Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

East Bay park district makes information about police, fire activity more accessible

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Launches new system; sign up to receive updates

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

The East Bay Regional Park District has launched a new system to make information about police and fire activity more accessible to the public. The system also includes an interactive webpage with near real-time mapping of police and fire activity, including location, date and time, a general description, and outcome. The new system also allows the public to sign up for daily or weekly email updates with a summary of public safety activity and links to more information.

The new system is provided by Sun Ridge Systems, Inc. – Citizen RIMS and housed on Crimegraphics.com, which integrates with the Park District’s existing Public Safety Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS). The new system allows updates to be emailed out automatically rather than manually by public safety staff, increasing efficiency and allowing staff to focus on other important activities.

Most importantly, the new system increases public transparency by making disclosable public safety activity information more accessible. The system allows any member of the public to access near real-time public safety activity mapping information and sign up for daily or weekly email updates.

East Bay Regional Park District Public Safety map example. Source: crimegraphics.com

Access to daily or weekly updates is available via an easy one-time sign-up process. Email addresses are entered into Citizen RIMS / crimegraphics.com and will only be used to send email update to subscribers.

To learn more and sign up for these updates, visit www.ebparks.org/public-safety/activity.

User Notice:

Access to disclosable public safety activity information is provided as a public service from the East Bay Regional Park District and subject to applicable terms of use. To protect privacy, the Crimegraphics.com website does not provide information regarding juvenile offenders, or specific information regarding calls for service that are protected by confidentiality laws or sensitive in nature. The East Bay Regional Park District does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained on this website regarding specific incidents, crimes, or people with respect to the omission of information that may have not yet been filed or is pending filing with a court(s) of jurisdiction relating to criminal offenses.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Antioch priest appointed first ever volunteer Con Fire Chaplain

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By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

First ever Con Fire Chaplain Fr. Robert Rien,

We are pleased to announce that Father Robert Rien has accepted the newly created position of volunteer Fire Chaplain – lead as part of the fire district peer support program. He is the first-ever official Fire Chaplain for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. This appointment is effective immediately.

Father Robert Rien is a native of Oakland, California, and is a Priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland for the past 50 years. Ordained in 1974, he served parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa County. Three years after ordination, he served as the Catholic Chaplain for the 349th Military Air Lift Wing, stationed at Travis Air Force Base for five years.

He has been the Pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Antioch for the last 18 years. During that time, he served as Chaplain for the Antioch Police Department and for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. He holds the distinguished Master Chaplain Certification from the International Conference of Police Chaplains.

Before being assigned to parishes in Contra Costa County in 2001, he served as Chaplain for the Oakland Fire Department. In addition to his other duties and responsibilities, he serves as Catholic Chaplain for both Sutter-Delta and Kaiser Deer Valley Hospitals.

Additionally, he serves as a Regional Chaplain for the East Bay Regional Park District and a Contra Costa County Peer Support Services Association member.

Father Robert currently resides in Antioch. When not tending to his parish, he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants. He appreciates being with friends and loved ones.

Located in East County, Father Robert can be reached by email at Rrien@cccfpd.org. Please assist Father Robert in becoming familiar with the District and join us in making him a welcome part of the Con Fire team!

Lafayette to host National Night Out Tuesday August 1st

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By City of Lafayette

Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Amphitheater at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

“National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”

The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” in 1984 began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Join us to ask questions and meet local first responders, there will be the following:

Displays from the Lafayette Police Department

Displays from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

Informational handouts and giveaways.

Lafayette Crime Prevention Commissioners and Emergency Preparedness Commissioners

 

UPDATE: Search continues for man missing after falling off boat in river near Antioch Friday

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A Coast Guard helicopter searches river for man along Antioch waterfront Friday afternoon, July 21, 2023. Photos by Allen D. Payton

By Allen D. Payton

07/22/23 UPDATE #2: According to Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs, “On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 1:51 PM, deputy sheriffs from the Marine Patrol Unit were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United States Coast Guard with searching for a missing boater who was apparently trying to push his 20-foot vessel to shore near the Fulton Shipyard on the San Joaquin River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office drone team were also involved in the search. The missing boater, who is not being identified at this time, was not located. The Marine Patrol Unit will continue the search today.”

07/22/23 UPDATE #1: According to Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Schnabel, “We suspended the search after searching until around 7:30 pm. One man had fallen overboard from a recreational boat and the other man jumped in after him attempting to get him out of the water leaving the vessel unmanned. Neither had life jackets. One man was recovered by a Good Samaritan and taken to a local boat ramp.”

———————-

A helicopter could be seen flying over the river and Waldie Plaza along the Antioch waterfront Friday afternoon. According to Con Fire PIO Steve Hill, “We responded in the noon hour to reports of a 55-year-old man in the water. In spite of searches by us, Sheriff’s Office Marine program and the Coast Guard we were unable to locate him. We are clearing at this hour, the Coast Guard remains on scene.”

As of 4:25 PM Coast Guard 11th District Public Affairs Specialist Hunter Schnabel said, “the search is ongoing for a male. We received a report from another male who was swimming with him after he got back to shore and called in a panic.”

A Coast Guard helicopter flies over Waldie Plaza in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown on Friday, July 21, 2023.

“We have Station Rio Vista and Air San Francisco’s MH65 Dolphins (helicopters) in the search,” he added.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Con Fire responds to 69 July 4th fires, 11 caused by fireworks 51 more believed to be

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Source: Con Fire

Limited response plan implementation ensures responses to exceptionally high volume of fireworks-caused fires

Antioch had most with 22 & worst structure fire destroying garage, damaging two homes in which four residents displaced, dog died

Martinez man loses part of hand holding an exploding firework

By Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

July 6, 2023 – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District today made available details of the fire and EMS activity, much of it fireworks related, occurring across the district on the Independence Day holiday evening.

For the six-hour period from 8 p.m., July 4, to 2 a.m., July 5, the district dispatched crews to 69 fire incidents. This represents a more than 400 percent increase over other recent Tuesdays, which in June, averaged 20 fire dispatches for the entire day. Year-over-year, fire incidents were up nearly 60 percent.

The holiday evening’s 69 fire incidents point to the dangers of fireworks use in current heightened fire danger conditions. Eleven of these fires are known to have been caused, and another 51 suspected of having been caused by fireworks.

Source: Con Fire

While the cool weather was favorable and the midweek timing had the holiday falling on a work night, fires numbered some 60 percent more than 4th of July 2023’s 44 fire incidents for the same evening period.

Four Residents Displaced, Dog Dies in Antioch Fire

In spite of more than 60 grass, vegetation and other exterior fires burning across the district on theevening of the Fourth, only four structure fires ensued. Of these, in three cases, fireworks could not be ruled out as the cause. In the worst structure fire of the evening, in the 2 a.m. hour in Antioch, a garage was destroyed, and two adjacent homes substantially damaged as a result of fireworks. In all, four residents were displaced, and a dog died, as a result of this unnecessary fire.

20% Increase in Emergency Medical Service Incidents 

Calls for emergency medical services were also up over normal, non-holiday periods with some of this increase likely attributable to fireworks activity. On the Fourth, 240 EMS incidents were dispatched with 64 of these occurring between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. the next day. Total EMS responses represent about a 20% increase over more typical weekdays. On average, Con Fire responds to just over 200 EMS incidents daily.

In one particularly egregious case, a 66-year-old male in Martinez was gravely injured in the 10 p.m. hour when he lost part of a hand while holding an exploding firework.

Source: Con Fire

Considerable preparation across the district, including upstaffing of additional dispatchers; two hand crews and equipment; two fire dozers; and the district operations center, staffed by multiple chief officers; resulted in rapid and overwhelming responses, which served to limit fire spread, and resultant damage when fires did occur.

All 60-plus grass and exterior fires were kept small, limiting potential for structure damage as a result of rapid and overwhelming responses as well as early notifications to 911 by residents.

 

 

 

Fire in Antioch BART station parking lot damages six vehicles

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A fire in the Antioch BART Station parking lot damaged six vehicles on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Photos: (L) ConFire, (R) Denise Cantrell

During possible attempted gas theft

By Allen D. Payton

According to the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (Con Fire), a fire in the Antioch BART parking lot on Thursday was extinguished after a total of six vehicles were extensively damaged. Con Fire crews, along with Antioch and BART police, responded. The fire appears to have been caused during an attempted gasoline theft. The incident remains under investigation.

Photos: Con Fire

 

Con Fire delivers increased operational capacity in East County

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Adds four-firefighter crew at Fire Station 92 in Brentwood, Advanced Life Support capability now districtwide

By Steve Hill, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced, Thursday, April 13, 2023, operational staffing of a completely new crew at Fire Station 92 in Brentwood and availability of Advanced Life Support emergency medical service on all operational crews districtwide.

Beginning April 11, the four-firefighter crew of the new Engine 90 was fully operational, more than doubling firefighting resources dispatched from Fire Station 92 located at 201 John Muir Parkway in Brentwood. This unique engine crew is specially equipped and staffed to perform fire scene searches and rescues, vehicular extrications, and other rescues. The additional crew will also support quicker assembly of firefighting forces in east county’s Battalion 9 and neighboring Battalion 8.

Additionally, on April 1, all Con Fire crews in the former East County Fire Protection District area of responsibility became Advanced Life Support capable for the first time since the annexation of that fire district in July 2022. With this change, all operational Con Fire crews across the district are ALS, meaning at least one of the assigned firefighters is a paramedic. Con Fire has been able to upgrade east county crews from their former Basic Life Support capability as a result of its inherent operational efficiencies.

The combination of these two major post-annexation improvements reinforce the benefits of consolidation of firefighting resources into a single, larger, more capable organization able to more efficiently deliver comprehensive fire, rescue, and EMS services across the county.

“I am proud of the work that has been done by so many, including firefighters, elected officials, and staff at all levels, to position us to deliver these life- and property-saving resources to residents of east county and our entire district,” said Lewis Broschard, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “The additional four-person crew on Engine 90 adds immensely to our response capability in east county and benefits central residents, as well, while districtwide ALS capability assures all district residents of receiving paramedic care in a timely manner anywhere Con Fire serves.”

“This is another milestone to celebrate as we work towards making east Contra Costa County safer after the annexation of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis. “With the addition of four new firefighters in Brentwood, and assignment of Engine 88 to east county’s Battalion 9, there are now 19 firefighters where there used to be nine. This, and with the transition from EMTs to paramedics, we are providing more resources to east county cities and unincorporated areas, enhancing the quality of service, ensuring response times are faster, and we are all safer. I also look forward to the two new stations to be built in the next few years.”

Engine 90 is uniquely configured and staffed as a virtual ladder truck company on a fire engine platform. This means the new engine is equipped with all the specialized equipment, including rescue and extrication tools, typically found on a fire truck, with the exception of a 100-foot aerial ladder and master stream water nozzle system. It is also staffed with four firefighters, as opposed to the three normally found on a fire engine. These four crewmembers are able to work as two separate teams, essentially doubling the tasks that can be accomplished at an incident scene by this single apparatus and crew.

Engine 90’s innovative ladder truck-like configuration comes as a result of a districtwide shortage of ladder trucks due to the recent highway accident that took one such apparatus permanently out of service and nationwide supply chain issues creating extended delays in new equipment delivery times. Con Fire expects to be able to replace Engine 90 with a new ladder truck sometime in 2024. Until that time, Engine 90 will deliver most of the many capabilities of a ladder truck, minus its aerial ladder.

All of Con Fire’s operational crews are ALS capable, staffed with at least one paramedic on board, along with other crew members who are emergency medical technicians. Our apparatus are properly equipped and supplied with the medications needed to provide patients with a higher level of medical care including those in cardiac arrest and respiratory distress, and who need advanced trauma care, continuous IV drips, on a chronic ventilator, and those who require cardiac monitoring.

Paramedics and EMTs who staff the Con Fire ALS apparatus have a higher level of training than those who provide BLS services at other organizations. Due to their advanced training, ALS personnel are allowed to start IVs, administer medications, and give injections to help stabilize the patient on the way to emergency rooms or trauma centers.

Measure X is a countywide 20-year, ½ cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa County voters on November 3, 2020. Collection of the tax began on April 1, 2021. The ballot measure stated the intent of Measure X is “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential services.”

A board of supervisors created Measure X Community Advisory Board oversee an annual assessment of community needs, focusing primarily on the priority areas identified in the Measure X Needs Assessment, including emergency response (fire/medical), health care, safety net services, preventative care, affordable housing, and support for early childhood, youth, families, and seniors.

About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District – With implementation of a contract for service with the City of Pinole in March, 2023 and annexation of the former East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) in July, 2022, Contra Costa Fire now provides fire and emergency medical services to more than 770,000 residents in 12 cities and 11 unincorporated areas across our expanded 557 square-mile jurisdiction. The district now comprises 34 ire stations and more than 600 employees. Through our unique ambulance “Alliance,” the district delivers EMS and ambulance transport services to much of Contra Costa County. In 2022, the district responded to nearly 100,000 incidents of all types, including 67,000 fire medical emergencies, and dispatched some 100,000 ambulances, conducting more than 75,000 ambulance transports. Contra Costa Fire remains dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment.

Public invited to ribbon-cutting for reopening of Pinole Valley Fire Station Saturday

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Closed since July 2021

By Allen D. Payton

After over 12 years since it closed, Pinole Valley Fire Station 74 will reopen and a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate it will be held this Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District posted the following invitation on their Facebook page, Wednesday:

“You are cordially invited to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony jointly hosted by the City of Pinole and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to recognize the reactivation of Fire Station 74 and the implementation of the collaborative agreement through which Con Fire will provide fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services in Pinole.

On this date, in a precursor to the many service enhancements to be realized through the upcoming contract for fire, rescue and EMS service arrangement with Con Fire, we will begin serving county residents from this renovated and long un-staffed station.

Please join our city, county and fire districts’ leaders, advisory commission members, along with firefighters and staff from the City of Pinole Fire and Con Fire, as we mark the reopening of Fire Station 74.

A ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. with brief remarks by Mayor Devin T. Murphy, Supervisor John Gioia, Pinole Fire Chief Chris Wynkoop, and Con Fire Chief Lewis Broschard, followed by a ribbon cutting and open house to introduce the newly renovated station to the public.

Light refreshments will be served.

A formal transfer of command will take place in a separate ceremony at the Pinole city council meeting on April 4 at 7 pm to mark the completion of the contract for service transition.

WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2023, 11 am – 1 pm

WHERE: 3700 Pinole Valley Road, Pinole

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia also issued an invite to the event writing, “reopening of Pinole Valley Fire Station will save lives and property.

If you can’t make it in person, you can watch on livestream: facebook.com/contracostafire

Re-activating this Fire Station is the result of a collaboration between Contra Costa County, City of Pinole, and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (ConFire)

I successfully advocated to use revenues from the County’s recently passed new sales tax (Measure X) to re-open this vital fire station.

Re-opening Station 74 will enhance fire, rescue, and emergency medical services throughout West County, and it will be staffed by an engine crew operating both a standard structure fire engine and a specialized wildland fire engine.

My father died of cardiac arrest in 1987 after not getting medical care fast enough. I understand the importance of improving emergency response time since every minute can make the difference between life and death.

Under a new agreement with the City of Pinole, ConFire will staff and operate both Fire Stations in Pinole – the Downtown Station 73 and Pinole Valley Station 74.

Thanks to the voters for supporting Measure X to increase vital fire and emergency medical services.”

Source: City of Pinole

History of Station 74 and Reopening Process

Station 74 was closed by the Pinole City Council in July 2011. Also according to the City’s website, “For most of its history, the City of Pinole has operated just one fire station (Station 73). The City briefly operated a second fire station (Station 74), from 2003 until 2011. The second station was closed due to lack of funding. Since the closure of Station 74, the City has explored different options for reopening the station or otherwise expanding fire protection and emergency medical services.

In November 2020, Contra Costa County voters approved Measure X, a half-cent countywide sales tax expected to generate approximately $100 million annually. In November 2021, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved various appropriations of Measure X revenues, including $2 million to help reopen Pinole’s Fire Station 74.”

The process to reopen the station began last September. Then following the approvals by both the council and Board of Supervisors, on Nov. 9, 2022, the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) unanimously approved the application for the fire service contract between the City of Pinole and Con Fire.

The partnership enables Con Fire to provide full operation of fire services in the City of Pinole, including the operation of both Fire Station 73 in downtown and Fire Station 74.

That will result ending the City’s own fire department. Emergency medical and fire protection services will be provided in Pinole by Con Fire.

“Residents, businesses, and visitors of Pinole would enjoy a higher level of emergency medical and fire protection services under the proposed arrangement than they do currently. In the future, if the City and Con Fire terminated the agreement, the City would need to reinstitute a City of Pinole Fire Department,” the City’s website reads.

All sworn uniformed personnel, with the exception of the Fire Chief, will become Con Fire employees upon the changeover.

The city will continue to own both fire stations.

 

Contra Costa residents urged to use 911 only for emergencies

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Especially during flu season; ConFire says respiratory virus calls are straining CCC EMS resources

By Contra Costa Health Services

To ensure continued timely response to true medical emergencies, Contra Costa Health (CCH) encourages residents to call 911 only if the need for care is truly an emergency.

Contra Costa County’s emergency medical system traditionally serves higher-than-usual numbers of patients this time of year, and this month healthcare providers and the agencies providing emergency ambulance service are especially impacted because of COVID, flu and other respiratory viruses.

According to Con Fire, “Respiratory virus calls are straining CCC EMS resources.”

Several hospitals in the community are reporting critically high level of patients occupying beds, with more than 1,200 inpatients reported throughout the county as of Friday. Hospital emergency departments are similarly impacted.

Calling 911 for your health emergency is recommended if it involves:

  • Chest pain, difficulty breathing or a fast (120+ beats per minute) resting heartbeat
  • Numbness or weakness in any part of the body, seizures, or difficulty speaking
  • Fainting, unconsciousness, dizziness, sudden severe pain or headache, or confusion
  • Sudden blindness or vision changes
  • Heavy bleeding that will not stop with pressure, or broken bones
  • Choking, drowning or near drowning
  • Severe burns
  • Poisoning or drug overdose
  • Allergic reactions, especially if there is difficulty breathing
  • Someone making a credible threat to harm themselves or someone else

There are other good reasons to call 911 as well. But to reduce strain on the county’s healthcare system, CCH asks anyone considering whether to seek emergency care if a 911 call is the best way to get the services they need, or if contacting an advice nurse or urgent care might be more appropriate.

When many people seek care through 911 at the same time, it reduces the number of emergency ambulances in circulation, ready to respond when someone in the county needs lifesaving care.

Based on a paramedic’s assessment of a patient’s condition and if the number of available emergency ambulances is very low, the paramedic may suggest a patient visit an urgent care on their own or call an advice nurse.

During the winter virus season, patients visiting emergency departments at hospitals in the county may also need to wait longer depending on circumstances at the time they arrive and the severity of their illness or injury.

Fire Prevention Week: Two minutes may be all you have to escape a home fire — the nation’s most frequent disaster

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Dos minutos puede ser todo lo que tiene para escapar un incendio doméstico, el desastre más frecuente del país

During Fire Prevention Week, practice your escape plan and test your smoke alarms; residents in need can contact the Red Cross to request a free smoke alarm installation

This National Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region urges everyone to practice their two-minute home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms to stay safe from the nation’s most frequent disaster.

Two minutes is the amount of time that fire experts say you may have to safely escape a home fire before it’s too late. These crises account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year across the U.S. — locally in the Northern California Coastal Region, home fire responses are 18% higher during cold months than warmer times of year.

“As the threat of home fires increases with colder temperatures, Fire Prevention Week serves as an important reminder to prepare now,” said Ana Romero, Regional Preparedness Manager. “Practice your two-minute home fire escape drill and test your smoke alarms monthly to help keep your family safe.”

HOW TO PRACTICE YOUR TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Practice your plan with everyone in your household; also teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like and what to do in an emergency. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including a printable escape plan and safety tips for cooking and home heating — the leading causes of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, which is sponsoring Fire Prevention Week with the theme, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.”

  • Include at least two ways to exit every room in your home in your escape plan.
  • Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
  • Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
  • Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced because components such batteries can become less reliable. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
  • Tailor your escape plan to everyone’s needs in your household. If you or a loved one is deaf or hard of hearing, install strobe light and bed-shaker alarms to help alert you to a fire.

IF YOU NEED HELP

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit us at SoundTheAlarm.org/NorCalCoastal to request an appointment.

Red Cross volunteers and partners perform smoke alarm installations and home fire safety visits wherever possible to ensure our communities are safe.

Here is the full circle story of Burnie Gipson, who lives in Martinez, California. His previous home in San Francisco suffered a fire and the Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers responded to provide help and care to him and other displaced residents. After moving to Martinez, Burnie reached back out to the Red Cross to set up a free smoke alarm installation in his new home.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES

Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with community partners has saved at least 1,393 lives — including 24 here in the Northern California Coastal Region— by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. Locally, Red Cross volunteers and partners have installed 42,309 alarms and helped make 15,807 households safer. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Durante la Semana de la Prevención de Incendios, practique su plan de escape y pruebe sus detectores de humo; los residentes que lo necesiten pueden ponerse en contacto con la Cruz Roja para solicitar una instalación gratuita de alarma de humo

Esta Semana de la Prevención de Incendios (del 9 al 15 de octubre), la Cruz Roja Americana Región de la Costa Norte de California insta a todos a practicar su plan de dos minutos de evacuación de incendios en el hogar y probar sus alarmas de humo para mantenerse a salvo del desastre más frecuente del país.

Dos minutos es la cantidad de tiempo que los expertos en incendios dicen que puede tener para escapar de forma segura de un incendio doméstico antes de que sea demasiado tarde. Estas crisis representan la mayoría de los más de 60,000 desastres a los que la Cruz Roja responde cada año en todo Estados Unidos. Localmente, las respuestas a los incendios domésticos son un 18% más altas durante los meses de frío que las épocas más cálidas del año.

“A medida que la amenaza de incendios domésticos aumenta con las temperaturas más frías, la Semana de la Prevención de Incendios sirve como un recordatorio importante para prepararse ahora”, dijo Ana Romero, Gerente Regional de Preparación. “Practique su simulacro de escape en caso de incendio en el hogar de dos minutos y pruebe sus alarmas de humo mensualmente para ayudar a mantener a su familia segura”.

CÓMO PRACTICAR SU SIMULACRO DE DOS MINUTOS

Practique su plan con todos en su hogar; también enseñe a los niños cómo suena una alarma de humo y qué hacer en una emergencia. Visite CruzRojaAmericana.org/incendios para obtener más información, incluyendo un plan de escape imprimible y consejos de seguridad para cocinar y calentar el hogar, las principales causas de los incendios domésticos, según la Asociación Nacional de Protección contra Incendios, que patrocina la Semana de la Prevención de Incendios con el tema, “El fuego no espera. Planifica tu escape”.

  • Incluya al menos dos formas de salir de cada habitación de su casa en su plan de escape.
  • Seleccione un lugar de reunión a una distancia segura de su casa, como la casa de su vecino o un punto de referencia, como un árbol específico en su patio delantero, donde todos sepan reunirse.
  • Coloque detectores de humo en cada nivel de su casa, incluidos los dormitorios y las zonas de descanso interiores y exteriores. Pruebe las alarmas mensualmente y cambie las baterías al menos una vez al año, si su modelo lo requiere.
  • Compruebe la fecha del fabricante de sus detectores de humo. Si tienen 10 años o más, es probable que deban reemplazarse porque componentes como las baterías pueden ser menos confiables. Siga las instrucciones del fabricante de la alarma.
  • Adapte su plan de escape a las necesidades de todos en su hogar. Si usted o un ser querido es sordo o tiene problemas de audición, instale alarmas de luz estroboscópica y para agitar la cama para ayudar a alertarle de un incendio.

SI NECESITA AYUDA

Si no puede darse el lujo de comprar detectores de humo o no puede instalar uno físicamente, la Cruz Roja puede ayudar. Visite nuestro sitio web ActivaTuAlarma.org para solicitar un turno. Los voluntarios de la Cruz Roja junto con socios locales realizan visitas para instalación de alarmas de humo gratuitas y prevención de incendios en el hogar cada vez que resulta posible.

Esta es la historia de circulo completo de Burnie Gipson, residente de Martinez, California. Su anterior hogar en San Francisco sufrió un incendio y los voluntarios del Equipo de Acción en Desastres de la Cruz Roja asistieron

para ayudar y proveer cuidados a el y a otros residentes desplazados por el fuego. Luego de mudarse a martines, Burnie contacto a la Cruz Roja para instalar una alarma de incendios en su nuevo hogar.

LA CAMPAÑA DE PREVENCIÓN DE INCENDIOS EN EL HOGAR SALVA VIDAS

Desde octubre de 2014, la Campaña de La Cruz Roja contra incendios en el hogar con socios comunitarios ha salvado al menos 1.393 vidas -incluyendo 24 en la Región de la Costa Norte de California- al educar a las familias sobre la seguridad contra incendios, ayudarles a crear planes de escape e instalar alarmas de humo gratuitas en zonas de alto riesgo en todo el país. Localmente, los voluntarios y socios de la Cruz Roja han instalado 42.309 alarmas y han ayudado a hacer 15.807 hogares más seguros. Para saber más sobre la campaña y cómo puede participar, visite CruzRojaAmericana.org/IncendiosDomesticos.

Sobre la Cruz Roja Americana:

La Cruz Roja Americana alberga, alimenta y ofrece Alivio a víctimas de desastres; suministra aproximadamente el 40% de la sangre que necesita el país; enseña habilidades que salvan vidas; distribuye asistencia humanitaria internacional; y brinda apoyo a veteranos, miembros de las fuerzas armadas y sus familias. La Cruz Roja Americana es una organización sin fines de lucro que depende de los voluntarios y de la generosidad del pueblo estadounidense para entregar su misión. Para más información, visite redcross.org o CruzRojaAmericana.org, o visítenos en Twitter en @RedCross.