Copper Fire participated in a multi-agency Propane Burn Training on 6/9/10 which was held at Frog Town in Angels Camp.

Copperopolis, CA....In typical Copperopolis Fire District fashion, the department welcomed their newest members of their volunteer force with celebration; a bar-b-que for the newest member of their team, friends and family. Five firefighters for Copperopolis Fire District completed the County Volunteer Fire Academy which lasted three months; 2 days per week. The academy was hosted by multiple fire departments covering almost every aspect of firefighting. ...
 

At Saturday’s pre-graduation ceremony the new volunteers were welcomed with a heartfelt speech by Captain/Paramedic Jason Robitaille. He told the crowd packed bay at station one that the new volunteer’s were “a great example of what the fire service is all about, camaraderie and family.” He went on to explain that “our (Copperopolis) fire department is a large family” and proceeded to welcome them to the family.

In order to “recognize the achievements of each recruit” they were honored through a pinning ceremony where they were called by name and presented for the first time with their Copperopolis Fire District badge.

Engineer/Paramedic Joe Butler had the honor of being the first person to pin the badge on each individual graduate.

The graduates are: Joe Shaw, Otto Maquire, Johnathan Villanueva, Aaron Smith, Joey Borelli, and Ricky Molina. I asked the recruits what was most difficult about the academy; here are some of their responses.

“Being away from my wife and kids.”
“Adjusting to the culture.”
“Hearing calls come out over the pager, but having to sit in class and not be able to respond.”
“Cutting the handline.”
“Hoses lays and navigating a maze blindfolded in full gear.”
When asked what they liked best about the academy it all boiled down to one thing, “Brotherhood.”


 

Owning a pool or hot tub comes with many responsibilities.

These include taking steps for proper operation, such as

keeping thewater clean and at an appropriate temperature.

Responsible ownership also includes taking steps for safe

use, such as providing layers of protection.   See the attached Red Cross Checklist for information!

A problem we often face here in the Copperopolis Fire District is the ability to quickly enter a property or a business for either medical calls or to check a sounding alarm due to a locked gate or locked door.

There are several options available to residents and business owners that would allow us to overcome these problems.  One of those options is known as a KNOX box.  Here is some information on KNOX boxes:

A Knox Box, known officially as the KNOX-BOX Rapid Entry System is a small, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys for firefighters and EMTs to retrieve in emergencies. Local fire companies can hold master keys to all such boxes in their response area, so that they can quickly enter a building without having to force entry or find individual keys held in deposit at the station. Knox Boxes simplify key control for local fire departments. They also cut fire losses for building owners since firefighters can enter buildings without breaking doors or windows. (see the picture for several types of knox boxes)

If a KNOX box is not the way to go for you please contact us here at the Copperopolis Fire District and we can help find a solution for you.

As a reminder to all residents within the Copper Fire District we would like to encourage everyone to clearly mark your addresses.  We suggest a reflective sign (like the ones pictured) that can be seen from both directions and located near the street by your driveway.

Valuable time can be lost if emergency responders cannot find your address.  We care for your safety and want to provide the best and quickest care possible.

As the warmer weather returns so do the rattlesnakes.  Use caution when working out doors or walking your pets.

Interesting Facts About Rattlesnakes

• Approximately 7,000 - 8,000 people a year receive venomous snakebites in the U.S. and about 5 of those people die. (FDA)
• 25% of adult rattlesnake bites are dry, with no venom injected. (Brown, 1997)
• Rattlesnakes can strike a distance roughly two-thirds their own length
• Rattlesnakes are deaf and feel vibrations to detect prey or nearby danger

Rattlesnakes have the following physical characteristics:

• Broad, "triangular" head
• Eyes have verticle "cat-like" pupils
• Covered in scales that are a varitey of colors/patterns
• Scales are keeled with a raised ridge in the center of each
• Body is heavy or thick (or fat) in appearance
• Large tubular fangs in mouth that fold out when the mouth opens
• The mouth is like a hinge, opening 180 degrees
• Blunt tail with jointed rattle (Note: baby rattlesnakes don't have rattles and some adult snakes may break or lose their rattles)
• Typically rattlesnakes range from 3' to 4' in length

Symptoms

• One or two puncture marks
• Pain, tingling or burning at the area of the bite
• Swelling at the area of the bite
• Bruising and discoloration at the site of the bite
• Numbness
• Nausea, weakness and lightheadedness.
• Difficulty breathing

First Aid for Snakebites (This first aid for snakebites information was provided by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Red Cross)

According to the American Red Cross, these steps should be taken:

• Wash the bite with clean water and soap.
• Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.
• If the bite is on the hand or arm remove any rings, watches or tight clothing.
• Get medical help immediately.

Most bites don't occur in isolated situations where the victim may be a long distance from medical help. Some medical professionals, along with the American Red Cross, cautiously recommend two other measures:

• If a victim is unable to reach medical care within 30 minutes, a bandage, wrapped two to four inches above the bite, may help slow venom. The bandage should not cut off blood flow from a vein or artery. A good rule of thumb is to make the band loose enough that a finger can slip under it.
• A suction device may be placed over the bite to help draw venom out of the wound without making cuts. Suction instruments often are included in commercial snakebite kits.

Please read the following attachment from CALFIRE for 4th of July safety tips.

Data from the United States reveals the importance of awareness about this threat to safety on the road:

• More people die in vehicle fires than in apartment fires each year in the United States where nearly 1 out of 5 fires involve motor vehicles.
• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 278,000 vehicle fires in the United States during 2006. These fires caused an estimated 490 civilian deaths and 1,200 civilian injuries.
• Of those fires, 75 percent were caused by bad maintenance, mechanical or electrical failures or malfunctions. Collisions or overturns caused only 3% of these fires but 57% of the associated deaths.
• Older teens and young adults are age groups at highest risk of highway vehicle fire death.
• One-third of non-fatal vehicle fire injuries occurred when civilians attempted to fight the fire themselves.

Nature of the threat:
While explosions from car fires are rare, the true danger is the toxic fumes. Motor vehicles are made of many synthetic materials that emit harmful and deadly gases when they burn. A main by-product of fires is a lethal concentration of carbon monoxide, which is odorless, colorless and tasteless gas.
Fire can cause fatal or depilating burn injuries. A vehicle fire can generate heat upwards of 1,500 F. Flames in vehicles can often shoot out distances of 10 feet or more. Parts of the vehicle can burst because of heat, shooting debris great distances.  Bumper and hatchback door unit, two-piece tire rims, magnesium wheels, drive shafts, grease seals, axle, and engine parts, all can become lethal shrapnel. Fires may also cause air bags to deploy.
Hazardous materials such as battery acid can cause injury even without burning.
Cause of Vehicle Fires
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the US reports that about one fifth of all fires reported are motor vehicle fires, and the majority of vehicle fires are not related to crashes. These fires do not seem to attract much attention or investigation, because they do not usually result in injury or property claims beyond the vehicle replacement cost.
Vehicle fires usually progress slowly in the early stages, allowing occupants time to escape injury. Injury or fatalities usually occur in cases where an occupant is asleep, disabled, intoxicated, or too young to escape.
Most vehicle fires start in the engine compartment. A motor vehicle contains many flammable materials, including flammable liquids like gasoline and oil as well as solid combustibles such as upholstery. Fuel leaks from ruptured fuel lines also can rapidly ignite.
Leakage of fuel, motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, or even coolant can lead to engine fires, and the leakage of a flammable or combustible liquid in an engine compartment results from some kind of failure. The failure may be a result of normal wear and tear, failure of a mechanic to make repairs safely, design failure which leads to rupture or abrasion of hoses or manufacturing defects in hoses, gaskets or fluid connections.
When a brand new vehicle (or one which has had very recent repairs) burns, failure of the manufacturer (or a mechanic) to safely tighten all fluid connections is the most likely cause.
Car batteries pose a fairly unique hazard - hydrogen gas evolved in the electrolysis reaction ignites readily in fire conditions and can result in an explosive dispersion of battery acid.
About 15 percent of motor vehicle fires originate in the passenger compartment. The main causes of these are electrical short circuits and cigarettes.
Preventing Vehicle Fires
Vehicle maintenance and inspection is crucial to preventing vehicle fires. The following suggestion might prevent vehicle fires:

• Have your vehicles inspected at least annually by a trained, professional technician.
• Check for any malfunctioning parts and hanging electrical wirings. Do not leave them hanging. 
• Include a check of the fuel system in your regular maintenance schedule. Electrical and fuel system or problems are the major causes of car fires.
• Watch for fluid leaks under vehicles, cracked or blistered hoses, or wiring that is loose, has exposed metal or has cracked insulation. 
• Have vehicles inspected and repaired as soon as possible if exhaust or emission control problems are suspected.
• An early indication of a problem is a fuse that blows more than once. The source of the triggered fuse could be either a faulty component or a wiring problem. 
• Check for oil leaks and always use a funnel when adding oil. Oil spilled on a hot exhaust manifold can cause a fire.
• If a filling station attendant adds oil, double check that the cap is on securely. This sounds obvious, but better to check than end up with oil all over your engine compartment at best, or an engine fire at worst.
• Clean the vehicle regularly - Do not allow your trash to settle in the vehicle.
• Avoid throwing cigarette butts anywhere
• When driving - Be alert to changes in the way your vehicle sounds when running, or to a visible plume of exhaust coming from the tailpipe. A louder than usual exhaust tone, smoke coming from the tailpipe or a backfiring exhaust could mean problems or damage to the high-temperature exhaust and emission control system on the vehicle. 
• Observe your gauge frequently - Check if the temperature is rising.

 
Advice when Vehicle is on Fire
In the automotive world, smoke does not necessarily mean fire. Depending on the age of the vehicle, it could be steam from the radiator, often caused by a broken fan belt or over-heated engine. The simple fact is if your vehicle is smoking or putting off odors, something's gone wrong. A burning car is a death trap. Smoke accumulates quickly within the sealed doors and windows and rising heat and the fire itself make a time bomb out of the gas tank. Escape from a burning car is a challenge that requires fast thinking and even faster acting.
Here are safety suggestions to follow when your vehicle is smoking/ on fire:

• Stay as calm as you can. The worst possible thing that you can do is panic. Panic will cause you to waste precious seconds and make mistakes that could end up being tragic. 
• If the vehicle is moving, signal and move to the side of the road. 
• Fire feeds off oxygen and even slow forward motion will force air into the engine compartment, basically stoking the fire.
• Pulling to the side makes it possible for everyone to get out of the vehicle safely. 
• Turn off the ignition to shut off the electric current and stop the flow of gasoline. 
• Put the vehicle in park or set the emergency brake; you don't want the vehicle to move after your leave it. 
• Make sure everyone gets out of the vehicle, but do not waste time and increase your risk by removing personal belongings. 
• Move at least 100 feet away. Keep traffic in mind and keep everyone together. There is not only danger from the fire, but also from other vehicles moving in the area. 
• Keep onlookers and others away.
• Do not go back into a burning vehicle
• more  ]  

As most of you know wildland fires are a big part of life in the foothills of Northern California, but it does not have to turn to tragedy. Creating a defensible space around your home is of the upmost importance. The proper landscaping and trimming can make all the difference between having a wonderful summer in the sun, or a tragic summer of loss.  
Now, while it is cool; is the time to get ready for fire season. Trimming trees, clearing brush, and spraying weeds is hard work and is best done in the later part of winter before trees start budding. 
 Click on the news headline for guidelines provided by Cal-Fire for defensible space which, will help protect your home.

Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 500 lives and sends another 15,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
Understanding the Risk
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Where does carbon monoxide come from?
CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.
Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.
What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?
What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not.
If no one is feeling ill:
1.   Silence the alarm.
2.   Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
3.   Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
4.   Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.
If illness is a factor:
1.   Evacuate all occupants immediately.
2.   Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
3.   Call your local emergency number and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
4.   Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
5.   Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning

• Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
• Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
• Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
• When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.