Flashpoints from the Minnetonka Fire Department: January 2009

Posted: Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Find important reminders and information from the Minnetonka Fire Department.

In firefighting lingo, a flashpoint is the temperature at which combustible materials burst into flame. The flashpoints in this quarterly feature, however, are not so volatile—rather, they are the initiatives and events that serve as the catalyst for the excellent service provided every day by the Minnetonka Fire Department to city residents and businesses. For more information about any of these items, call the fire department at 952.939.8598.

Fire Alarm Fee Reminder

The Minnetonka Fire Department is primarily a paid-on-call fire department; therefore, there are significant non-fixed payroll costs associated with response to fire alarm calls. On March 1, 2004, the city council implemented a $250 charge for each fire department response to an automatic fire alarm except fire sprinkler water flow alarms. There will also be no charge for residents reporting a fire alarm sounding when it is reported through the 9-1-1 system.

School Programs

From October 6 to November 11, firefighters gave 70 presentations to approximately 1,700 elementary students in every Minnetonka elementary school—about 250 hours of presentations. In the wake of the presentations, multiple calls were received from parents stating their children insisted they go to the store that evening and purchase home escape ladders and smoke detectors for their homes. The parents commented this was one of the best programs their children had experienced.

Calls for Service

Through mid-November 2008, the fire department responded to 487 calls for service. About 15 volunteer firefighters respond to every regular call, while 40 volunteers respond to structure fires. Calls included the following:

  • 21 building fires and 40 other fire calls
  • 40 medical calls and 23 rescue calls
  • 34 natural gas leaks and 45 other hazardous condition calls
  • 37 service calls, such as smoke removal
  • 19 requests for mutual aid
  • 55 good intent calls, such as smoke scares
  • 167 fire alarm calls
  • 6 other

Adopt a Hydrant

The Minnetonka Fire and Public Works departments need your help clearing snow from fire hydrants this winter. Please consider adopting a fire hydrant close to you and keeping it clear of snow throughout the winter. If possible, hydrants should be cleared four feet on each side to give the fire department the quickest and best access in case of emergency. Thank you very much for your help.

ReadyMinnetonka

Officially launched in April 2007, ReadyMinnetonka—the city’s emergency preparedness program—is designed to reach neighborhoods, schools, community groups, and businesses.

For more information about ReadyMinnetonka or to be added to the ReadyMinnetonka alerts listserv, please email ready@eminnetonka.com or call 952.939.8334.

This month, ReadyMinnetonka offers some basic winter weather tips from the National Weather Service:

Preparing for winter weather

  • Keep ahead of the winter storm by listening for the latest weather statements, watches and warnings.
  • Your vehicle should also be ready. Have it winterized, preferably before the onset of winter weather.
  • Be equipped for the worst. Carry a winter survival kit in your car, especially when traveling in rural or open areas. Try to travel with others.

Winter driving

  • Yield to snowplows, and give them plenty of room to operate.
  • If your vehicle becomes stranded, stay with it until help arrives.
  • Do not try to walk for help during a blizzard. You could easily become lost in the white-out conditions.

Outdoor activity safety tips

  • If you will be outside during storms or extreme cold, dress in layered clothing and avoid overexertion.
  • Be cautious when shoveling snow. Shoveling is very hard work and may induce a heart attack.
  • Stay off thin ice. It takes at least four inches of clear ice to support an adult. There is no such thing as 100-percent safe ice.
  • If you will be snowmobiling, avoid alcohol. Most snowmobile deaths are alcohol related. Take a snowmobile course offered by the DNR or check with your snowmobile dealer.

Home safety

  • Heating fires are a major cause of residential fires in Minnesota. Turn off portable heating devices when you are away from home or retire for the evening. Have a working, UL-listed smoke alarm on every level of your home and in every bedroom.
  • Fireplaces and chimneys should be professionally inspected and cleaned >before winter.
  • Carbon monoxide (CO) is most likely to accumulate inside homes during winter. Check your heating systems and ensure your home has proper ventilation. Install a UL-listed CO detector that sounds an alarm within ten feet of every sleeping room, in accordance with manufacturer’s guidance. In multi-family dwellings, they may be placed between 15 and 25 feet from fuel-fired equipment. Detectors with digital readouts are highly recommended.