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* Cell phone (via SMS)
* Office phone
* Pager
* Smartphone/PDA

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Fireworks Safety

The best way to enjoy fireworks is to visit public fireworks displays put on by professionals who know how to safely handle fireworks. If you plan to use fireworks, make sure they are legal in your area. Never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass. Always have a bucket of water and/or a fire extinguisher nearby. Know how to operate the fire extinguisher properly. Do not wear loose clothing while using fireworks. Stand several feet away from lit fireworks. If a devise does not go off, do not stand over it to investigate it. Put it out with water and dispose of it. Always read the directions and warning labels on fireworks. If a devise is not marked with the contents, direction and a warning label, do not light it. Supervise children around fireworks at all times.

Barbecue Safety

Before using a grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. Make sure the venturi tubes - where the air and gas mix - are not blocked. Do not overfill the propane tank. Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue. Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and explode. Keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Supervise children around outdoor grills. Dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers. Never grill/barbecue in enclosed areas - carbon monoxide could be produced. Make sure everyone knows to Stop, Drop and Roll in case a piece of clothing does catch fire. Call 911 or your local emergency number if a burn warrants serious medical attention.

Landscaping/Gardening

Trim tree limbs so they don’t hang over the roof, and keep eaves and gutters free of leaves and other debris that burn easily. Clear weeds, brush and other flammable vegetation at least 30 feet away from your home, and store firewood away from all structures.

Gasoline Safety

Store gasoline outside the home, preferably in a locked, detached shed, and store just enough to power your gasoline-fueled equipment. Keep gasoline up high, inside a clearly marked container that’s labeled and approved for gasoline storage. Make sure gasoline and all flammable liquids are well away from any heat source or flame.

Use gasoline as a motor fuel only – never as a stain remover or for other purposes. To transport gasoline in an automobile to and from the filling station, place a sealed, approved container, properly secured in the trunk with the trunk lid propped open. Drive directly to the fueling site. Take a direct route back home and never store gasoline in a vehicle.

Campfire Safety

Build campfires where they will not spread, away from dry grass and leaves. Keep campfires small, and don't let them get out of hand. Keep plenty of water and a shovel around to douse the fire when you're done. Stir it and douse it again with water. Never leave campfires unattended.


Other Department News: Thanks for supporting your local Volunteer Fire Department



Summer Is Here. Remember to stay well hydrated and stay out of the heat as much as possible.

answers over 300 calls for assistance each year. In addition to fires, the department responds to vehicle crashes, hazardous material incidents, and missing person searches. In addition to emergency responses, the members provide fire prevention and safety programs to schools and daycares. Whatever the situation, our goal is to serve and to help the citizens of Appomattox County and any other locality that needs our assistance. DONATIONS

• If you would like to make a donation to The Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department you may send them to this address.

• Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department
  P.O. Box 894
  Appomattox, VA 24522

Free Child Safety Kits

Free Child Safety Kits Here

Lifelines Project: Keeping Kids Safe One Print At A Time. Stamp Your Feet and Child Safe Kits, have partnered together to launch a National Program , the Lifelines Project to double this percentage by the year 2010 by making Child Safe Kits available FREE of Charge.

Virginia Department Of Forestry

The Commonwealth's 4 p.m. Burning Law goes into effect Feb. 15, 2010 - the start of spring fire season in Virginia. This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day (Feb. 15 - April 30) if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials.

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