For Emergencies, Please Dial 911, All Other Calls 276-235-9580 mayers@galaxva.com

Free Smoke Detectors

Fire Prevention Information

Two Ways Out

Hello Everyone!  This is Captain Mike with the Galax Volunteer Fire Department with this weeks’ Fire Safety Tip!  Your children practice fire drills at school, and quite frankly, could teach you how to get out of their classroom in an emergency.  So, have you taught your child two ways out of their bedroom and your house?  If not, today is the day!  Conduct a fire drill with your child.  If your smoke detector sounds, crawl low and go.  Check the door knob for heat.  If it is hot, don’t open it.  Use your second way out of that room.  Show your child how.  If the door knob is cool, crack the door and check for fire.  If none, then crawl low and go.  Get out and stay out!!  For more information, go to our website at www.galaxfire.com.  And for more Fire Safety Tips, go to www.nfpa.org or tune in again to WBRF FM 98.1 Classic Country for more Fire Safety Tips!

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

Hello Everyone!  This is Captain Mike with the Galax Volunteer Fire Department with this weeks’ Fire Safety Tip!  Working Smoke Detectors Save Lives!  Today’s fires burn hotter and faster than in the past, with Underwriters Laboratories estimating the time an occupant has to escape a fire after it starts to now be only 3 to 5 minutes.  Early detection is the key!! That’s why you need a working smoke detector on every level of your home as well as outside of all sleeping areas.  If you can’t afford a smoke detector and you live in the Galax Fire Department coverage area, call me 276-235-9580 and we will be happy to install one for you free of charge!! For more information, go to our website at www.galaxfire.com and for more Fire Safety Tips, go to www.nfpa.org or tune in again to WBRF FM 98.1 Classic Country for more Fire Safety Tips!

Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights

WOULD YOU HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR IF THEIR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE OR IF THEY WERE IN NEED OF AN AMBULANCE?  THIS IS CAPTAIN MIKE WITH THE GALAX FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, FOR ALL OF US, IS YES…OF COURSE WE WOULD.  WELL YOUR AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS, RESCUE SQUADS, AND POLICE OFFICERS NEED YOUR HELP SO THAT THEY CAN HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS.  IF YOU SEE FLASHING LIGHTS BEHIND YOU OR YOU HEAR SIRENS, PLEASE SLOWLY AND SAFELY MOVE TO THE RIGHT AND ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PASS.  IT MAY BE A FIRE TRUCK OR AN AMBULANCE, OR IT MAY BE A VOLUNTEER TRYING TO GET TO THE FIREHOUSE IN THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLE. IN ANY CASE PLEASE STAY AWARE AND HELP US HELP YOU. ‘MOVE TO THE RIGHT FOR SIRENS AND LIGHTS’.  AND AS ALWAYS, FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOG ON TO WWW.GALAXFIRE.COM OR WWW.NFPA.ORG.  TUNE IN AGAIN TO WBRF 98.1 CLASSIC COUNTRY FOR MORE FIRE SAFETY TIPS.

Burning Brush

HELLO AGAIN!  IT’S CAPTAIN MIKE FROM THE GALAX FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH ANOTHER FIRE SAFETY TIP.  IT IS BRUSH FIRE SEASON.  MOST BRUSH FIRES ARE STARTED WHEN A YARD DEBRIS FIRE GETS OUT OF CONTROL.  WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING?  PLEASE DON’T BURN ON BREEZY DAYS.  DO NOT BURN IF IT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY DRY.  WAIT UNTIL AFTER 4PM WHEN THE HUMIDITY IS HIGHER.  KEEP A BUCKET OF WATER OR GARDEN HOSE CLOSE BUY.  CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REPORT YOUR CONTROLLED BURN BEFORE YOU LIGHT IT, SO THAT A NEIGHBOR WON’T CALL IN A FALSE ALARM.  ALWAYS STAY WITH YOUR BURN AND COMPLETELY EXTINGUISH IT WHEN DONE.  REMEMBER, A PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO BURN WITHIN THE GALAX CITY LIMITS. FOR MORE INFORMATION LOGON TO WWW.GALAXFIRE.COM OR WWW.DOF.VIRGINIA.GOV AND AS ALWAYS, STAY TUNED TO WBRF 98.1 CLASSIC COUNTRY FOR MORE FIRE SAFETY TIPS!

The Deanna Project

On January 12, 2009, four year old Deanna Lafferty (pictured here) and her parents tragically lost their lives in a fire as they slept. Even though neighbors tried to alert and evacuate the residents, it was already too late. The only thing that could have possibly made a difference for the family would have been a WORKING smoke detector Therefore, the Galax Volunteer Fire Department is initiating a smoke detector awareness program called The Deanna Project. Members will be asking local merchants and residents provide us with smoke detectors or funds to purchase detectors. Department members will “Blitz” target areas in our community by going door to door to determine if the residence has a working smoke detector. If they do not, then one will be provided and installed at that time at no cost to the homeowner. If you would like to donate to this project, or if you know someone in need of a smoke detector, PLEASE contact the Galax Volunteer Fire Department at 276-235-9580, if no answer leave a message, or email mayers@galaxva.com  Someone will be in contact with you. Also, the Galax Fire Department’s Fire Prevention And Education Trailer will be taken to area schools to reinforce to children the importance of fire safety. If you have a group or school that is interested in a visit from the Fire Prevention Trailer, then please contact us. We hope that you will partner with us to make sure that some good comes from this tragedy. Thank you for you support of The Deanna Project. Sincerely, Galax Volunteer Fire Department