited to meet with the Tribal Council for a grant reception ceremony. We are so grateful for the ongoing support of the Stillaguamish Tribal Community.
As we wrap up this week of recognition, we want to recognize our district’s Administrative Assistant, Deidre Korte for 15 years of unending service to our community.
Deidre handles all the vast administrative functions of the fire district to include fiscal management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, commissioner meeting minutes recording, audits, employee onboarding, and much, much more.
Most fire districts have an entire staff of many handling all the same functions that Deidre handles on her own. Even though we are a relatively small entity, there is no differentiation in how the state auditors look at small fire districts verses big agencies. We are held to the very same standards as even large cities when it comes to accounting standards.
Deidre is the glue that holds us together and we are SO appreciative of her.
As we continue through our week of recognition, we’d like to showcase Firefighter/EMT Gavin Armstrong as our 2023 Most Improved Firefighter. Gavin completed the first North Snohomish Joint Training Group recruit academy at the end of 2022 and started with us at the beginning of 2023.
In his time Gavin has completed his EMT, pump operators class and is very active in our Wildland program.
Gavin has deployed on several wildfires this last year and is working towards his NWCG Firefighter 1 this season. Gavin most recently deployed to the Lyman Fire in Skagit County last month.
Gavin has completed over 200 hours of training in 2023 and always makes himself available to help.
Gavin represents the next generation of firefighters impeccably and we are very proud of his efforts.
To continue with the recognition of our award recipients, this morning, we would like to recognize Captain Dennis Wojciechowicz for achieving Officer of the year.
Capt. Wojciechowicz started with GFD in 2021. Officers of the Fire district are assigned additional program management responsibilities aside from their normal operational shift duties.
Dennis is responsible for leading our inventory/asset management and quartermaster programs. As the quartermaster, Captain Wojciechowicz ensures that all of our staff are outfitted with the uniforms, personal protective equipment, and tools necessary to effectively and safely conduct the life saving work that is expected of us. In addition, Dennis responds throughout the region on major emergencies as a member of an incident management team (IMT) managing emergency communications for first responders.
Dennis is known for stepping up and assisting when needed. It is not an unusual occurrence to see Dennis come in on a day off to drive the tender or brush engine to a fire. He is a valued member of the team and sincerely appreciate his dedication to leading our newer crews and his attention to detail.
We appreciate all that Captain Wojciechowicz does for our organization through his unending efforts.
Last Sunday evening, we had the opportunity to come together and celebrate a successful 2023 through our annual awards banquet. The awards banquet is a time where members of the Getchell Fire Department are recognized for their individual contributions and the overall achievements of the collective team that benefits the citizens of the fire district.
Over the course of the next week, we will be taking a a few moments each day to showcase each of this year’s award recipients.
To start things off, we would like to recognize Firefighter/EMT Samantha DeVoir for receiving Firefighter of the year. FF DeVoir started with GFD in 2021. In addition to her normal Firefighter/EMT duties, Samantha is our lead EMS Training Instructor and has worked hard to establish and develop our new Agency Health and Wellness program. She has worked as our Health and Wellness Coordinator by putting together resources to assist our team with building and maintaining an all-encompassing healthy lifestyle both inside and outside the fire station. She plans group workouts, develops support resources, and even provides healthy meal options to the entire membership.
We appreciate all that FF DeVoir does for our organization through her commitment to EMS education and the health and wellness of our team. Thank you Sam, we appreciate you!
Yesterday, Getchell firefighters responded to a report of an uncontrolled burn pile. Crews arrived to find the previously burned debris had rekindled and ignited surrounding brush when it warmed up yesterday afternoon. The fire was quickly controlled and extinguished.
We tend to start seeing a higher incidence of brush fires this time of year when we begin to experience more nice sunny days. It just doesn’t take much to dry out that old dead grass and brush from over the winter. While it is still only March, it’s important to ensure that your burn piles and recreational fires are COMPLETELY out.
Today at around 12:57pm, Getchell Firefighters responded to a report of a large unknown type of fire in the area of 11600 block of 81st Ave NE in the northwest corner of the fire district. While enroute, additional information came into the 911 indicating that there were multiple explosions coming from vehicles close to a house.
Crews arrived to find a small van RV and a large class-a motor home on fire next to a house. The house and a Jeep were starting to catch on fire as crews arrived. Crews were able to act quickly and keep damage to the home to minimum. Crews then focused on extinguishing the two RVs.
Thankfully, all occupants and pets are accounted for. One occupant suffered injuries from an explosion of one of the RVs and was evaluated and treated onscene by paramedics.
Crews are remaining at the scene to monitor the fire. The cause and origin of the fire is being investigated by the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office.
In honor of the WSP Trooper killed in the line of duty this morning in North Snohomish County. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and all of those who serve in law enforcement.
