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We salute the dedicated volunteers of the Ashe County Volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squads

Sponsored byAmerican Emergency VehiclesAshe County CheeseAshe Optometric Eye CareBurgess & Son Body ShopGates Rubber Co.

Guardian Insurance AgencyParker Tie Co.Skyline/SkyBestSmoky Mountain BarbequeJames Vannoy & Sons Construction Co. Inc.Warrensville Drug StoreWest Jefferson Chevrolet

Members of the Fleetwood Fire and Rescue Department

A Special Edition of the

Chief Steven Craven, Alex Church, Randall Lathham, Ben Jordan, Jason Fairchild, Justin Phillips, Matt Tre-va, Chad Miller, Tim Howell, Bill Gentry, Robert Greer, Tim Russell, Rick Surber, Brandon Lemly, Jacob Fran-kis, B. James Nelson, Trey Young, Matt Grogan, Jamie Latham, Scott Jordan, Bartt Winebarger, Steve Brown, Byron Lemly, Jonathan Greer, Keaton Craven, John Latham, Tim Winters, Chris Roten, Roger Dugger, Alex Latham, Kelsey Latham, and Sam Shephard. (This is a complete roster of the members. Not all members were present for this photograph.)

Members of the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department

The members are ( from left, standing): Joe Taylor, Phillip Hamm, 1st Lt. Chuck Blevins, 1st Capt. Mike Williams, Craig Lit-tle, Micheal Brinegar and Sammy Greer. (kneeling): Assistant Chief David Higgins and Chief Dane Absher. Roster members but not shown are: 2nd Capt. Eric Dancy, 2nd Lt. Greg Roland, 1st Sgt. Rex Burgess, 2nd Sgt. Roger Miller, Johnny Seagraves, Teddy Absher, Ryan Absher, Mike Howell, Roy Mash, Greg How-ell, Matthew Osborne, Chad Green, Cody Blevins, Jimmy Young and Mike Lambert.

Members of the Lansing Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department

James Howell | Jefferson PostThe volunteers during a recent training session. The member are: Chief Evrett Adams, Sandy Adams, Lois Barker, Amanda Eastridge, Randy Eller, Kathy Elliot, Shannon Ellison, Shirley Farmer, Jimmy Ham, Landon Hart, Mike Hart, Jeff Key, Richard Kirrstetter, Robert McCarther, Vicky McCoy, Cliff McCoy, Jacob McCoy, Josh McCoy, Tim Miller, Allyn Osborne, Ellen Reedy, Jackie Reedy, Jerry Reedy, Anthony Richardson, Benny Roop, Brian Shepherd, Janet Stuart, Dennis Trainer Becky Venable, Jeff Venable, Richard Williams and Mat-thew Blevins. Honorary members include: Bobby Os-borne, Bill Cline and Max Henderson

Members of the Todd Volunteer Fire and Rescue

Chief Chris Welch, Asst. Chief Robbie Jones, Asst. Chief Joe Worley, Capt. Shane Miller, Lt. Matt Bou-langer, Safety Jason Eller, EMS Capt Nancy Worley, EMS Lt. Jeff Walton, EMS Lt. Elizabeth Royal, Bryan Miller, Butch Miller, Kevin Roark, Rick Jones, JD Wal-ton, Kenneth Grubb, Eric Davis, Jill Johnson Davis, Benny Holman, Eric Miller, Rachel Pugh, Jack Gen-try, Gary Wilson, David Osborne, Jacob Walton, Dean Williams, Aaron Grubb, Matt Royal, Jerry “JR” Wilcox, Kasey Wilson, Kelly McCoy and Dustin Greer. (This is a complete roster of the members. Not all members were present for this photograph.)

Members of the West Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department

The members are Michael Barr, Jeff Bowers, Andy Calhoun, James Ellis, Calvin Green, David Hart, Keith Hartzog, Danny Hodges, Ronnie Hopkins, Lt. Brian Houck, Dentise Houck, Mike Houck, Matt Lambert, Treasurer Mark McNeill, Brandon Miller, Chief Don-nie Miller, Asst. Chief Eric Miller, Mark Miller, Grant Price, Charles Rash, Bradley Roland, Tommy Royal, Terry Severt, Andy Shumate, Larry Shumate, Dale Simcox, Lt. Matt Turnmire, Jeff Turnmire, Capt. Michael Vannoy, Capt. Jody Walters, Kenneth Woods, and Ronnie Wyatt. Future volunteer firefighter Mark McNeill Jr., is also included. (This is a complete list of the department’s roster. Not all members were present for this photograph.)

Members of the Warrensville Volunteer Fire Department

Photo submitted | Jefferson PostThey are: (front row from left) Reba Gilley (standing), Dawn Zachary (kneeling), Charles Greer, Daniel Farmer, Josh Johnson, (second row) Lucas Roten, Richard Eastridge, Miguel Hernandez, Allen Lewis, Kaitlin Saunders, Brandon Hardin, Kathryn Ashley, Brian Ashley, Jerry Weaver, (back row) Beth Eastridge, Eric Gilley, Andy Scogin, Rick Zachary, Rusty Zachary, Casey South, Ivan Lomboy, Steve Turner, Earnie Eldreth. Members on department roster but not in photograph are Charles Weaver and Clayton Hartsog.

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Page 2 Friday, OctOber 26, 2012 JeFFersOn POst

Training is the key to firefighting success

Photo courtesy of Christine McCarty | Jefferson PostVolunteers from the West Jefferson Fire Department used a donated home for a controlled burn and training exercise in August on Beaver Creek Road.

Home fire safety tips to protect your familyMost people think of home fire

safety when the distinct chirp from the smoke detector or car-bon monoxide detector signals the batteries are low. This annoy-ing noise usually serves as a wake-up call in the middle of the night when everyone’s asleep.

Rest easy when you incorporate home fire safety tips that protect your family year-round:

Be Proactive With Home Fire Safety

The U.S. Fire Administration reports an average of 3,695 deaths due to fire between 1998 and 2007. Another 19,405 fire-related injuries are reported each year.

Don’t wait for the batteries to run down in your detectors. Keep your family safe without relying on a low battery signal.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends changing batteries at least once a year. With children in the house

and for your own peace of mind, play it even safer by replacing smoke and carbon monoxide de-tector batteries at least twice a year.

Set a Replacement ScheduleThe easiest way to keep track

of when you change the batter-ies is to follow the time change schedule. Replace the batteries with each Daylight Saving Time switch.

When you set your clocks for-ward and back, install new bat-teries in every smoke and carbon monoxide detector. This will give your detectors fresh batteries in the spring and fall.

The batteries you take out of the detectors can be used in your child’s toys so you’re not throwing away batteries that may still have some life in them. Just be sure to store them sepa-rately from new batteries you’ll be installing in your smoke and

carbon monoxide detectors.

Set a Testing ScheduleTest each detector monthly. A

2008 report from Marty Ahrens, Manager of Fire Analysis Services at the NFPA, cites 43 percent of fire fatalities between 2000 and 2004 had smoke detectors pres-ent but they didn’t work. Another 49 percent of fatal fires occurred when the victim was sleeping and the smoke detector didn’t sound.

An average of 75 percent of fa-tal fires had smoke detectors in the home but the batteries were missing or disconnected, the NF-PA’s report says. As tempting as it is to disconnect the battery when burnt toast sets it off, open win-dows to clear the room but leave your smoke detector alone.

By setting up a testing sched-ule, you’ll be able to verify the batteries are installed, connec-tors are working properly and the alarm is loud enough. Mark your

calendar and stick to your testing schedule.

Don’t Forget Hardwired Smoke Detectors

If your house has a burglar alarm, you may have hardwired smoke detectors that are tied into your system. Most alarm compa-nies recommend you test your burglar alarm once a month. This is a good time to test your alarm system’s smoke detector too.

Ask your alarm company for recommendations on how to test your particular smoke detector. Be sure your system is put on a “test” before you set the alarm off. Otherwise, the fire and police departments may show up at your house thinking you have an emer-gency.

Review Your Home Fire Safety Plan

Run through your family’s fire safety plan at least twice a year

when you’re changing the batter-ies or monthly when you’re test-ing your detectors. Hold home fire drills to make sure everyone in your family knows how to get out of the house in case there’s a fire.

Reminding your kids about your family’s fire safety tips en-sures they know exactly what to do if an alarm ever goes off. Re-viewing the drills is especially helpful for younger children who need their memories refreshed more often.

A 1998 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study points out that children four and under are particularly suscep-tible to fire-related injuries and deaths. Help all of your children understand the importance of fire safety through talks, fire safety books and fun child safety activi-ties. Learning home fire safety tips teaches your kids not to be scared but prepared.

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Jefferson Post friday, october 26, 2012 Page 3

New River responds to rugged area of Crumpler to battle blaze

Cliff Clark | Jefferson PostThis past June, volunteers of the New River Volunteer Fire Department were called to this home, located in a remote area of the Crumpler community, to keep this fire from spreading to the surrounding forest. It took a tremendous effort to move the water and men, and women, needed to fight this blaze. The home was destroyed, but the fire was contained.

Ashe County’s Emergency Services Agencies

Ashe County’s Emergency Services Organiza-tions include two ambulance services, one rescue squad, and 12 volunteer fire/fire and rescue de-partments.

EMSBlue Ridge Medical Transport Helton Ambulance Service

RescueAshe County Rescue Squad300 Mt. Jefferson RoadWest Jefferson, NC 28694336-846-6010

Fire / Fire and RescueJefferson Volunteer Fire Department205 Northwest DrJefferson, NC 28640(336) 846-9149Creston Volunteer Fire Department211 Worth Chapel RoadCreston, NC 28615(336) 385-6500Fleetwood Volunteer Fire & Rescue Inc.U.S. 221 S.Fleetwood, NC 28626(336) 877-5100Glendale Springs Volunteer Fire Dept Inc.7376 N.C. 16 SGlendale Springs, NC 28629(336) 982-3539Lansing Volunteer Fire Dept & Rescue9281 N.C. 194 NLansing, NC 28643(336) 384-4545New River Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept.6067 Highway 16North Crumpler, NC 28617(336) 982-4700Pond Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc.6038 Joines RdCreston, NC 28615(336) 385-6090Todd Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept Inc.1062 N.C. 194 S.Todd, NC 28684(336) 877-1234Warrensville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept.4989 N.C. Hwy 88 WWarrensville, NC 28693(336) 384-3700West Jefferson Fire Department204 Buck Mt. St WestJefferson, NC 28694(336) 246-3551

Cooking equipment remains top cause of fires According to a new re-

port released by the Na-tional Fire Protection As-sociation (NFPA), cooking remains top cause of home structure fires.

U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 371,700 home structure fires annually between 2006 and 2010. These fires caused an estimated average of 2,590 civilian deaths and $7.2 billion in direct property damage yearly.

Based on research by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the report also cited that cook-ing was the number one cause of home structure fires, both reported and unreported. CPSC found that in 2004-2005, for ev-ery household cooking fire reported to the fire depart-ment, U.S. households experienced 50 cooking equipment fires that they did not report.

Forty-two percent of re-ported home fires started in the kitchen or cooking area. These fires were the third leading cause of home fire deaths (15 per-cent) and leading cause of home fire injuries (37 per-cent).

Other notable findings from the report include:

• Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms.

• Smoking materials are the leading cause of home fire deaths followed by heating equipment and then cooking equipment.

• One-quarter (25 per-cent) of all home fire deaths were caused by fires that started in the bedroom; an-other quarter (24 percent) resulted from fires originat-ing in the living room, fam-ily room, or den.

• Half of all home fire deaths result from inci-dents reported overnight between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

• Home fires accounted for three-quarters (73 per-cent) of all reported struc-ture fires between 2006 and 2010.

• Between 2006 and 2010, on average one of every 310 households per year had a reported home fire.

• Home structure fires peaked around the dinner hours between 5-8 p.m.

Estimates are based on data from the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA’s) National Fire Incident Re-porting System (NFIRS) and the National Fire Pro-tection Association’s (NF-PA’s) annual fire depart-ment experience survey.

Stay safe in your home with these fire safety tips from NFPA:

• Watch your cooking Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.

• Give space heaters space Keep fixed and por-table space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.

• Smoke outside Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.

• Inspect electrical cords Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.

• Be careful when us-ing candles Keep candles

at least one foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.

• Have a home fire es-cape plan Make a home fire escape plan and prac-tice it at least twice a year.

• Install smoke alarms Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and out-side sleeping areas. In-terconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

• Test smoke alarms Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace conventional batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.

• Install sprinklers If you are building or remod-eling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.

About the National Fire Protection Associa-tion (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprof-it organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, re-search, training, and edu-cation. Visit NFPA’s web-site at www.nfpa.org for more information.

Tt’s time again for the creepy decorations, falling leaves, endless costumes, and lit Jack-o-lanterns. As families across the country begin to prepare for what

has become an increas-ingly popular holiday, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is re-minding everyone to take a few simple safety precau-

tions in order to ensure a fun, safe, and not too scary Halloween.

“It’s an exciting holiday especially for the kids but if precautions are not taken,

scary things can happen,” said Lorraine Carli NFPA’s vice president of commu-nications. “Candle decora-tions and flowing costumes create an extra risk of fire.” According to Carli, candle fires represent a leading cause of U.S. home fires and Halloween is one of the top five days for candle fires.

• When choosing a cos-tume, stay away from bil-lowing or long, trailing fab-ric. If you are making your own costume, choose mate-rial that won’t easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.

• Provide children with flashlights to carry for light-ing or glow sticks as part of their costume.

• Dried flowers, corn-stalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep

these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.

• It is safest to use a flash-light or battery-operated candles in a Jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all

times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside Jack-o-lanterns, use long fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walk-ways and yards.

• If you choose to use candle decorations, make sure to keep them well at-tended at all times.

• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.

• Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice stopping im-mediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)

• Use flashlights as alter-natives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the light-ing.

• If your children are go-ing to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emer-gency.

• Children should always go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult.

• Remind children to stay together as a group and walk from house to house.

• Review how to cross a street with your child. Look left, right and left again to be sure no cars are ap-proaching before crossing the street.

• Make a rule that chil-dren will not eat any treat until it has been brought home and examined by a grown-up.

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165 American Way,Jefferson

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We Salute, Support andAppreciate all the Fire& Rescue Workers of

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Thanks to All theVolunteers,

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Page 4 Friday, OctOber 26, 2012 JeFFersOn POst

Gas fires can be the most dangerous to fight

File photo | Jefferson PostPressurized gas fires can be the most dangerous a county volunteer will ever encounter. During this training exercise, firefighters learn to approach and knock down a propane fire.

Stay safe on the spookiest day of the year