Preparing for Winter

In preparation for the inclement weather we kindly ask residents to assist us in making the following helpful hints a part of your winter preparation routine:

1)  Residents with locked security gates/arms blocking driveways please contact us in advance to make arrangements to get through those areas in an emergency.

2)  With snow in the forecast for Friday (October 30, 2020), and moving forward into the winter, we remind all residents to consider the following helpful hints and make it a part of your winter preparedness and property maintenance routine: 

• All residents should have well plowed, passable driveways free of ice and debris to allow access of emergency vehicles. A proper width is important to allow for passage of vehicles as well.
• Snow banks need to be pushed back as far as possible.
• If practical, areas should be cleared as close to homes and outbuildings large enough for our apparatus to turn around.
• Additionally, limbs and foliage hanging over drives and access points need to be cut back as much as possibly. Keep in mind that our smallest trucks are much larger than their personal vehicles and the weight of snow or ice on limbs will droop the limbs down into our path should we ever need to navigate their driveways.  Our larger vehicles are two and three times longer than a full size pickup truck and much higher . 

We ask that you seriously consider these suggestions and to please make it a part of your storm preparedness routine in advance of each winter storm. Seconds count in an emergency and these are fundamental steps that can be taken so residents can help us help them more efficiently and effectively when we respond to their properties.  

Lastly, we just want residents in our district to know that it is our policy to respond to ALL types of alarms, to check things out, and have a face to face interaction with the owner / occupants.  Although you may ask the 911 dispatcher to “cancel” or that fire/rescue personnel “are not needed” we make it a routine to check each prospective emergency out after being dispatched.  While we appreciate your well meaning thought(s) when you ask to cancel, we are going to come anyway to make ensure all is well, it is what we do.