FFPD recognizes firefighters

In December, Falcon Fire Protection District members and their families took time to enjoy good food and good company at the districtís annual holiday banquet. Ten members were also recognized for their years of service to the fire district and the Falcon community.Ten years:Lt. C. KirtLt. R. RiegeLt. D. SmithFirefighter D. HawkinsFirefighter B. MillwrightFleet Technician R. WilkersonFive years:Lt. A. OlssonFirefighter T. KummerleFirefighter B. McNabFirefighter A. WebbChaplain M. CollinsAnd last, but certainly not least, administrative assistant G. Tatzlaff received a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation for her efforts to keep the district running smoothly.County revises burning ordinanceAccording to a Dec. 22 press release, the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners scheduled a first reading of a revised open burning ordinance at its Dec. 30 regular meeting. The release states that revisions ìreflect additional public input and statutory requirements of the El Paso County Health Department.î A second reading and final approval of the ìEl Paso County Open Fire and Open Burning Restriction Ordinanceî will be scheduled for mid-January, contingent upon approval of the first reading.General provisions of the ordinance include the following:

• A requirement to obtain an Open Burning Air Quality Permit from El Paso County Public Health and an Open Burning Permit from the El Paso County Sheriffís Office for any vegetation management burns (to include the burning of slash piles) in unincorporated areas of the county
• The sheriffís office dispatch center will notify the appropriate fire districts of open burn permits in their jurisdictions.
• Open burns must comply with all state and local fire district rules and regulations. Open burns must be at least 50 feet away from buildings or combustible fences and be directly attended by ìa competent person with appropriate extinguishing equipment available for immediate use.î
• Open burn permits can be revoked at any time.
• Open Burn Permits are invalid during Stage I or Stage II fire restrictions or during a red flag warning.

The full text of the proposed ordinance is available at the El Paso County website (http://elpasoco.com/).When approved, FFPD will post the open burning ordinance on its website (http://falconfirepd.org/).P.A.R.T.Y. at Falcon and Peyton High SchoolsTexting while driving, drunk driving and distracted driving are actions that, unfortunately, help keep first responders employed. In November and December, P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) provided some students at Peyton and Falcon High schools an opportunity to experience the consequences of distracted and impaired driving, without having to get behind the wheel or wind up in an emergency room. P.A.R.T.Y. coordinator Matt Gibbs said the presentations were part of a pilot program that will hopefully be expanded to include larger numbers of students throughout the Pikes Peak region.Falcon firefighters and EMS personnel helped support the Falcon High School program by demonstrating how patients are treated and immobilized following a car crash. Officers from the Colorado State Patrol gave a presentation on the physical and legal consequences of impaired driving, and also had students try to pass a simulated roadside sobriety test, while wearing goggles, that mimicked the effects of drunkenness. Hands-on stations allowed students to experience firsthand the daily challenges facing people who are permanently disabled in drunk driving crashes.FFPD supports efforts to reduce the number of traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities caused by distracted and impaired driving. Please remember the following:

• Text messages can wait. Never text while driving.
• A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into an accident.
• Cell phone use, even with hands-free devices, is still a distraction while driving. Pull over to a safe place before making or answering calls.
• In 2012, drunk driving accounted for 31 percent of all traffic fatalities. Twenty percent of fatalities among children 14 and younger occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
• Marijuana may be legal for recreational use in Colorado, but it is still illegal to toke and drive.

(Statistics courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)Space heater safety tipsAccording to the National Fire Administration, half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January and February.

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from space heaters.
• Only one space heater at a time should be plugged into an electrical outlet to avoid overloading the circuit.
• Make sure space heater electrical cords are in good condition, not frayed or cracked.