Fireworks Safety

June 26th, 2008

Almost everyone enjoys fireworks, especially during the Fourth of July season. While fireworks can be enjoyable and very impressive they can also be very dangerous inflicting serious injury to individuals who do not apply some very basic safety tips. The following is a list of basic tips that the High Ridge Fire Protection District encourages everyone to follow during this fireworks season.

1. Children should not handle fireworks.
Fireworks can be great family fun, but they can also burn very hot and are intended to handled by adults only.

2. Do not use alcohol with fireworks.
Please do not consume alcohol while lighting or handling fireworks. If you are impaired in any way when you use fireworks, you increase the possibility of misuse and injury to yourself and others.

3. Use fireworks on a hard surface.
Always light fireworks on a hard, flat and level surface to insure stability of the items. If lighting fireworks on grass, lay down a flat wooden board for a shooting surface. Inspect your area where the fireworks will be ignited and plan before the evening dark hours.

4. Use in a clear open area.
Always keep the audience a safe distance away from the shooting area. Always light your fireworks in a clear open area away from buildings, vehicles and shrubbery. A minimum clear radius of 30 feet for fountains and other ground based items and 100 yards for any aerial product is recommended. You should avoid lighting the fireworks in any area where there is dry grass or brush.

5. Keep clear of the fireworks.
Never put your head or any part of your body over the top of any fireworks product. Never look into the tube to check on the fireworks item. Never hold a lighted fireworks item in your hand.

6. Use care in lighting the fireworks.
Always light fireworks products with punk, a flare or extended butane lighting device. This will enable you to keep as far from the fireworks item as possible. If needed, use a flashlight at night so the fuse can be easily seen. Light the fireworks product and get away quickly. Safety glasses should also be worn when lighting the fireworks items.

7. One at a time.
Light only fireworks item at a time.

8. Don't use malfunctioning or "dud" items.
Never attempt to re-light, alter, or fix any "dud" fireworks item. If a fireworks item fails to ignite, let it stand for at least fifteen minutes, then immerse it in water. Use caution when approaching the "dud".

9. Have water close by.
Have an accessible fire extinguisher, water supply, hose or bucket of water nearby for emergencies. Assign one individual to serve as the "firefighter" whose job is to be alert at the fire source to extinguish any small fires.

10. Windy conditions.
Be cautious of lighting any fireworks during strong wind conditions.

11. Use care in handling fireworks.
Do not carry fireworks in your pocket. Always be careful in handling fireworks to prevent dropping them. Never smoke when handling fireworks.

12. Never use fireworks as weapons.
Never aim, point, or throw any fireworks at another person or at any property. Never ignite fireworks inside a structure or vehicle.

13. Be careful with animals.
The noise and lights of fireworks often frighten some animals. It is very important that you are careful with pets. You may want to consider moving the animals away or keeping them indoors during your display. Please be considerable of your pets and animals when using fireworks.

If these simple and basic safety considerations are followed you can significantly reduce the potential for injury and fire. The High Ridge Fire Protection District wishes everyone a safe Fourth of July season. For additional information you can contact the High Ridge Fire Protection District at 636-677-3371.

Thank You:






Michael Arnhart, Fire Chief
High Ridge Fire Protection District

7th Annual HRFFA Golf Tournament

May 12th, 2008

The High Ridge Firefighters Assosciation will be hosting their 7th annual "four person scramble" golf tournament at Deer Creek Golf Course on June 9th, 2008 to benefit the Backstoppers Organization and fund the purchase of childrens fire education materials. Contact Deputy Chief Tom Lakin at 636-677-3371 for more info. Click Here for a registration form.

High Ridge Firefighters Association hosts 2008 Safety Fair

March 28th, 2008

Join us for a day of Education and Fun!

On April 19th the High Ridge Firefighters Association will be hosting a Safety Fair that is sure to have people talking. Safety that is.

We have a lot planned for this big event.

Just a few examples of the fun in store:
- Get out and stay out with the HRFD Safe House Fire Simulator!
- Childs car seat safety from Safekids Worldwide!
- Child ID fingerprinting from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept.!
- Ride in the bucket of an actual Ameren UE Boom Truck!
- Bicycle helmet safety from North Jefferson County Ambulance!
- Seatbelt safety from MO State Highway Patrol's Rollover Simulator!
- Squirt a real firehose!

You'll never have so much fun learning how to be safe!

When: Saturday April 19th, 2007 10:00am - 3:00pm
Click Here to see the 2008 Safety Fair flyer.

Rivers in our area above Flood Stage!

March 19th, 2008

Prepare to go before it is too late.

The Meremec and Big River in our area are above flood stage and rising at this time. If you are in an affected area please be prepared to evacuate before the roadways to safety are covered by water. Any roadway covered with water should be considered impassable. For more information on River Stages and Predictions please see the NOAA web site www.weather.gov/ahps/.

Give blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive Monday, March 17th.

March 5th, 2008

Give blood and help save lives!

The Red Cross will set up shop at High Ridge House #1 for a blood drive Monday, March 17th from 2:30pm - 6:30pm. Please take time out of your day to give blood and give those in need of blood the gift of life. Mark your callendars and become a hero!

Fast Facts:
1. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood
2. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day
3. One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood
4. The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs
5. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. See more facts on blood needs for various medical treatments

For more information about donating blood see the American Red Cross web site.

Annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and HRFD Easter Egg Hunt coming up!

March 14th, 2008

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Come and have breakfast with the Easter Bunny at High Ridge Fire Station #1 March 22nd. The Easter Bunny will be here from 8am to 11am! Come and join in the fun and food.

HRFD Easter Egg Hunt

The annual High Ridge Fire District Easter egg hunt will give children from the community the opportunity to hunt for Easter eggs. Divided into age groups, children of all ages will scurry to find eggs left by the Easter Bunny. The Easter egg hunt will be held Sunday, March 23rd at 1:00pm on the grounds of High Ridge Elementary School. Hope to see you there! The Lady Sirens Auxillary and the High Ridge Firefighters Association will be hosting these events.

It's Daylight Savings Time
CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS...
CHANGE YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES!

March 3rd, 2008

Don't Be a Victim! Thousands die each year from fires in the home. Your smoke detectors are your first line of defence when fire strikes. Please, When you change your clocks every 6 months for daylight savings change the battery in all of your smoke detectors. It's a matter of life and death!

HRFD Welcomes Firefighter Matt Davis to Full-Time Staff

March 5th, 2008

The High Ridge Fire Protection District would like to welcome Firefighter Matt Davis to the full time staff. Pictured above, Firefighter Davis was honored with a badge ceremony held at HRFD House #2. Congratulations Matt Davis!

HRFD Welcomes Ron Suerig as Full Time Mechanic!

February 25th, 2008

HRFD would like to welcome Ron Suerig to the High Ridge Fire Family. Ron is an experienced Fire Apparatus Mechanic and was previously employed as a Firefighter/Mechanic at Pacific Fire. He has also worked as a Mechanic for a Fire Apparatus Mechanical Service. We're looking forward to the skill and talents that Ron brings to the HRFD team. Congratulations Ron!

High Ridge and Cedar Hill Fire are Toy Drive Collection Locations

Nov 18th, 2007

Fire Stations in the High Ridge and Cedar Hill Fire Districts will be designated collection locations for New, Unused toys for the Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Toy Drive. You can help make this Christmas a little brighter for children who are less fortunate. You'll be proud of your contribution and can rest assured that you put a big smile on a youngsters face Christmas morning. Don't delay! Drop off your new toy donations today!

Happy Holiday's!

HRFD Welcomes Firefighter Ron Tisius to Full-Time Staff

December 3rd, 2007

The High Ridge Fire Protection District would like to welcome Firefighter Ron Tisuis to the full time staff. Pictured above, Firefighter Ron Tisius was honored with a badge ceremony held at HRFD House #1. Congratulations Ron Tisius!

HRFD "Lady Sirens" Hosts Breakfast With Santa

December 8th, 2007

The High Ridge Fire "Lady Sirens" will be hosting Breakfast with Santa. Donuts, milk, juice, and coffee will be served. Children can make a craft, and pose on Santa's lap for a photo opportunity. Don't forget to bring your camera!

This event is open to the public and FREE!
- When: Saturday, December 15th
- Time: 8:00am - 11:00am
- Location: HRFD Station #1, 2842 High Ridge Boulevard.
Convienent parking in the rear and south parking lot. Hope to see you there!

FREE Child Passenger Safety Seat Checkup Event
Saturday, October 13th.

September 5th, 2007

Are your child safety seats installed correctly?...
Need help learning how to install a new seat?
We can help!

The High Ridge Fire District will be hosting a Child Passenger Safety Seat Checkup at HRFD Fire Station #1

When: October 13th, 2007 10:00am - 3:00pm
Click Here for a flyer with more info.

We will also be hosting tours of the engine house and fire trucks!

Summertime brings conditions for wildfires.
Find out what you need to know from Smokey Bear!

August 27th, 2007

Do you know what a wildfire is?
Could you have started a wildfire?
What can you do to prevent wildfires?
Find answers to these questions and a whole lot more at... smokeybear.com

Take time this summer to develop or review your Fire Escape Plan!

July 15th, 2007

Do you have a plan? Do your children and other family members know what to do if fire strikes when you least expect it? Take a moment to educate yourself and get prepared!

Here's some stuff to get you started.

Get the Family together and draw out your Escape Plan with this Home Escape Plan Sheet. Now you'll know two ways out of every room and where everyone will meet outside incase of a fire.

Here's a tip! Pick a meeting place outside where everyone can meet and easily tell arriving fire crews if everyone has escaped. Don't forget... GET OUT AND STAY OUT!!!

Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. For more detailed information to help you plan your escape click here.

Kids, check out Sparky the Fire Dog's web site at www.sparky.org

For even more information you can visit the National Fire Protection Association Web Site.

Give blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive September 14th.

September 1st, 2007

Give blood and help save lives!

The Red Cross will set up shop at High Ridge House #1 for a blood drive on September 14th from 2:30pm - 6:30pm. Please take time out of your day to give blood and give those in need of blood the gift of life. Mark your callendars and become a hero!

Fast Facts:
1. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood
2. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day
3. One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood
4. The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs
5. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. See more facts on blood needs for various medical treatments

For more information about donating blood see the American Red Cross web site.

Annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and HRFD Easter Egg Hunt coming up in April!

March 16th, 2007

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Come and have breakfast with the Easter Bunny at High Ridge Fire Station #1 April 7th. The Easter Bunny will be here from 8am to 11am! Come and join in the fun and food.

HRFD Easter Egg Hunt

The annual High Ridge Fire District Easter egg hunt will give children from the community the opportunity to hunt for Easter eggs. Divided into age groups, children of all ages will scurry to find eggs left by the Easter Bunny. The Easter egg hunt will be held Sunday, April 8th at 1:00pm on the grounds of High Ridge Elementary School. Hope to see you there! The Lady Sirens Auxillary and the High Ridge Firefighters Association will be hosting these events.

It's Daylight Savings Time
CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS...
CHANGE YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES!

March 7th, 2007

Don't Be a Victim! Thousands die each year from fires in the home. Your smoke detectors are your first line of defence when fire strikes. Please, When you change your clocks every 6 months for daylight savings change the battery in all of your smoke detectors. It's a matter of life and death!

Give blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive March 19th.

March 12th, 2007

Give blood and help save lives!

The Red Cross will set up shop at High Ridge House #1 for a blood drive on March 19th from 2:30pm - 6:30pm. Please take time out of your day to give blood and give those in need of blood the gift of life. Mark your callendars and become a hero!

Fast Facts:
1. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood
2. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day
3. One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood
4. The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs
5. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. See more facts on blood needs for various medical treatments

For more information about donating blood see the American Red Cross web site.

Engineer Kevin Miniea Promoted to Captain

February 8th, 2007

After a rigorous promotion process Engineer Kevin Miniea has become the latest HRFD firfighter to be awarded the rank of Captain. Captain Miniea was ceremoniously given his red "captain's" helmet and congratulated by his fellow firefighters during a ceremony held at HRFD House #1. Congratulations Captain Miniea!

HRFD Welcomes Two Additional Full-Time Firefighters

February 8th, 2007

We would like to congratulate the newest members of the HRFD full time staff. Pictured above, Firefighter Jared Caplinger and Firefighter Derek Bequette were honored with a badge ceremony held at HRFD House #1 on their first day of duty. This addition of manpower will help provide a minimum staffing of three firefighters on first-out apparatus. Congratulations Jared and Derek!

HRFD Firefighters travel to Springfield, Missouri to assist after devastating Ice Storm.

January 16th, 2007

The area including and surrounding Springfield, Missouri suffered catastrophic damage and loss during the latest ice storm. HRFD firefighters joined a task force assembled of area fire departments to assist the stricken area. Click here to see photo's of the damage in Springfield.

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