Mariposa County Fire Department Call Log for December 20 - 26, 2021

2021-12-29 11:17:16 By : Ms. Jinshi Tian

Mariposa County Fire Department supports the county with 12 volunteer stations located throughout the county. If you are 18 years of age and possess a valid CA driver’s license, we would love to hear from you! Positions are available for fire/medical and various support duties. No experience necessary – we will train you! Please call (209) 966-4330 today for more information.

Helpful Information from Mariposa County Fire Department

Preparing for Cold Weather It's the time of year when people are starting to use their furnaces, space heaters, fireplaces and woodstoves to keep them warm as the temperatures start to drop. Poorly maintained furnaces and alternative forms of heat are major causes of house fires and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chimneys and woodstoves should be checked annually for cracks and debris. For your furnace, an annual inspection and cleaning is recommended to check for cracks in the combustion chamber, which could allow carbon monoxide to leak into a residence.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is usually vented away from the furnace area. If allowed to collect, carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms, disorientation, confusion, and death.

If using a portable space heater be sure electric circuits can handle the additional load. Putting more than one heater on the same circuit may overtax the system and cause a fire hazard.

Fireplace Safety - Proper Ash Disposal  With the onset of colder weather, we are again confronted with the problem of improper ash disposal. Many people do not realize the length of time required for ashes to cool enough for disposal. Even after several days, a pile of ashes can hold enough heat to reignite and start a fire. 

After sitting for a week in the metal container the ashes are then safe to dispose of in your trash.

NOTE: Take advantage of the cooler weather now to make your property fire safe. Contact your local Cal Fire office at (209) 966-3622 to verify property clearance guidelines.

And remember, fireworks are illegal throughout Mariposa County year-round. 

Driving Reminder Mariposa County Fire Department would like to remind you to limit possible distractions that could take your attention away from driving.  When driving at high speeds on our mountain roads it is of the utmost importance you concentrate on the roads, your vehicle and the weather conditions.  A distraction of just a split second can be disastrous.