By Harry Ward, Fire Chief

Shop with a Firefighter was a huge success thanks in large part to the support of our community! We were able to take the children shopping and Santa visited them at the pizza party. Alfalfa Fire District and Cloverdale Fire District helped us this year by providing fire engines for the children to ride into Fred Meyer and firefighters to help shop. The Giving tree was also very successful. We were able to help over several families this holiday season with the community’s generous donations.

If you haven’t already been preparing for what this winter may bring us here are some tips to keep you safe this winter.

• Know what the weather forecast is. You can do this by listening to local news outlets, following online weather services, or monitoring a NOAA weather radio.
• Prepare your vehicle for winter and keep it full of gas. Keep a portable cell phone charger, ice scraper, water, food, extra blankets, traction devices such as chains, and jumper cables in your vehicle in case you become stranded while driving in snow.
• Prepare your home before winter storms arrive. Have at least 72-hours of supplies in your home. These include water (1 gallon/person/day), non-perishable food items that are simple to prepare, flashlights with extra batteries, a first aid kit, and personal hygiene items for your family. Don’t forget to include your pets in your winter preparation.
• Get prescription medications refilled. Having an extra supply of at least 7-days of medications may get you through a winter storm. Also don’t forget about hearing aid batteries, contacts, or items needed to take medications, such as syringes.

Taking time to prepare for winter storms now will make it easier on you and your family when one happens. If you want more information on winter preparedness stop by the fire station. We have more information available there.

You can learn more about the Fire District and current events on our website, Facebook page, or our Twitter feed. Your Fire Board next virtual board meeting will be January 20th at 6:30. You can go to www.crrfire.org for information about attending our Virtual meeting.