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LANDRUM, SC, JULY 9, 2010…An
estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by
home
fires, and new data from the
National Fire Protection Association shows that
nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by
the homeowners’ pets. Glassy Mountain Fire Department is
joining the
National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC),
ADT
Security Services and the
American Kennel Club®
(AKC) for the 3rd Annual National Pet Fire Safety Day
on July
15 to spread awareness about how to prevent your
pet from starting a home fire and keep your pet safe in the
event of an emergency.
“People should equip their
homes with the latest in fire safety-technology and be vigilant
about practicing escape procedures for all family members,
including our furry, four-legged friends,” said Bryan G Riebe,
Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire Department. “We also encourage pet
owners to use a window cling, posted near the front of the home,
to help our firefighters quickly identify the accurate number of
pets inside so they can be rescued once the humans are safe.”
“Not many pet owners realize
that their pet can actually be the cause of a devastating fire,”
said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Simple
preventative measures, such as
flameless candles and removing stove knobs when
leaving the house, can mean the difference between life and
death for your four-legged friends.”
Peterson added, “Chris and Kay
Wardlow of Oklahoma know that all too well. Their curious dog
Lucy was home alone and spied a cake on the
stove
top. As Lucy tried to get a taste, her paw
accidentally hit the stove knob and turned on the
gas
burner that was under the cake pan. Within
minutes, the house was filled with smoke, triggering the
Wardlow’s ADT monitored
smoke detector.
Firefighters were called to the scene and Lucy was rescued.”
“Planning for unexpected
emergencies like home fires and taking precautions are an
integral part of responsible pet ownership,” Riebe said. “The
following tips will help you prevent your pet from starting a
fire and keep your pet safe.”
-
Extinguish open flames
- Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking
appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace.
Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame
and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before
leaving your home.
-
Remove stove knobs
- Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers
before leaving the house – a stove or cook top is the number
one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
-
Invest in flameless candles
– These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open
flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a
candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their
tails turn over lit candles.
-
Beware of water bowls on
wooden decks – Do not leave a glass water
bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun’s rays
when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat
up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless
steel or ceramic bowls instead.
-
Pet proof the home
- Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets
might start fires inadvertently, such as loose wires and
other potential hazards.
Keep Your Pets Safe
-
Keep pets near entrances
when away from home – When leaving pets
home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where
firefighters can easily find them.
-
Secure young pets
- Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away
from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from
home, such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure
areas.
-
Practice escape routes with
pets – Keep collars and leashes at the
ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or
firefighters need to rescue your pet.
-
Consider monitored smoke
detection services – As an added layer of
protection beyond battery-operated
smoke alarms,
smoke detectors connected to a monitoring
center help save pets who can’t escape when left home
alone.
The National Volunteer
Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit
membership association representing the interests of the
volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. Learn more at
www.nvfc.org.
ADT Security Services
is the world’s largest electronic security
company serving over six million residential, commercial and
government customers. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, ADT
employs 24,000 people at over 240 locations in the U.S. and
Canada.
More information is available at
www.adt.com.
The American Kennel
Club, founded in 1884, is a
not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry
of purebred dogs
in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the
United States. For more information, visit
www.akc.org.
MAY 10, 2010,
LANDRUM, SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department announced that the
American College of Emergency Physicians has declared the week
of May 16 to 22 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week to
recognize the 24/7 commitment to care that emergency medical
personnel make to their communities. The theme for this year’s
recognition is: “The EMS: Anytime, Anywhere, We’ll Be There.”
“EMS Week
provides us a unique opportunity for us to tell our community
what EMS is all about and who performs it in their own back
yard,” said Bryan G Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire
Department (GMFD). “In honor of the dedicated professionals who
provide care and hope for the ill and injured, I say “Thank You”
for the service they contribute to our communities. Their job
is not an easy task, daily practicing emergency medicine in a
complicated world. Most folks take these services for granted
and have no idea how committed these men and women are to
training and maintaining their skill levels. They are dedicated
to serve the needs of others -- a true testament to their
selfless devotion. Each year at this time, I remember the
tragic loss of my EMS partner, Greenville County Paramedic Rick
Sorrells, during an emergency response May 22, 1990. I ask our
communities to give these devoted public servants our
well-deserved thanks.”
“Nearly
two-thirds of our calls at Glassy Mountain Fire Department are
related to rescue and emergency medical services so the GMFD
EMTs/First Responders provide an important service to our
community,”
Riebe continued.
“These men and women have undergone extensive training, received
appropriate certifications and they are committed to saving
lives. We are very proud of the GMFD EMT/First Responder team
who are generally first to a scene, trained to assess a
situation and provide urgent emergency medical care prior to the
arrival of the Greenville County EMS.
“According to the
National Association for Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT),
in the US, fire department-based services employ 29 percent of
EMS/First Responder members,” Riebe said. “Twenty percent of
the EMS workers in the US are volunteers with 57 percent working
full-time and 15 percent part-time.
“As our
community continues to grow, we need more volunteer EMS/First
Responder providers and firefighters to keep our community
safe,” Chief Riebe added. “If you want to experience great
challenges and serve your community, then we want you. For more
information on how to become part of the GMFD team, contact me
at 864-895-4306 or go to our website at
www.gmfd.net.”
MAY 7, 2010, LANDRUM, SC…The
Cliffs residents, sponsors of the Annual Glassy Mountain Fire
Department Rummage and Bake Sale, announced that more than
$20,000 was raised on behalf of the Glassy Mountain Fire
Department during the 8th Annual Sale held on May 1,
2010.
“We are very gratified by the
community’s support once again by turning out for this important
fundraising event for us,” said Bryan G. Riebe, Chief, Glassy
Mountain Fire Service Area. “These new funds will provide us
with much needed resources that will help us better serve our
entire community. Tax dollars can only take us so far and the
ongoing economic times continue to impact the fire department
through significantly increased costs of utilities, fuel,
maintenance, etc.”
Chief Riebe added, “Many folks
don’t realize how important fundraising for the fire department
is to the District. We get our funding from three sources: 1)
tax assessments, 2) grants and 3) fundraising. Since we began
our fundraising activities, we’ve been able to upgrade our fire
support services for the District including upgrading our fire
stations and equipment to allow us to provide better public
safety for our community.
“We are particularly grateful
for the ongoing support of the Cliffs at Glassy and Cliffs
Valley folks who make this Rummage and Bake Sale happen through
their donated items but also for their time to sort, organize
and run the sale. In addition, they make the many delicious
home-baked goods that are sold--this year adding an additional
$690 plus for the fundraiser.
“In addition to funding, we’re
always in need of volunteer firefighters and first responders
especially as our community continues to grow,” Chief Riebe
said. “In addition, we welcome members of our community to
provide support for the District other than firefighting. If
you can paint, do electrical or mechanical work, clean, support
the crews during an emergency, please give us a call. For more
information on how to become part of our teams, contact me at
864-895-4306 or go to our website at www.gmfd.net.”
MARCH 23, 2010, LANDRUM,
SC….The 2010 Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area Board of
Commissioners includes newly elected members Dennis Geagan and
Gerry Rhoads from Landrum and Dave Hoffman and Bill Hammack from
Travelers Rest. The new
officers for 2010 are David Orr, Chairman, Paul Ramsey, Vice
Chairman, Dennis Geagan, Secretary and Dave Hoffman, Treasurer.
New members of the Glassy
Mountain Fire Service Area Board of Commissioners are (l to r)
Dave Hoffman, Dennis Geagan, Bill Hammack and Gerry Rhoads.
Geagan and Rhoads are from Landrum and Hoffman and Hammack are
from Travelers Rest.
OCTOBER 23, 2009, LANDRUM, SC
– On Sunday, November 1st
when we change our clocks back (“fall behind”), the Glassy
Mountain Fire Department, Energizer and The International
Association of Fire Chiefs encourage everyone to try to save
lives and prevent needless injuries by urging all residents to
adopt a simple, lifesaving habit – make another change and
replace the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide
detectors.
“Nationally, an average of three children die each day in home
fires. Eighty percent of those occur in homes without working
smoke alarms caused by poorly installed, worn out or missing
batteries,” says Bryan Riebe, Chief of Glassy Mountain Fire
Service Area. “Since we have many rural areas, we have some
homeowners who use portable or area heating equipment which is a
main cause of fatal home fires.
“The peak time for home fire
fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are
sleeping,” Riebe added. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple,
effective way to reduce home fire deaths. But remember,
children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working
smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out
safely.”
In addition, Chief Riebe
recommends residents use the “extra” hour they gain from the
time change to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
by pushing the test button, to plan “two ways out” and practice
escape routes with the entire family. Families should also
prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and
fresh batteries. The Glassy Mountain Fire Department does have
a limited number of
smoke alarms available for those who don’t have them. These
folks should contact the headquarters at 864-895-4306 to request
them.
“Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year is one of
the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths
and injuries,” Chief Riebe said. “In fact, working smoke alarms
nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire.
Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs
recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.”
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. According to the
International Association of Fire Chiefs, those most at risk
are:
■
Children
— About 600 individuals under the
age of 20 die each year in home fires. Children under age 5 are
at twice the risk of dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of
fatal home fire victims who were children were killed in homes
without working smoke alarms.
■
Seniors
— Adults ages 65 and older are
two times more likely to die in a home fire; those ages 75 and
older are three times more likely and those over 85 are 4.5
times more likely to die in a home fire. Many older adults need
assistance and cannot escape by themselves.
For more information about fire safety, call the Glassy Mountain
Fire Department
at 864-895-4306. For additional information, contact the
Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® hotline at
314-995-3939 or the International Association of Fire Chiefs at
703-273-0911.
OCTOBER 20, 2009,
LANDRUM, SC
–
With Halloween just around the corner, the Glassy Mountain Fire
Department wants everyone to make sure it is a safe and happy
one so they and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
are recommending the following safety tips:
-
Use only
costumes, etc labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
When creating a costume, choose materials that won’t easily
ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame. Avoid
billowing or long trailing features.
-
Provide
children with flashlights to carry for lighting or as part
of their costume.
-
Dried
flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable.
Keep these and other decorations well away from all open
flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters,
etc.
-
Use
flashlights or battery-operated candles when illuminating
Jack-O-Lanterns. Use extreme caution when decorating with
candle lit Jack-O-Lanterns, and supervise children at all
times when candles are lit. Be sure to place lit pumpkins
well away from anything that can burn including doorsteps,
walkways and yards.
-
\Remember
to keep exits clear of decorations, ensuring nothing blocks
escape routes.
-
Instruct
children to stay away from open flames or other heat
sources. Be sure children know how to “stop, drop and roll”
in the event their clothing catches fire (stop
immediately, drop to the ground, covering your face with
your hands, and roll over and over to extinguish flames).
Cool the burn.
-
Use
flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when
decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for
trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the
lighting.
-
Instruct
children who are attending parties at others’ homes to
locate the exits and plan how they would get out in an
emergency.
“Planning ahead can help make this Halloween a fire-safe one
for everyone,” says Rob Hitt, Assistant Chief, Glassy Mountain
Fire Department. “Taking simple fire safety precautions like
making sure fabrics for costumes and decorative materials are
flame-resistant, can prevent fires. Between 2002-2005, NFPA
estimates that decorations were the first items ignited in an
estimated average of 1,150 reported home structure fires each
year during Halloween. These fires caused an estimated average
of three civilian deaths, 56 civilian injuries and $24.8 million
in direct property damage each year.”
For more information about fire safety, contact the Glassy
Mountain Fire Department at
864-895-4306.
LANDRUM, SC, OCTOBER 2, 2009…Once
a child touches a hot stove, as the cliché goes—they learn a
lesson--stay away from the hot stove. This cliché does not take
into account, however, the pain and suffering from burns--which
should not be part of the learning process.
That’s why the Glassy Mountain Fire Department is teaming up
with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Fire
Prevention Week 2009 – October 4th through 10th
– to urge all of our residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get
Burned.” This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign
focuses on burn
awareness and fire prevention.
The
statistics are staggering. According to the NFPA, each year
roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns,
and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation’s
emergency rooms for burn injuries.
“The most common
types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds
and contact burns,” Bryan Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire
Department, said. “Burns are painful and can result in serious
scarring and even death. When we take extra caution in our
homes to ensure that the curling iron is out of a child’s reach
or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such
injuries can be entirely preventable.
Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn
injuries is a healthy change we can make happen.”
By following simple
safety rules, you can “Stay Fire Smart!
Don’t Get Burned.”
-
Keep hot foods and liquids
away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled
or knocked over
-
Have a 3-foot “kid-free”
zone around the stove
-
Never hold a child in your
arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage
-
Be careful when using
things that get hot such as curling irons, ovens, irons,
lamps, heaters, candles
-
Install tamper-resistant
electrical receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an
object in the outlet
-
Never leave a child alone
in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace
or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use
-
Wear short or
close-fitting sleeves when cooking
-
Set your hot water
temperature no higher than 120 degrees
-
Install anti-scald valves
on shower heads and faucets
Fire
Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across
the country. For 85 years fire departments have observed Fire
Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and
safety observance on record.
For more information on “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”
visit
www.firepreventionweek.org
OCTOBER 2, 2009, LANDRUM,
SC…The Board of Commissioners of the Glassy Mountain Fire
Service Area will hold a Meet the Candidates night to
give the community an opportunity to meet the candidates for the
four open Board positions. The four candidates are Gerry
Rhoades and Dennis Geagan from Landrum, SC and David Hoffman and
William Hammack from Travelers Rest, SC.
The meeting will take place on
Thursday, October 22nd at 6:00 pm at the Glassy
Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) Headquarters at 2015 Highway 11,
Landrum, SC. For more information, call 864-895-4306.
MAY 19, 2009, LANDRUM,
SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) announced that Jesse
Atkins and Wesley Campbell have joined the Department as
full-time staff. Jesse, a firefighter and basic emergency
medical technician, is joining under a SAFER Grant* and will
serve at GMFD Headquarters. Wesley is a firefighter and
paramedic who will serve at the Beaver Dam Station.
Atkins
has served in the fire service since 1998. He has served with
Inman Community Fire Department as a junior fireman and with the
Cherokee Springs and Westview Fairforest Fire Departments as a
firefighter and EMT. Atkins and his family live in Inman, SC.
Campbell has served in the fire
service since 1999. He has served with Inman Community and Fire
Department first as a junior fireman. He serves as a part-time
firefighter and paramedic with Inman Community and Westview
Fairforest Fire Departments. Campbell and his family live in
Inman, SC.
“We continue to be grateful for
the extra funding for career staff, with the growth and demands
of our community, but we are always in need for more volunteer
firefighters and first responders to keep our community safe,”
Bryan G Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire Department said.
“Many folks do not know, that we also need help from citizens
who can provide support to the District but it doesn’t have to
be fighting fires. If anyone wants more information on how to
become part of our team, they should contact me at 864-895-4306
or go to our website at
www.gmfd.net.”
MAY 15, 2009, LANDRUM,
SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department announced that the American
College of Emergency Physicians has declared the week of May 17
to 23 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week to recognize the
round-the-clock commitment to care that emergency medical
personnel make to their communities.
“EMS Week provides us a unique
opportunity for us to tell our community what EMS is all about
and who performs it in their own back yard,” said Bryan G Riebe,
Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD). “In honor of the
dedicated professionals who provide care and hope for the ill
and injured, I say “Thank You” for the service they contribute
to our communities. Their job is not an easy task, daily
practicing emergency medicine in a complicated world. Most
folks take these services for granted and have no idea how
committed these men and women are to training and maintaining
their skill levels. They are dedicated to serve the needs of
others --a true testament to their selfless devotion. Each year
at this time, I remember the tragic loss of my EMS partner,
Greenville County Paramedic Rick Sorrells, during an emergency
response May 22, 1990. I ask our communities to give these
devoted public servants our well-deserved thanks.”
“We are very proud of our
emergency medical services team,” Riebe continued. “Nearly
two-thirds of our calls at Glassy Mountain Fire Department are
related to rescue and emergency medical services. Medical
assistance includes not only the EMTs, but also first responders
who are trained to assess a situation and provide urgent
emergency medical care until EMS arrives. Each of these
individuals has undergone extensive training and received
appropriate certifications and they are committed to saving
lives.
“According to the National
Association for Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), in the
US, fire department-based services employ nearly 38 percent of
EMS workers with 24 percent employed by county or
municipal-based services,” Riebe said. “Seventy percent of the
EMS workers in the US provide care to small towns (33 percent),
rural communities (22 percent) and medium-sized towns (16
percent).
“As our community continues to
grow, we need more volunteer EMS providers, firefighters and
first responders to keep our community safe,” Chief Riebe added.
“If you want to experience great challenges and serve your
community, then we want you. For more information on how to
become part of the GMFD team, contact me at 864-895-4306 or go
to our website at
www.gmfd.net.”
MAY 8, 2009, LANDRUM, SC….The
Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area Board of Commissioners’
announced the appointment of J. Patrick Downey to fill the
unexpired term of Jack Fitzpatrick. Downey’s appointment is
effective immediately.
Before moving to Travelers
Rest in 2002, Downey served as Vice President, Human Resources
and Legal Counsel for Commercial Intertech Corporation in
Youngstown,
OH, where he was responsible for worldwide oversight for human
resources for more than 4,500 employees in 16 countries. Downey
received both his BA and JD from the University of Toledo, OH.
While living in Youngstown, Downey served as a board member,
trustee or board officer for a number of organizations including
the St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Youngstown Symphony
Society, Assumption Nursing Center, United Way and Leadership
Youngstown Board. For the past four years he has volunteered as
a mathematics tutor for 3rd and 4th grade
students at Slater Marietta Elementary School. Downey and
his wife, Paulette, reside in Travelers Rest, SC.
MAY 4, 2009, LANDRUM, SC…The
Board of Commissioners of the Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area
announced that it will hold public hearings for the community to
discuss the district and its future financial plans. The
schedule is as follows:
-
Monday, May
18 at 7:00 pm – Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD)
Headquarters at 2015 Highway 11, Landrum, SC
-
Tuesday, May
19 at 7:00 pm – GMFD Oak Grove Station at 400 Oak Grove Road
(at Belue Mill Road), Landrum SC
-
Wednesday,
May 20 at 7:00 pm – GMFD Beaver Dam Station at 315 Beaver
Dam Road, Travelers Rest, SC
APRIL 17, 2009, LANDRUM,
SC...The Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) announced that
the Seventh Annual Rummage and Bake Sale, an important
fundraiser that benefits the community, is set rain or shine for
Saturday, May 2nd from 7:30 am to Noon at the Beaver
Dam Fire Station located at 315 Beaver Dam Road, off Highway 25
(2.7 miles north of Route 11). Bargains will be found on
everything from furniture, appliances, tools, sporting
equipment, home décor and clothing. Delicious desserts, cakes,
cookies and other home baked goodies will also be available for
sale. Come out and support the GMFD.
MARCH 16, 2009, LANDRUM,
SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department announced today that three
new members of its volunteer staff successfully completed the
South Carolina Fire Academy’s Fundamentals of Firefighting
course on Saturday, March 7th. The volunteers who
participated are: Jeremy Arrowood and Curtis Eiss from
Travelers Rest and Brian Gray from Taylors. Training was held
at the Greer Fire Department’s Training Center. Arrowood and
Eiss have served with the Glassy Mountain Fire Department’s
Explorer Post 2010 for four years.
The Unite States Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says the course, which
requires 94 hours of training, is designed to help fire
departments meet the OSHA intent for basic interior structural
firefighting for their personnel including basic fire ground
skills necessary to get the firefighter operational and
performing. Subjects included are: fire behavior, fire
extinguishers, personal protective equipment, SCBA, ladders,
fire hose, fire streams, search and rescue and interior fire
attack.
“I am very proud to recognize
our three new volunteers and their commitment to serving their
community through the Glassy Mountain Fire Department,” Bryan G.
Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area said.
“As our community continues
to grow, we need more volunteer firefighters and first
responders to keep our community safe,” Chief Riebe said. “We
also need to further develop our auxiliary of citizens to
provide support for the District and we can offer other job
opportunities than fighting fires. If anyone wants more
information on how to become part of our team, they should
contact me at 864-895-4306 or go to our website at
www.gmfd.net.”
MARCH 10, 2009, LANDRUM,
SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department reported that t8hey responded
to 375 calls in 2008. Incidents included 47 fire alarms, 18
structure fires, 22 brush fires, 8 car fires, 185 medical
responses, 42 motor vehicle accidents, 7 mutual aid calls and 46
miscellaneous calls involving 5,010 man hours of coverage not
including training hours.
FEBRUARY 25, 2009, LANDRUM, SC
-- As the daylight savings time change approaches on Sunday,
March 8th and it’s time to move your clocks ahead,
the Glassy Mountain Fire Department is urging residents to make
another change that could save their lives — replace the
batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
According to The International
Association of Fire Chiefs, nationally an average of three
children die each day in home fires, with eighty percent of
those occurring in homes without working smoke alarms caused by
worn out or missing batteries.
“The peak time for home fire fatalities happens when most
families are sleeping between 10 pm and 6 am,” says Bryan Riebe,
Chief of Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area. “Smoke alarm
maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce tragic home
fire deaths and injuries. Children and senior citizens are most
at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra
seconds they need to get out safely.”
Chief Riebe also recommends
that residents take this opportunity to test smoke alarms and
carbon monoxide detectors by pushing the test button, planning
“two ways out” and practicing escape routes with the entire
family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that
includes working flashlights and fresh batteries. The
Glassy Mountain Fire Department has a limited number of smoke
alarms available for those who don’t have them. These folks
should contact the headquarters at 864-895-4306 to request
them.
To save lives and prevent
needless injuries, the Glassy Mountain Fire Department has
joined forces with Energizer
â
and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the
Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery®
campaign. The
program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving
habit--change smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector and
flashlight batteries at least twice a year when we change our
clocks.
Chief Riebe said. “Working
smoke alarms nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home
fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs
recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.”
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. According to the
International Association of Fire Chiefs, those most at risk
are:
Ø Children
— Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die each year
in home fires. Children under age five are at twice the risk of
dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of fatal home fire victims
who were children were killed in homes without working smoke
alarms.
Ø Seniors
— Adults over age 75 are three times more likely to die in home
fires than the rest of the population; those over 85 are 4.5
times more likely to die in a home fire. Many seniors are unable
to escape quickly.
Ø Low-Income
Households — Many low-income families are unable to afford smoke
alarms and/or the batteries. These same households often rely
on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable or area
heating equipment — a main cause of fatal home fires.
For more information about
fire safety, call the Glassy Mountain Fire Department at
864-895-4306.
ATV DONATED BY FIREHOUSE SUBS:
JANUARY 27, 2009.
GREENVILLEONLINE.COM Two local restaurant owners have
helped to make access into remote areas of their district a
little easier for some northern Greenville County firefighters.
Firehouse Subs Restaurant franchise owners Omar Ghorbani of
Boiling Springs and Elliott Goldsmith of Greer awarded the
Glassy Mountain Fire District a grant for a Polaris Ranger
all-terrain vehicle, through the Firesubs Restaurant Public
Safety Foundation.
Fire Chief Bryan Riebe said the
Polaris ranger "provides us greater flexibility to service the
many remote areas of our district where we have had missing
persons as well as fires in the past. It makes us feel more at
ease knowing we can better protect our community and save more
lives. He said the department is grateful to the
community, franchise owners and the foundation for the donation.
"We are incredibly appreciative
to our community for their ongoing support and for their
donations to our business, as well as the Firehouse Subs Public
Safety Foundation," said Omar Ghorbani, owner, Firehouse Subs in
Boiling Springs. "We are fortunate to be able to present the
Polaris Ranger ATV to the Glassy Mountain Fire Department which
will help them better serve and protect our community."
