FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

CAL FIRE Asks Public’s Help in Observing
Fire Prevention Week October 3 – 9, 2010
“Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With”

Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in home fires in the U.S. Nearly three-quarters of all U.S. homes have at least one working smoke alarm, but there are still a significant number of homes without smoke alarms or without working smoke alarms. This group accounts for more than one-third of reported home fires and nearly half of all the reported home fire deaths. These are preventable deaths. As startling as these figures are, they give powerful meaning to this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week 2010, “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with.”

CAL FIRE wants to take this opportunity to stress the importance of having smoke alarms and encourage everyone to take the necessary steps required to update and maintain their home smoke alarm protection. Smoke alarms are one of the best and least expensive safety devices you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family and your home. CAL FIRE knows that in the event of a home fire, properly installed and maintained smoke alarms could save your own life and those of your loved ones by providing time to escape. 

“Far too many homes have no smoke alarms, not enough smoke alarms, alarms that are too old or alarms that are not working,” says CAL FIRE Director Del Walters. “We want residents to understand that working smoke alarms can increase your family’s chances of surviving a home fire by 50%. They are needed in every home, on every level, including the basement, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. If a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced.”

CAL FIRE would like to offer a few important fire safety and prevention tips:

〈       Install smoke alarms on every level of the home (including the basement), outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Never remove or disable smoke alarms.
〈       Check your smoke alarm batteries every month.
〈       Change smoke alarm batteries twice a year when changing clocks for daylight savings.
〈       Plan and practice your family home emergency escape plan together several times a year.
〈       Make sure everyone knows when and how to call emergency telephone numbers.
〈       Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and injuries.
〈       Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.
〈       Obtain and learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
〈       Install carbon monoxide detectors.
〈       Consider installing residential fire sprinklers in your home.

For more fire safety tips visit the CAL FIRE web site at www.fire.ca.gov.
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SNAKES ALIVE!

When it gets hot outside, everyone wants to borrow your pool. Bryan Bahlmann tells The Roadrunner, "This is why I never jump in the pool at night without turning the lights on. Yes, they are VERY GOOD swimmers."

Wild Mouse Tests Positive for Hantavirus (but not in VC)

Residents Are Urged To Use Caution When Cleaning Up Rodent Droppings

County Vector Control officials confirmed that one Harvest mouse trapped in an open space near Fairbanks Ranch during routine monitoring tested positive for Hantavirus.
“We want to remind people to be aware that Hantavirus is here in the County. It is important to keep mice out of houses, garages and sheds to prevent infection,” said Jack Miller, Director of the County Department of Environmental Health. “People contract Hantavirus by inhaling the virus, often when they are cleaning up rodent droppings and nesting materials. Wet cleaning methods should be used to prevent inhaling the virus.”
Vector Control randomly samples wild mice to determine the extent of the virus. Hantavirus is carried by wild rodents, primarily Deer and Harvest mice. The virus is found in rodent droppings and urine and can be inhaled by humans when it becomes airborne. The airborne virus can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which can begin with symptoms similar to the flu, but in rare cases, can lead to severe breathing difficulties and even death. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Hantavirus.
Several precautions should be taken to avoid exposure:
〈         Eliminate rodent infestations immediately.
〈         Avoid rodent-infested areas and do not stir up dust or materials that may be contaminated with rodent droppings and urine.
〈         Clean up rodent droppings and urine using the wet cleaning method described below.

DO NOT SWEEP OR VACUUM INFESTED AREAS. Instead, use wet cleaning methods:
〈         Ventilate affected area by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes.
〈         Use rubber gloves. Spray a 10 percent bleach solution (2 tablespoons bleach to 1 cup of water) onto dead rodents, rodent droppings, nests, contaminated traps, and surrounding areas and let the disinfectant stand for at least 15 minutes before cleaning. Clean with a sponge or a mop.
〈         Place disinfected rodents and debris into two plastic bags, seal them and discard in the trash.
〈         Wash gloves in a bleach solution, then soap and water, and dispose of them using the same double-bag method. Thoroughly wash your bare hands with soap and water.

For more information, contact the County Department of Environmental Health at (858) 694-2888 or visit http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/pests/hantavirus.html.

PALA FIRE CONTAINED AT 106 ACRES

The Pala Fire has been contained at 106 acres.


Cal Fire and associated agencies are still at the scene of a fire on the north side of Hwy 76, at the base of Palomar Mountain. At its height about 20 fire engines and crews, 3 bulldozers, 4 water tenders, 4 airtankers and 4 helicopters responded to the incident.

The cause is still under investigation. Ten homes were evacuated, none damaged. The Incident Commander has released all of the airtankers. Firefighters will remain on scene for several hours mopping up any remaining hot spots.

Signs of Summer

Off of Mirar De Valle, in Valley Center. You know it's a country summer... even in Southern California. Photo submitted by Bryan Bahlmann.

The Rest of the Story

KIWANIS SPEAKER—The VC Kiwanis Club’s breakfast speaker on Friday June 25 will be Don Foulkes from Fallbrook, the WWII bombardier who became a prisoner of war, and lived to tell about it. He spoke at the Kiwanis Prayer Breakfast on May 7, and is returning, to tell "the rest of the story."
His prison experiences , his release and return to freedom, is the part the group has not yet heard. Guests are invited, especially those who heard the first part of his amazing story, and want to know how it all turned out.

NEWS OF LARRY READ

Former Valley Center resident Larry Read wants his VC friends to know that you can find him now on Facebook, where he has posted his pictures, videos and events.