Structure Fire in Deer Creek Mesa

ICFR responded to a reported structure fire in the Deer Creek Mesa subdivision Friday evening.  The home suffered extensive damage before the arrival of the first engine.  Firefighters rapidly extinguished the fire but had to check for extension of the fire into the walls and ceiling.  No one was injured.

Firefighters and High Temperatures

Firefighters must take care to stay hydrated in high temperatures, such as the 97 degrees expected today in the Denver Metro area. If not properly rehabilitated after work in a burning structure or on a hot highway, firefighters' outside body temperatures can reach 104 degrees, a condition akin to a high-grade fever. Heat takes a lot of the energy away from your body, draining the energy of the firefighter much faster. Firefighters face issues of high temperatures while working in a burning structure, on the wildland fire line, and while working on the highway. To combat the effects of working in high temperatures while wearing protective gear, fire officials may shorten rotations while working in hot environments, getting firefighters into what they call rehab -- an opportunity for firefighters to cool down and re-hydrate -- much quicker. Averaging 30 minutes on a rotation during cooler temperatures, firefighters may be limited to 15-minute periods in hot ambient temperatures. During rehab, when firefighters shed some of their protective gear, they drink both water and Gatorade and may have snacks. We want them to drink both to restore fluids, electrolytes, and the sugars they burn up. Firefightes must replenish the normal function of the body, which water is the best thing for dehydration. Besides the energy they're burning doing the job, their bodies' are working overtime and trying to keep cool so you have to combat dehydration and hyperthermia in multiple ways.

Fire ban and fire restrictions remain in place; all personal use of fireworks banned

Due to the Governor’s Executive Order to ban personal use of fireworks statewide, the use of all fireworks in unincorporated Jefferson County is banned Effective June 15, 2012. This includes ALL FIREWORKS, even sparklers, snakes, etc....

NO USE OF ANY FIREWORKS ANYWHERE IN UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON COUNTY.

NO USE OF TIKI TORCHES OR CHIMINEAS’ ANYWHERE IN UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON COUNTY.

NO USE OF PORTABLE FIRE PITS ANWYWERE IN UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON COUNTY.

No use of charcoal grills in all areas of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District.

The previous fire bans and fire restrictions that went into place on June 7, 2012 at 12 p.m. remain in place with the changes to the ban on fireworks, Tiki torches, chimineas’, and portable fire pits. The explanation of the restrictions and bans are below.

Am I in a fire ban or under fire restrictions?

-All areas of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District are in the fire ban

What is allowed in a fire ban?

-Only devices that are liquid fueled or gas fueled are allowed. Simply put, gas grills, gas fire pits, gas stoves, and gas lanterns are allowed. The rule of thumb is whether or not the fire can be “turned off,” rather than “put out.”

What is not allowed in a fire ban?

-Anything which produces an open flame which is not liquid fueled or gas fueled. This includes charcoal grills, Tiki torches, fire pits, and chimineas’. This includes private residences.
-The use of any fireworks.
-Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.
-Using any fire to burn trash, debris, fence rows or vegetation, or any campfire.
-There are restrictions regarding operating a chain saw, operating an acetylene or other torch, welding, or the use of an explosive initiation system. See the attached for guidelines.

NOTE: The Sheriff’s Office will strictly enforce a zero tolerance policy on all fireworks violations in the fire ban area.

What is allowed under fire restrictions?

-Charcoal grill fires at a private residence or within a permanently constructed grate in a developed park, campground, or picnic area.
-Any fires contained within liquid fueled or gas fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices.
-Fire pits that are constructed with a permanent fire grate within a developed camp ground, picnic ground or recreation site.

What is not allowed under fire restrictions?

-Any fire or campfire, not within a permanently constructed fire grate in a developed park, campground, private residence, or picnic area.
-The use of any fireworks.
-Tiki torches, portable fire pits, and chimineas’. This includes private residences.
-Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least three feet diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material.

Red Flag Warning Monday June 18

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for all if Jefferson County today. High temperatures, low humidity and high winds combine to increase risk of wild land fire.

Fires north and south

Wild land fires continue to burn north and south if Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District. Violations of the burn ban continue within the district. ICFR responds with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to all reports of burn ban violations. Fire danger remains high.

Watch those butts!

ICFR responded to a grass fire Sunday afternoon on Highway 285 near station three. Small fire was rapidly extinguished by citizens and ICFR firefighters. Probable cause is a cigarette tossed from a car. Please be careful with cigarettes. Also exercise extreme caution near roads as passing traffic may not see you or slow down.

Red Flag Warning for Inter-Canyon Fire District

Red Flag Warning is in effect from Sunday late morning through Sunday evening for gusty winds, low humidity and dry fuels across the northern and central mountains, high valleys, Front Range Foothills and adjacent plains including Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District.

Plan and rehearse your escape from a home fire

Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire. Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. Make a drawing for each floor. Dimensions do not need to be correct. Make sure the plan shows important details: stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes. Conduct a family meeting and discuss the following topics: 1. Always sleep with the bedroom doors closed. This will keep deadly heat and smoke out of bedrooms, giving you additional time to escape. 2. Find a way for everyone to sound a family alarm. Yelling, pounding on walls, whistles, etc. Practice yelling "FIRE!" 3. In a fire, time is critical. Don't waste time getting dressed, don't search for pets or valuables. Just get out! 4. Roll out of bed. Stay low. One breath of smoke or gases may be enough to kill.

Hot and Dry Weekend + Colorado Burn Ban in Effect

The fire weather forecast for the weekend is not encouraging.  Hot and Dry.  Please be careful with any outdoor activities.

Information from Colorado Division of Emergency Management
Governor Hickenlooper signed an Executive Order on June 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. banning open burn and private use of fireworks in the State of Colorado.  View the full Executive Order D 2012-015.

Information on fire restrictions and bans can change rapidly.  The most current information can and should be obtained from your local county.  Contacts for each county can be found on the Local Info Sources tab.   This site is meant  to provide the Colorado community with a connection to their local emergency agencies.

During an evacuation help your neighbors

During an evacuation help your neighbors.  Help those with access and functional needs.  FEMA says: If asked to go - GO!

Inter-Canyon FIre/Rescue now accepting applications

Considering service to your community?  Looking for a way to contribute during the next wildfire?  Interested in learning new skills?  ICFR is accepting applications for volunteer firefighters/  Call our office at 303-697-4413 for more information.

ICFR Ambulance Inspections

ICFR has three ambulances certified for both Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support.

ALS includes pain medications, respiratory medications, advanced airway management, 12 lead ECG analysis and many more patient care options.

BLS includes oxygen, splinting, bandaging, IV fluids, and some basic medications.

The inspections, performed by the county, ensure that all ICFR ambulances meet or exceed state equipment and supply requirements.

ICFR EMS staff have worked many hours to ensure our ambulances are ready to respond.

In addition to the medical equipment found on the ambulances each engine carries a complete BLS jump kit. Rescue 684, located at station four serving Deer Creek Mesa and White Deer Valley, carries complete ALS equipment.

Reminder on Jefferson County Evacuation Notices

EVACUATION LEVELS: Jefferson County has implemented new evacuation levels for use with the public. The levels are as follow. Also, you will find three attachments to this email which include an overview of the levels, the notification scripts and the SOP.

LEVEL 1 – A Level 1 Evacuation means be ready. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area. You should make preparation and be ready to leave, and then monitor local media outlets. Residents with special needs (such as the elderly or those with a susceptibility to breathing problems) are advised to evacuate. People with livestock or pets should consider moving them out of the area. Evacuations at this time are voluntary, but if you have concerns, evacuate now.

LEVEL 2 – A Level 2 Evacuation means leave soon. There is significant potential of danger in your area, and residents should relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside the affected area. You need to leave as soon as possible.

LEVEL 3 – A Level 3 Evacuation means leave immediately. Danger in your area is current and imminent. There is no time to gather belongings. Leave immediately.

Does your family have an evacuation plan?

Prepare a short and easy-to-remember evacuation plan for your family. Consider pets, large animals, paperwork, insurance information and a safe meeting point.

Vehicle Fire Safety

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says 33 car fires are reported every hour in the U.S., and 18 percent of all reported fires occur on a road or highway and involve a motor vehicle. One person per day died in a car fire incident between 2003 and 2005, and in 2007 there were 258,000 vehicle fires causing 385 deaths, 1,675 injuries and 1.41 billion dollars' worth of damages. Teens and young adults with driver's licenses are most likely to be involved in car fire accidents, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, and young males are victims more often than females. Here are a few common-sense tips that can help prevent vehicle fires. *If you smell burning plastic or rubber, pull over and investigate. Don't try to make it home before you determine what the trouble is. *If a fuse keeps blowing, that's a sign of electrical trouble, the same as in your house. Don't let it keep happening without investigating, as an overloaded wire can be the source of a fire. *Avoid parking over dry grass on very hot days - catalytic converters, located under a car, get extremely hot and can ignite dried grass directly under the parked vehicle. If your car catches fire: *Signal and move immediately to the right shoulder, or right lane. Believe it or not, there are some who think if they drive faster, the wind will blow the fire out. *Stop and shut the vehicle off and get everyone out and away from the vehicle – preferably 150 feet or more. Dial 911, so the dispatcher can notify the fire department. *Don’t try and put the fire out. The hood will be extremely hot, the chemicals released from burning parts are toxic to the lungs, and by the time you’re throwing dirt or similar on the vehicle, it’s probably already hot enough that your efforts won’t put the fire out anyway.

Red Flag Warning for Saturday June 9

The National Weather Service Has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for all areas of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District. High temperatures, high winds and low humidity are expected. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 9 PM tonight.

Warm temperatures + Wind Increases Fire Risk

Fire danger will remain a concern across much of Colorado on Saturday due to warm and windy conditions. Much of the state has been labeled under a red flag warning. Southwest winds will help drive the temperature well into the 90s from the Interstate 25 corridor to the eastern plains. Denver's existing record for this date is 95 degrees, which may be in jeopardy. The winds will be strong, over 30 mph at times on the plains and over 50 mph at times in the high country. Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue prepares for increased fire risk with basic and advanced wildland firefighting training, preparation of equipment and apparatus, and rapid response to reports of smoke. Are you and your family prepared with mitigation of your home and preparation for evacuation?

Lightning Strike on Your Home

Anyone who has been in a home hit by lightning will tell you the sound can be deafening and the experience somewhat disorienting. Fire A typical bolt of lightning can result in heat of up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Naturally, the odds of a resulting fire are great. Often such fires may not be immediately noticeable, emanating in attic space or within the walls of the home. Even if there is no visible flame, responding firefighters quickly can determine whether there is an immediate hidden danger. Call 911 following a lightning strike on your home. Keep in mind, however, that your fire department only can address the current situation. Have a qualified electrician diagnose frayed wiring and other potential hazards as soon as possible. Power surges Perhaps even more common than fire damage is the electrical chaos resulting from severe power surges following a lightning strike. While a typical household normally will experience everyday flows of up to 220 volts, lightning voltage measures in the tens of millions. The good news is you're not completely at risk. Virtually all houses are equipped with some level of surge protection. Surprisingly, the average home has thousands of surges each year, most caused by everyday devices. Power tools, refrigerators, and hair dryers are among the usual surge suspects. This "whole house" protection is different from the devices you may have connected to various appliances within the home. The surge protector used with a personal computer, for example, is simply an added level of precaution. Your home also should be grounded, meaning there is an alternative path around the electrical system that is intentionally connected to the earth. The National Electric Code requires home electric systems to be grounded. If you suspect inadequate grounding in your home, a licensed electrician can perform an evaluation. When lightning strikes, proper surge protection and grounding usually will spare a home's electrical system from complete destruction. Many of the residing appliances won't be so lucky. The speed and sheer magnitude of a strike can and will render many electrical systems useless, burning out circuit boards in less than a second. Appliances lost Like other natural disasters, lightning carries with it a sense of inconsistency and mystery. Just as a tornado leaves a single house standing in a neighborhood of devastation, a lightning-induced surge seems to randomly choose victims among the dozens of appliances in your home. Among the most common to fall prey to a strike are telephones and personal computers, likely due to their multiple outlets. Both are connected to potential strike paths through electrical outlets and phone lines. Therefore, the best defense is to remove such appliances from the path of the surge. Unplug computers and telephones from electrical outlets and phone lines during a thunderstorm. Don't rely on any surge protector to keep such appliances out of harm's way. More important, make sure the occupants of the home follow a similar rule. The warnings you recall from childhood are true--when a storm is in the air, avoid contact with electrical appliances. Lightning may strike nearby electric and phone lines, traveling to your home from there. For added safety, avoid water and stay clear of doors and windows. Exterior damage One would imagine that the force of a lightning strike would cause considerable exterior and possibly even structural damage, particularly at the point where the bolt hits the home. While such blows can and do result in some level of disrepair, the strike contact often causes little or no damage to the home. A typical lightning bolt is only about as wide as a half-dollar, and damage done at the point of contact may not be much larger.

Stage 2 Fire Ban in Jefferson County

Jefferson County is going to stage 2 fire ban for all lands west of C470, west & south of Wadsworth/C470, west of hwy 93, to include all of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District.

Protect your Family and Home in Hail Storms

Staying safe in a hailstorm •If there is a hail storm in your area, make personal safety your first priority. Take shelter during the storm. Large hail can cause serious injuries. •Hail is often accompanied by strong winds and lightning, both of which pose their own dangers. •After the storm passes, keep in mind that windows may have been broken and high winds may have knocked down trees and power lines. Look for broken glass, sharp objects and any electrical wires. Be sure to wear proper shoes and gloves when walking around your property. •If necessary, protect your property immediately against further damage and theft. Use plywood, tarps or other materials to cover broken windows or holes in roofs. Keep receipts for reimbursement of all expenses covered by your insurance policy. Understanding hail damage •Hail is frozen precipitation that forms in storm clouds when super-cooled water droplets freeze on contact with dust or dirt in the air. Hailstones can be as small as the tip of a pen or as large as a softball. The larger they are, the more damage they can do.

Signs of Stroke

Stroke can strike anyone. Signs of stroke include: 1. Facial droop. Ask the person to smile. If one side of the face droops, that is one sign of stroke. 2. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? 3. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? If these signs appear, call 911. Stroke is a "Brain Attack".

Rural/Urban Interface Fire Safety

If you liev in the foothills you may be a significant distance from the closest fire station. You can prepare your home and family for fire safety, prevention, and preparation with this information from the US Fire Administration: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/rural/

National AED/CPR Awareness Week

ICFR has AEDs at all five fire stations and our firefighters/EMTs/paramedics are trained to use the AEDs. But sucessful resuscitation requires citizen CPR. Those areas of the country with the highest rates of survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) also have the highest rate of citizen initiated CPR. You can take a CPR course through the American Red Cross.

Plan Your Home Fire Escape Route

Home fires in the United States number over 1,100 a day. How safe is your home from fire? Plan and practice an escape plan. Know two ways out of every room in your home. Make sure windows and doors open easily. Plan around your abilities. Planning and practicing with an accent on rapid and safe exit from your house is important in the event of fire. Draw a floor plan of your house showing all escape routes. An exit route out of the house without opening a bedroom door is essential. Decide on a meeting place for family members away from the house. See to it that all family members understand the alarm signal and escape plans and are able to follow them without assistance, especially small children, those with disabilities, and the elderly. Hold fire drills at least every six months. Maintain emergency equipment such as escape ladders and extinguishers as needed.

Lightning Safety

The National Weather Service has a great website with lots of information regarding lightning safety. You can learn more at: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

Jefferson County Emergency Preparedness Guide

Jefferson County Emergency Management has created some great tools to help you prepare for major emergencies. You can download the Jefferson County Emergency Preparedness Guide at: http://jeffco.us/jeffco/emerg_uploads/citizens_emergency_prep_guide.pdf Use the guide to prepare your family and home for a major emergency.