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The 2017 San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District Annual Report is now available online!

Follow the link below to view a summary of 2017’s services and highlights.

2017 Annual Report

You’ll find great information about your Fire District including budget, vitals, and the stations serving you.

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Recently a resident of our fire district lost their home to a brushfire. While we will do our absolute best to preserve your property during the event of a brushfire, there are steps you can take before fire strikes that will allow us to better defend your home. Let’s take a quick look together at how to create defensible space around your home. We recommend keeping your property lean, clean, and green. What does that mean?

Maintaining a lean, clean, and green landscape within 30 feet of a structure can make a significant difference in whether it survives a brushfire. The important thing is that action must be taken before fire threatens.

Lean — small amounts of flammable vegetation
Clean — no accumulations of dead vegetation
Green — plants are healthy and green; lawn is well irrigated

Reducing fuel within the defensible space means creating a landscape that breaks up the continuity of brush and other vegetation that could bring fire in contact with any flammable portion of the structure.

This may involve:
Eliminating any flammable vegetation in contact with the structure
Thinning out trees and shrubs so there is 10 to 15 feet between the tree crowns
Pruning tree limbs to a height of 6 to 10 feet
Replacing highly flammable landscape material with plant materials having a higher water content
Replacing flammable mulch adjacent to the structure with gravel or rock
Eliminating “ladder fuels” near the structure that might carry a surface fire to the roof or eaves

Fire is a natural part of our Florida ecosystems. It is not a matter of if we are going to have brushfires, but when will we have brushfires and at what intensity. Homeowners must assume a major role in brushfire protection by taking action to reduce the ignitability of their homes before the threat of a fire.

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Don’t return to your neighborhoods immediately after the storm.

There will be many dangers during the daytime that first responders, public works, and debris management workers will have to assess and clear. This effort starts as soon as it is safe to get these crews on the road.

County officials will communicate when it is safe to return to your neighborhoods. We hope to have our first assessments done Monday afternoon. These will be shared with the media, and on our website, leeeoc.com.

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As I sit here writing this post, the temperature outside is 90 degrees! Moreover, the “feels like” temperature is 102 degrees.  But wait, if it’s ONLY 90 degrees outside, then how can it feel like 102?

The “feels like” temperature or heat index is a result of humidity.  Heat index, calculated from the air temperature and relative humidity, is the heat stress that your body is subjected to. The heat index is the number to watch for during hot summer months. To calculate the heat index yourself visit the National Weather Service at:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl/?n=heat_index_calculator or enter the phrase “Heat Index Calculator” into any search engine.

Elevated temperatures, humidity, and heat index lead to a greater chance of heat related illness. Each year many fall victim to extreme heat. Heat related illness happens when people’s bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves.  Signs of heat related illness include:

-Skin that feels hot and dry, but not sweaty
-Confusion or loss of consciousness
-Frequent vomiting/nausea
-Shortness of breath or trouble breathing

When the temperature and heat index are high try to stay indoors in air-conditioned areas. If you must go outside, take the following precautions:

-Drink more fluids, regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
-Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
-Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
-Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat or using an umbrella.
-Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours and take frequent breaks.
-NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
-If you have a chronic medical problem, ask your doctor about how to deal with the heat, about drinking extra fluids, and about your medicines.

If you don’t have air conditioning, or know an elderly relative or neighbor who doesn’t have it, think about ways to get into a cool environment for at least part of the day. Go to a movie, shopping mall, supermarket, or public library.

For more information please call feel free to call us at 267-7525. Until the next time, stay cool and stay safe!

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The 2016 SCPFD Annual Report is Now Available for download. Click on the link below to take a look back with us through 2016.

2016 Annual Report

To view Annual Reports from past years CLICK HERE

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February, the month when love is celebrated with Valentine’s Day through chocolate hearts and messages of devotion is also home to American Heart Month.  How very appropriate, in the month that we think with our hearts, we also are reminded to think about our hearts.

About every 26 seconds, an American has a coronary event.  Do you have the knowledge and skills necessary to respond if your loved one suffers a cardiac emergency? According to the American Heart Association,  immediate CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival. Learn how to mend a broken heart this Valentine’s Day with San Carlos Park Fire District.

SCPFD is hosting a sweetheart of a deal this Valentine’s Day. Show your loved one how much you care by learning how to respond in the event of an emergency at our FREE American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED certification class. This course, normally $35.00, is being offered for FREE to residents on February 14, 2017 at 9:30 am in honor of Valentine’s Day. Limited space is available; please call 267-7525 to reserve your spot today.  Though it may not be the most conventional way to spend Valentine’s Day, if someone you love ever needs CPR, it’s the greatest gift you can give them.

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Planning ahead can make this Halloween safer for your little mosters. Check out these safety tips so your night is a treat, not a trick!

Costumes

• When you buy or make costumes, masks, beards, and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label “Flame Resistant.”
• Purchase or make costumes that are light-colored, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
• For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape on the front, back and sides that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.
• Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
• Costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground to guard against trips and falls.
• If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision.
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.

Treats

• Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
• Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters who are younger than three years of age.

Decorations

• Remove obstacles from lawns, steps, and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Keep candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from curtains, decorations, and other items that could ignite. Do not leave burning candles unattended.
• Indoors or outside, use only decorative light strands that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Don’t overload extension cords.

Follow these tips and have a happy and safe Halloween!

For more information visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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It’s National PrepareAthon! Day. Preparedness takes action! Learn more about hazards which can affect our community and ways you can take action to prepare and participate.

Active Shooter: Recent national tragedies remind us that the risk is real: an active shooter incident can happen in any place at any time. The best way to make sure you and your loved ones stay safe is to prepare ahead of time.

Flood: Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States and can happen anywhere.

Hurricane: Hurricanes have the power to cause widespread devastation, and can affect both coastal and inland areas.

Tornado: Tornadoes are one of nature’s most violent storms, and can cause death, injury, and destruction within seconds.

Wildfire: Wildfires can occur anywhere and can destroy homes, businesses, infrastructure, natural resources, and agriculture.

Follow this link for more information on how to Be Smart, Take Part, and Prepare for each of the hazards listed above: https://community.fema.gov/take-action/hazards?lang=en_US