CALL 911

to Report Fires

or Other Emergencies

 

Station Located at

 

5198 Sharp Rd

Calistoga, CA 94515

Off Petrified Forest Road

Non Emergency Phone/Fax

707 942 2222

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in volunteering

to serve as a  Firefighter, on the Truck Brigade or for Station operations? Please contact Chief Loren Davis

NOTICE

 

California Public Resources Code 4291 requires homeowners to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures. Remove all flammable vegetation 30 feet from all structures and for an additional 70 feet, space trees and plants away from each other. Be sure to clear all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters and trim branches six feet from the ground.  BE PREPARED

Fire Season is Coming - Be Prepared

A defensible space perimeter around buildings and structures provide firefighters a working environment that allows them to protect buildings and structures from encroaching wildfires as well as minimizing the chance that a structure fire will escape to the surrounding wildland. Creation of defensible space through vegetation management usually means reducing the amount of fuel around the building or structure, providing separation between fuels, and or reshaping retained fuels by trimming. Defensible space can be created removing dead vegetation, separating fuels, and pruning lower limbs.

A homeowner’s clearing responsibility is limited to 100 feet away from his or her building or structure or to the property line, which ever is less, and limited to their land. While individual property owners are not required to clear beyond 100 feet, groups of property owners are encouraged to extend clearances beyond the 100 foot requirement in order to create community defensible spaces.

Earthquake Safety

Earthquake safety is more than minimizing damage to buildings, though you should be up to date on current building codes. Unsecured water heaters may fall over, rupturing rigid water and gas connections. If your water heater does not have two straps around it that are screwed into the studs or masonry of the wall, then it is not properly braced. We must also secure the contents of our buildings to reduce the risk to our lives and our  pocketbooks. You should secure anything 1) heavy enough to hurt you if it falls on you, or 2) fragile and/or expensive enough to be a significant loss if it falls. In addition to contents within your living space, also secure items in other areas, such as your garage, to reduce damage to vehicles or hazardous material spills. START NOW by moving furniture such as bookcases and heavy pictures and mirrors away from beds, sofas, or other places where people sit or sleep. Other options are to secure the tops of all top-heavy furniture, such as bookcases and file cabinets, to a wall. Move heavy objects to lower shelves.  See the new Fault activity map at http://www.quake.ca.gov/gmaps/FAM/faultactivitymap.html

Emergency Plans

Planning for an earthquake or other emergency is not much different from planning for a party or vacation. Make sure that your emergency plan includes evacuation and reunion plans; your out-of-state contact person's name and number; the location of your emergency supplies and other pertinent information. By planning now, you will be ready for the next emergency. Everyone should have disaster supplies kits stored in accessible locations at home, at work and in your vehicle. Having emergency supplies readily available can reduce the impact of an earthquake or other emergency on you and your family. Your disaster supply kits should include food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batteries, a first aid kit, cash, extra medications, a whistle, fire extinguisher, etc.