Have a safe summer
Lead the parade to a safer summer and leave fireworks to the professionals. Once again this year, we’re doing everything we can to encourage a safe and comfortable summer holiday for everyone. Every family pledging to refrain from purchasing or using fireworks will be entered into a drawing, to be held at Tiny Town at 3:30 p.m. July 3. The family whose entry is drawn will win two seats on our flagship engine as it leads the Kingston Fourth of July Parade. They’ll also have a reserved table on the deck of the Filling Station where they’ll watch the rest of the parade, and enjoy free refreshments! To partner with us on a safer holiday and enter the contest, fill out the form that appears here. You can also find pledge forms on our Web site or at any of our staffed fire stations. Send it by e-mail to laboda@nkfr.org, fax it to (360) 297-2653 or drop it off at our station at 26642 Miller Bay Road.
Technical rescue team
Three members of our department have spent the past year training to serve on the regional technical rescue team. Lieutenant Chris Smith and firefighters Mike Mock and Ryan Buchanan are now qualified in this area, which includes complex and dangerous disciplines such as rope rescue, trench rescue, structural collapse rescue and confined space rescue. Should such events occur within our response area, we now have specially trained firefighters in our own organization as well as access to the resources and personnel of the regional team.
Hosting our heroes
Again this year, firefighters hosted 19 elementary school classes at NKF&R’s Paul Nichol Headquarters Fire Station to celebrate the end of school and our partnership with these students on safety education. We work with lots of different groups to promote prevention, but these classes – primarily kindergarten and third grade – are special, working with us throughout the school year to learn about motor vehicle safety, fire prevention, bike safety, choking prevention and more. We call them “our heroes” because, like firefighters, these kids now know how to save lives and property. Instead of saving lives by responding to emergencies, however, the students are doing it through prevention. During their visits, our heroes were treated to tours of the station, games, watermelon and a demonstration of firefighters at work. Most importantly, we thanked the teachers – who, despite their busy schedules, make time for us to visit throughout the year.
Car seat checks
Make sure you’re ready to travel safely this summer, and get your children’s car seat(s) checked. On the second Saturday of every month, our volunteers are available to provide this service between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Paul Nichol Headquarters Fire Station, 26642 Miller Bay Road.
Point No Point
In past summers, we have responded to several water rescues off of the beach at Point No Point County Park. In each case, swimmers misjudged the power of the currents in the area and had difficulty returning to shore. Please keep this in mind when enjoying this (and other) saltwater beaches around our area this summer.
Burn bans?
If summer ever arrives and we experience prolonged stretches of warm and dry weather, watch for an outdoor burn ban. To check on the status of the ban, see our Web site or call our automated information line at (360) 297-4888.
No CPR classes are scheduled until fall.
From our family to yours, we hope you enjoy a very happy and safe Fourth of July!
Michèle Laboda is Community Services Specialist for North Kitsap Fire & Rescue. Contact her at (360) 297-3619 ext. 14.
