Benefit Spaghetti Dinner 11/13/09

Benefit Spaghetti Dinner November 13th The Nelsonville Volunteer Firefighters will be holding a Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, November 13, 2009. The dinner will be held at the Nelsonville Elks Lodge located on Hocking Street, in Nelsonville. Dinner will be served from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The price for dinner is $5.00 for children 12 and under and $6.00 for adults. The menu will include; Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Meatballs Lasagna Vegetarian Baked Pasta Garlic Bread Garden Salad Beverages Firefighters are also holding a raffle with numerous prizes, including a weekend getaway! All proceeds raised at the dinner will go to assist Sara Cheeseman and her family in her fight with Cancer. The public is encouraged to come out and eat a good dinner before enjoying a great evening in the Nelsonville area.

Winter Fire Safety Tips

November 8, 2009 The Nelsonville Division of Fire is reminding area residents to focus on fire safety when heating their homes this winter and to use extra care if utilizing secondary heating sources like space heaters. “Proper installation, use and maintenance of winter heating devices are essential for reducing the risks of fire and carbon-monoxide poisoning,” says Nelsonville Firefighters. “Home heating fires in Ohio are often caused by human error, particularly through the misuse of portable heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces.” In 2008, eight people died and 34 people were injured in 557 heating-related fires in homes throughout Ohio. Firefighters stress the importance of having your home’s heating system checked annually by a qualified professional. Furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and their chimneys should be inspected and cleaned prior to the start of every heating season. Be certain that alternate sources of heating, such as portable electric and kerosene heaters and wood burning stoves, are used according to their instructions and with extreme caution. For any space heater remember: Space Heaters Need Space – at least three feet from anything that can burn. To avoid falling victim to carbon monoxide – a colorless, odorless, potentially deadly gas produced by fuel-burning equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, and kerosene heaters – install at least one carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping areas. Call the fire department if the alarm sounds. The Nelsonville Fire Department offers the following additional safety tips to help you have a fire safe winter. Fireplaces and Wood Burning Stoves · Allow enough clearance between a wood burning stove and combustible materials such as walls, floors and ceilings. · A wood stove should be placed on an approved stove board to protect your floor from heat and hot coals. · Make sure the flue is open before lighting a fire, and never close the flue while a fire is still smoldering. · Use a fireplace screen to prevent any sparks from reaching out and igniting nearby objects. · Never use gasoline or lighter fluid to start a fire. · The immediate area in front of a fireplace (approximately 3 feet) should not have a rug, carpet or exposed wood flooring. · When lighting a gas fireplace, strike your match first, then turn on the gas. · Burn only dry, seasoned wood, and dispose of the cooled ashes in a closed metal container outside and away from your home. · Never leave a fire burning unattended in the fireplace. Portable Space Heaters · When buying a space heater, look for a control feature that automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over. · Never leave a heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep, and do not leave children or pets unattended around any heating source. Unplug the heater when you are not using it. · Don’t use an extension cord with an electric portable heater. The current to the heater could melt the cord and cause a fire. · Don’t plug more than one heating device into an outlet. · Never use electric heaters near water – as in your bathroom or near a water heater. Kerosene Heaters · Make sure the room has proper ventilation. · Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene. Do not use any fluid that is not recommended for your heater. Refuel outside, and only after the heater has cooled down. · Check the wick every couple of weeks during the heating season. If the wick is dirty, clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. · Because a kerosene heater has a constant open flame, it should not be used in a room where there are flammable solvents, aerosol sprays, gasoline or any type of oil. Propane and Natural Gas · Like many other efficient fuels, propane is highly flammable. That means it can be dangerous if not handled properly. · If using a propane fueled heater, make sure it is designed for indoor use and properly vented. Read all of the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure it is properly vented. · Do not use propane barbecues (or any other type of barbecue) indoors. · If you smell gas, do not operate any switches, appliances or thermostats. A spark from one of these could ignite the gas. Get everyone outside and away from the building. Shut off the gas supply. Call the fire department from a neighbor’s phone. · Do not attempt to heat your home by opening the door to your natural gas or electric oven. Generators · If you have a portable generator, make sure you place it in a well-ventilated area. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before using it. · Be sure generator fuel is properly and safely stored according to fire regulations. Never store fuel or flammable liquids in a basement or near an open flame. Always refuel the generator outdoors and away from any ignition sources. · If you choose to have a generator permanently connected to your home’s electrical system, make sure a licensed electrician installs it and be sure to notify your electric company. Improperly installed generators can cause multiple types of hazards not only for you but for power company workers. Also, make sure you have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home and inside each sleeping area to alert you in the event of a fire. Test the batteries on a weekly basis.

Services for Chief Tim Carr

Funeral Services for Chief Tim Carr of the Nelsonville Fire Department will be Tuesday at 1400 hour at the Bishopville Baptist Church where a firefighters service will be conducted. Calling Hours will be 1100 to 1400 on Tuesday as well.Department that want to bring apparatus may park them out front. If you have any questions contact Dean Russell at 740-591-0542

Changing The Batteries In Your Smoke Detector Can Save Your Life!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 28, 2009 The Nelsonville Division of Fire is reminding local residents to make a potentially lifesaving change when they move their clocks back on Sunday, November 1: Change the batteries in your smoke detectors! In conjunction with the United States Fire Protection Association’s (USFA) public awareness program “Install. Inspect. Protect.” the Nelsonville Fire Department encourages residents to make it a habit to change the batteries in their smoke detectors at least twice a year – at the beginning and end of daylight savings time. “The facts speak clearly – only a working smoke detector can save your life,” said Fire Chief Tim Carr. “Persons can greatly reduce tragic fire deaths and injuries by performing the simple task of replacing smoke detector batteries. By taking the time to change the batteries and by testing them monthly, you are doing more to affect the fire safety of your family and home than any other action you could take.” Chief Carr said firefighters still find that smoke detectors, which typically retail for less than $10, are often not present in homes or are not functional. Through October 19, 2009, 80 people have died in 66 fatal residential fires reported to the Division of State Fire Marshal. Smoke detectors were confirmed present in 22 (33%) of those fires and functioning in only 6 (9%) of the incidents. Smoke detectors, when properly installed and maintained, provide early warning when fire occurs. For the greatest protection, install a smoke detector on every level of your home and inside each sleeping area. Also, develop an escape plan and make sure every family member knows what to do if the fire alarm does sound. Test smoke detectors at least once each month to ensure that they are working properly. Vacuum the dust from inside the detector at least once every year. Batteries in battery-operated detectors should be changed twice a year or whenever a detector “chirps” to signal low battery power. Never “borrow” a smoke detector’s battery for another use. A disabled detector cannot save your life. In addition, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years or according to the manufacturer’s specifications. The USFA’s “Install. Inspect. Protect” campaign encourages citizens to 1) install and maintain smoke detectors, 2) practice fire escape plans, and 3) perform a home safety walk-through to remove fire hazards from the home.

ATHENS COUNTY RESPONDERS ASSIST WITH TERRORISM EXERCISE

The Athens County Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with the Ohio National Guard’s 52^nd Weapons of Mass Destruction, Civil Support Team, (52^nd CST) will be holding a terrorism preparedness exercise on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.  The exercise will be held in the Nelsonville area at 15600 Wolfe-Bennett Road and on the campus of Hocking College.  The 52^nd CST will be assisted at the exercise by public safety personnel from around Athens and Hocking Counties.

The training exercise will be taking place between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., and is an essential part in testing the terrorism response capabilities in Ohio and Athens County, while providing the best possible safety services for our residents.

Residents are also asked to be aware that during the exercise, you may see considerable emergency response activity in the Nelsonville and Hocking College area.  This may include the potential for members of emergency service agencies to exercise their capability to warn residents of a potential emergency situation.  This could be accomplished by using a public address system, door-to-door notification, or the use of telephone calling systems.  If you are located in a vulnerable area to the scenario, then you may receive any or all of these warnings in the form of “This is an exercise.”

Exercising is the principal means of testing the state and county’s ability to implement its terrorism response procedures.  It allows emergency personnel to practice their procedures and interact with other agencies in a controlled setting, which improves the overall emergency management and response system.

The 52nd Weapons of Mass Destruction, Civil Support Team is one of 57 National Guard teams established under a Presidential Directive.  Every state and territory has a joint force, Army and Air Guard, Civil Support Team.  Each team is comprised of 22, full-time members highly trained in various fields of expertise.  Located at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, the 52nd is poised for a state or national deployment by air, ground or sea.

For an exercise of this scale to be fully effective it also takes the co-operation and participation of the public.  Any persons wanting more information on the exercise may contact EMA Director Fred Davis at 740-594-2261.

14th Annual Thunder in The Valley Fireworks Attracts Large Audience

The 14th annual “Thunder In The Valley, Fireworks Spectacular once again provided Athens County with 4^th of July memories to last the ages. This years Athens County celebration was topped off with a fireworks spectacular, “THUNDER IN THE VALLEY”, the largest display in Southeast Ohio, sponsored by Athens County area business and groups.

Pyrotechnicians experienced rain during the evening, but they were able to complete loading the show and fire it on time at 10:00 pm. Officials estimate 30,000 people from around the region and country watched the fireworks from the Hocking College campus and the Nelsonville area. The crowd in Nelsonville and at Hocking College were treated with a great pyrotechnics display that celebrated our nations birthday with pride.

As the events organizers start to plan for next year they are always interested in the public’s comments and suggestions. Persons with comments or suggestions about the celebration are encouraged to contact the committee at;

“THUNDER IN THE VALLEY”
FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR
P.O. BOX 147
NELSONVILLE, OHIO 45764

 

The committee may also be contacted via the committee’s website at 

 

www.thunderinthevalley.org  or by Email at nelsonville_fd@yahoo.com.

June 26, 2009 – Structure Fire On Fort Street

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2009

The Nelsonville Division of Fire was dispatched to a room on fire at 311 Fort Street in Nelsonville at 5:07 p.m. Friday afternoon.  When firefighters arrived on scene they found heavy smoke and fire coming from an upstairs window.  Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior fire attack to contain the blaze.  Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the second floor bedroom, but the room did sustain heavy fire damage.  The remainder of the second floor sustained smoke and water damage and the first floor of the house sustained water damage.

Firefighters from York Township, The Plains and Chauncey/ Dover Fire Departments were called in to assist Nelsonville. Firefighters struggled with high temperatures and humidity during the fire.  Firefighters tried to rotate work and cool down periods to avoid heat exhaustion.  Several firefighters were evaluated by Southeast Ohio EMS, but none were treated or transported to the hospital.

The house is owned by Tammy Glick of Nelsonville and is rented by Craig McDonald.  The McDonald family is being assisted by the Athens County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  Firefighters estimate $20,000 in damage to the structure and $10,000 of damage to the houses contents.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s office.  No civilians were injured at the fire.  All firefighters were clear of the scene and in service at 8:18 p.m.

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