Disaster Preparedness

Can you evacuate if needed?

We cannot promise we can always meet the needs of every citizen in every sort of emergency. What we can do is take steps to set ourselves up for every possible success.

Wintergreen Fire and Rescue would like to know if you or anyone in your family has special challenges of which we should be aware. This is different from the Wintergreen Police Department welfare check program where residents here can request a daily check-in phone call.

For example, if you needed to evacuate your home here in 30 minutes or less, could you? If the answer is no or maybe, we want to be aware of this.

Do you use medical equipment such as an oxygen generator that relies on a battery backup during a power outage? If so, we would like to be aware of this.

Being aware of situations such as this will allow us to dispatch resources more efficiently in the case of a wildfire, severe weather, or other large area threat.

Residents of Wintergreen and Nelson County please complete the adjacent form to be added to this confidential database so that we may better protect you.

Disclosure:
Wintergreen Fire & Rescue aspires to establish a database of persons with special circumstances.  For example, persons who require oxygen generators in the homes, or persons who would be physically unable to evacuate if needed.  In a time of disaster, having this information on file in no way guarantees any sort of prioritized attention, however that is the goal.  For those persons not living at Wintergreen, your information will be shared with the appropriate persons in Nelson County Emergency Services.  

Forest Fire Preparedness

Here are some facts you should know about smoke alarms:

• Choose interconnect smoke alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound.

• Put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Put alarms on every level of the home.

• Make sure your smoke alarms work. Your family is not safe if they can’t hear the smoke alarms.

• Test smoke alarms every month and replace 9-volt smoke alarm batteries at least once every year. It is easiest to remember to change them when you change your clocks.

• Smoke alarms do not last forever. Get new smoke alarms every 10 years. If yours is older than 10 years then schedule an electrician to get yours replaced soon.

• When you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than 2 minutes to get everyone outside and safe.

You may only have moments to react to a fire. Having an escape plan and practicing it could save you and your kids lives. Here are some tips that may help:

• Make a fire escape plan. Draw a map of each level of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the map with everyone who lives with you.

• Plan two ways out of every room. Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home.

• Make a fire escape plan around your abilities. If you need to use a wheelchair or a cane, make sure you can get to it easily and get out quickly. If you wear hearing aids or eyeglasses, put them next to your bed while you are sleeping.

• Make sure all doors and windows open easily.

• Practice your fire escape plan by having a home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the home.

• If there is a fire in your home, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.

In 2018, MYMOVE is reporting that over 3,600 deaths occurred as a result of fires. There are simple things you can do around your home that will help reduce the risk of serious injury or death should a fire happen and ways to prevent them. Here are some of those tips from MYMOVE:

Minimize electrical fire risks. Don’t cut corners when it comes to faulty electrical items. Throw away any frayed power cords and avoid using extension cords as a permanent solution in your home.

Upgrade space heaters. If you use space heaters, choose ones that automatically shut off when they tip over. Also be sure to only use space heaters on flat surfaces that aren’t flammable.

Consider your family’s special needs. You may need to tweak your fire safety plan depending on your family’s specific needs. For instance, if someone is hearing impaired, get a special smoke alarm with a flashing light. If someone has a vision problem, get one that pauses between alerts so they can listen for instructions.

Don’t leave the stove unattended. It’s estimated that 33% of home fires are started while cooking so don’t leave your stove unattended for any reason. Another good fire prevention tip: clean up surface grease regularly and make sure there’s nothing flammable close to your stovetop, like paper towels or oven mitts.

Remember PASS for fire extinguishers. Even when you regularly practice using a fire extinguisher, you might feel overwhelmed when faced with a small fire. Use the acronym “PASS” to help operate a fire extinguisher:

• Pull the pin

• Aim

• Squeeze

• Sweep from side to side

Teach kids how to call 911. No matter the age of your children, teach them how to use the phone and call 911. If you don’t have a landline, teach them how to use your phone and how to work it in emergency mode if they don’t know your password. Also, make sure they know their address to guide the fire department to your home.

Close the door to your bedroom while sleeping at night. The materials used to build homes and the furnishings within them has changed drastically over the years. The poisonous gasses released by combustion give you just minutes to get out of your home. You can put several minutes back on the clock by sleeping with your bedroom door closed.

The "Close Before You Doze" campaign does a great job getting this point across. Take a moment and watch this video!

Complete your “Home Fire Safety Inspection Checklist” today. Click here to access the form to complete your safety checklist.