Page 48 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2018

Focus on Fire Safety
Defensive Driving - Overcorrecting: Many of our traffic crashes involve a car overcorrected after drifting off the right side of the road. The instinct
is to immediately cut the wheel hard to the left in order to get back on to the road. Unfortunately, that causes the car to cross the roadway uncontrollably and crash into oncoming traffic or the other side of the road. This is much more dangerous than just staying on the right shoulder.
Fire season in Sonoma County has begun! Please remember to maintain your defensible space around your homes. Defensible space is the area around your home that is properly maintained to slow the advancement of a wildfire. Please visit your local fire station or www.firesafesonoma.org for more information.
If you ever find your tires have drifted off the shoulder, DO NOT crank the steering wheel hard left at speed. Instead, keep the tires pointing straight and apply the brakes until the car comes to a complete stop. Then, turn the steering wheel to the left, check for no vehicles, and slowly apply the gas pedal. Once the front tires are back on the road, the rear tires will follow. If the berm is too steep, it may require a tow truck to safely remove the vehicle – which is much better than injuring yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and totaling your car.
With the beginning of fire season, CalFire has suspended burn permits
for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area within Sonoma County. The suspension only applies to residential landscape debris, and does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property. The burn suspension took affect June 18th and will continue through the end of fire season.
Defensible Space Time: What are we talking about? Keeping a perimeter of mowed and/or green grass around our homes to prevent wildland fires from reaching them. 100 feet is recommended. Mow early in the day and often. We also recommend keeping flammable things away from our homes – wood piles,
dead trees, bushes, etc. Go to readyforwildfire.org to learn more.
As the temperatures begin to rise, spending a day on the river or at the coast becomes a great way to escape the heat. In either setting, the need to wear a life vest or other flotation device is strongly encouraged for all ages. Keep your
family safe! As a reminder, fireworks are illegal within the Russian River Fire District.
Now that the temperatures are rising and the grasses are starting to dry out, it is becoming easier for wildland type fires to start. Remember to mow high weeds and grasses early and often. The lower temperatures and higher humidities help slow a fire should one start.
Remember to keep hydrated throughout the day on hot days. Dehydration can lead to heat stress or heat stroke and can be contributed to many medical emergencies during extreme heat. Avoid strenuous activities during the afternoons and drink plenty of fluids. While sodas and other beverages are tasty, water is generally the best at helping to stay hydrated.
Russian River Fire:
Fire Safety Action steps around your home:
• CLEAR leaves and other vegetative debris from roofs, gutters, porches and decks. This helps prevent embers from igniting your home.
The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be on July 11th
• REMOVE dead vegetation and other items from under your deck or porch, and within 10 feet of the house.
at 6pm at the fire station. We hope you’ll consider attending. Visit us on line at russianriverfire.org
• SCREEN in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
Bodega Bay Fire:
Fireworks: Just a reminder that ALL fireworks are illegal in Forestville. We want to thank everyone for understanding and the results have been no major incidents in recent years.
Graton Fire:
• REMOVE flammable materials (wood piles, propane tanks) within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch your house, deck or porch.
Honoring Jeanette Furlong: The men and women of the Bodega Bay Firefighters Association are pleased to announce the award of their 2018 Margaret (Peggy) Hill Memorial Scholarship to Jeanette Furlong. Jeanette is a graduating Tomales High
• Wildfire can spread to tree tops. PRUNE trees so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.
School senior, raised on her father’s cattle ranch and grandfather’s sheep ranch, where she learned what she describes as
her three guiding life principles: values; service to others; and agriculture. She earned a 4.25 GPA
• KEEP your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.
• Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. DISPOSE of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.
• INSPECT shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair the shingles that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration.
• COVER exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the home.
• ENCLOSE eaves and screen soffit vents using 1/8 mesh metal screening to prevent ember entry.
in her coursework
while participating in
4-H, Future Farmer’s of
America, school clubs,
and Associated Student
Body activities. Jeanette
will be the first person
in her family to attend
college. She has been
accepted to Oklahoma State University. Our Association is pleased to award this $2500 scholarship to support Jeanette’s goal of majoring in Agricultural Education with the goal of becoming a High School Agriculture Teacher.
Awarding Scholarship Abrielle Elizabeth Spaletta: Abrielle is a graduating Tomales High School Senior with a 4.27 GPA, who balanced her studies with participation and officer positions in the Future Farmer’s of America, Interact Club, and Student Government. She volunteers her time teaching Bible Study. Her 14-year passion is contemporary dance and ballet. She has participated in a number of productions, including academy’s in San Jose and Connecticut, and was honored with the Emily Stubbs Artistic Award for her dedication. Abrielle will attend the University of California at Davis. Our Association is pleased to award this $1000. scholarship to support her goal of majoring in Computer Science with the career goal of entering the high tech industry.
The more actions a community takes, the more fire adapted it becomes. Learn how you can make a difference in
your community. VISIT: fireadapted.org and firewise.org to learn more. Forestville Fire:
Volunteering in the Community: Forestville Firefighters and their families spent well over 60 hours setting up for and working during the Youth Park Bar-B-Que.
What are we talking about? Keeping a perimeter of mowed and/or green grass around our homes to prevent wildland fires from reaching them. 100 feet is recommended. Mow early in the day and often. We also recommend keeping flammable things away from our homes – wood piles, dead trees, bushes, etc. Go to readyforwildfire.org to learn more.
Board Meetings: The next Board of Directors meeting will be July 10 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Forestville Fire Station located at 6554 Mirabel Road.
48 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/18