City of Grass Valley

An Important Home Fire Safety Message from the Fire Marshal

Did you know?

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and more than 20,000 are
injured.
Eighty-two percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.
About 70 percent of the more than 3,500 annual home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
While 95 percent of American homes have at least one smoke alarm, more than a third of these alarms are inoperable because of dead or missing batteries.

Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically. Please review them, then take action where needed!

Life-Saving Tips

Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year. Hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight savings time to standard time in the fall. Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery.
Plan regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds.
The majority of fire deaths occur at night when most people are sleeping.
Studies have shown that some children may not awaken to the sound of the smoke alarm. Hold a drill at night to make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs.
If someone doesn't wake up when the alarm sounds during a drill, suggest installing additional hard-wired, interconnected alarms inside every bedroom.
At the least, the family should assign an adult who is easily awakened by the alarm to wake the heavier sleepers, perhaps by yelling “FIRE,” pounding on the wall or door, or blowing a whistle.
Practice finding your way out of the house with your eyes closed, crawling or staying low and feeling your way out of the house.
Never open doors that are hot to the touch.
Teach your family to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
Pets often escape unnoticed. Spending precious moments searching for them can be fatal.
Designate a meeting place outside and take attendance. Get out and stay out.
Remember to escape first, then notify the Fire Department.
Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two ways to escape from each room in the house.

Firefighter Will Ray Recognized as Firefighter of the Year

On April 7, Grass Valley Fire Department held its annual firefighter appreciation dinner. This yearly event is organized by the Fire Chief in recognition of the hard work firefighters put in day after day. At this year’s function Firefighter Will Ray was awarded the 2005 Firefighter of the Year Award. Will Ray has been a member of the Department for five years now and has always shown a commitment to excellence, whether responding to emergencies or completing work-related duties.

Winning this award is extra special because the recipient is voted on by his or her peers. Firefighter Ray was recognized for his hard work as a firefighter and, more specifically, for his enormous contribution and excellence as the one responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Fire Department’s apparatus. Firefighter Ray is certified by the State of California as a Fire Mechanic II, and his mechanical knowledge and abilities not only save the city thousands of dollars each year but also keep our equipment safe and mission ready. Cogratulations Will!

Aggressive Firefighting Saves Home

GVFD Firefighter advances attack line between the burning structures.

At approximately 3:02 am on December 19, 2005, fire units were dispatched to a residential structure fire on Buena Vista Avenue in Grass Valley. Engine 1, from Station 1 (Brighton Street), arrived first to find a two-story “granny unit” fully involved, with fire just spreading to the adjacent main residence. Firefighters quickly advanced large diameter hose lines between the burning structures and successfully protected the main home from the engulfed granny unit, which stood only a few feet away from the main residence.

As additional fire units arrived, lines were advanced to successfully protect structures on the other three sides of the fire. The fire was brought under control with only minor damage to the main residence. Fire investigators determined the probable cause was electrical malfunction.

Grass Valley Fire Department Explorer Program Provides More Than Just Training

The Grass Valley Fire Department Explorer Program is designed to provide young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21 the opportunity to experience the fire service and gain entry-level fire training while giving back to the community. This highly successful program is managed by Grass Valley Firefighter Chris Armstrong, and has provided many young people with an unforgettable experience they can use no matter what occupation they choose in life. The structured life within the Fire Department, combined with the strong sense of family, provide a uniquely formative experience for our young people, reinforcing within them values such as respect, hard work, responsibility and compassion.

This program not only provides students with a great fire service experience, but benefits the community as well. The Explorers participate in the vegetation drop-off program, many civic events, and other community services as needed. Recently, Firefighter Armstrong and many of the Explorers provided yard maintenance and landscaping to Joyce Schicke, mother of fallen CDF firefighter Eva Schicke. The Fire Department is very proud of the program, and especially of our Explorers themselves.