Twin Valley Fire Department offers fire safety tips while recognizing Fire Prevention Week.
“Most of the fire departments in the local area are 100 percent volunteer, and its members are part of the community. Funding for equipment including vehicles is extremely important and heavily relied upon,” said Ray Dymond Jr., president of Twin Valley Fire Department. “99 percent of fires are easily preventable by using easy prevention and safety practices, such as annual chimney cleaning, dryer duct cleaning, never leaving a candle burning in an unoccupied room.”
Dymond offered tips regarding fire safety.
“Early activation of 911, to get emergency responders to the scene as soon as possible. Install and test smoke detectors, preferably in all bedrooms. Keep bedrooms doors closed in case of a fire. Know two ways out of your home and any building you are in. Practice fire drills at home with your family,” he recommended.
Twin Valley Fire Department will host an Open House on Oct. 21 from 12 to 4 p.m., including a fire safety trailer.
“The fire safety trailer will demonstrate fire extinguisher use, kitchen safety, and various other fire safety tips,” said Dymond. “The fire safety trailer is a computerized trailer set up to demonstrate a bedroom as well as a kitchen. The bedroom fire scenario has a heated door and will fill with smoke, allowing us to demonstrate to children and adults what to do in case of a fire. The kitchen scenario simulates several possible kitchen fire scenarios and allows us to demonstrate proper use of a fire extinguisher, and other household items to extinguish a fire.”
The Open House event also features a medical helicopter landing, tours of the fire house and trucks, equipment, bounce house for the children and a live burn demonstration. Various other emergency equipment and groups will be in attendance.
“We are planning our event to be family friendly, with a bike rodeo, car seat checks, free food, a bounce house, and numerous other activities. We hope our entire community can come out to both say ‘Hi’ and to learn more about what we do at TVFD, as well as what they can do to help us and themselves,” said Dymond.
Dymond hopes the community gains from the Open House knowledge.
“First and foremost, safety tips to help keep them be safe and prevent an emergency. In the event they have an emergency, to teach them ways to help them deal with it effectively,” he said.
Dymond also hopes the community gains one-on-one communication with Twin Valley firefighters about the importance of what the first responders do. They plan to conduct demonstrations of fire equipment and impart the need for support in funding.
“The costs of our gear and equipment continue to rise and our volunteers time and resources continue to dwindle,” he said.
Fire officersTom Hornberger, Chief 69
Jason Brooks, Deputy 69Keith Romig, Assistant 69
Bruce Belgarde, Battalion 69Colt Grazioli, Captain 69
Dan Mast, Lieutenant 69Michael Wilson, Lieutenant 69A
Tom Glennon, Safety 69Shawn Leisey, Chief Engineer (69-10)
Darryl Romig, Assistant Engineer (69-11)
Joseph Carmen, Assistant Engineer (69-12)
Joshua Spangler, Assistant Engineer (69-13)
Fire PoliceAlan Chalfin, Captain 69-30
Jeff Amber-Messick, Lieutenant 69-31
William Bailey, 69-32Tim Cunningham, 69-33
David Kramlich, 69-34Beverly Kramlich, 69-35
Al Simmons, 69-36Richard Hedrick, 69-37