FIRE DISTRICT SEEKS YOUR HELP

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS THE SACRAMENTO RIVER FIRE DISTRICT HAS RESPONDED TO TWENTY FIRES INVOVING FARM EQUIPENT.

THOSE TWENTY FIRES RESULTED IN AN ESTIMATED $405,000.00 IN DAMAGE.

85% OF THOSE FIRES INVOVED RICE STRAW DISCING, CHOPPING, WINDROWING OR BALING, OPERATIONS CAUSING A FIRE, WITH CHOPPING BEING THE MOST COMMOIN CAUSE.  CHOPPING, DISKING AND BALING OPERATIONS ARE THE MOST CONCERN TO THE FIRE DISTRICT.

THE FIRES CAUSED FROM THESE OPERATIONS USUALLY INVOLVED NUMEROUS ACRES OF RICE STRAW AND STUBBLE, AS WELL AS THE FARM EQUIPMENT (TRACTOR, CHOPPER, ETC.).

THE FIRE DISTRICT’S NUMBER ONE GOAL IS FIRE PREVENTION.  IF THE FIRE IS PREVENTED FROM STARTING THEN THERE ARE NO INJURIES TO PEOPLE OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.            

98% OF ALL FIRES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS INVOLVING FARM EQUIPMENT WERE DETERMINED TO BE PREVENTABLE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY OCCURRED.  MOST CAUSES WERE DETERMINED TO BE FROM LACK OF MAINTENANCE.

WITH FIRE PREVENTION IN MIND, THE SACRAMENTO RIVER FIRE DISTRICT IS SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN PREVENTING FIRES THAT MAY OCCUR, INVOLVING FARM EQUIPMENT. 

THE FIRE DISTRICT HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING:

         1.  TRAIN YOUR EMPOLYEES IN FIRE PREVENTION, EQUIPMNET MAINTENANCE AND WHAT ACTIONS TO TAKE IN CASE OF A FIRE.

              A.  CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY.

              B.  REMOVE ALL EQUIPMENT FROM THE FIELD.

              C.  ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE IF SAFE TO DO SO.

              D.  KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE FIRE.

              E.  IF ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE FIRE, KEEP FIRE AWAY FROM EQUIPMENT FIRST, IF NOT INVOLVED IN FIRE.

        2.  MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT

             A.  REMOVE STRAW AND CHAFF FROM DRIVELINES, PTO TRANSFER CSAES,

                   INBETWEEN TRACKS AND WHEEELS, TOPS OF CHOPPERS, ETC. EVERY TWO OR THREE HOURS OR AS NEEDED AND AT THE END OF EACH DAY.  LEAF BLOWERS WORK WELL.

           B.  ALLOW EQUIPMENT TO COOL DOWN BEFORE EMPOLYEES LEAVE THE FIELD TO ASSURE NO FIRES WILL IGNITE.

      3.  PLACE FIRE EXTINGUIHERS ON EQUIPMENT IN ACCESSABLE LOCATIONS.

           A.  ABC DRY CHEMICAL – 10#.

           B.  WATER PRESSURE – 2 1/2 GALLON.

           C.  MAINTAIN EXTINGUISHERS ANNUALLY AND AFTER EACH USE.  KEEP EXTINGUISHERS CLEAN.

      4.  MAKE AVAILABLE A WATER TRUCK OR TRAILER WITH TRACTOR IN THE FIELD FOR FIRE SUPRESSION DURING ANY TYPE OF OPERATIONS.

            A.  MINIMUM 1000 GALLON TANK.

            B.  PUMP CAPABLE OF 50 – 65 GALLONS PER MINUTE.

            C.  NOZZLE CAPABLE OF 20 – 30 GPM.

            D.  A MINIMUM OF 100 FET OF HOSE.

       5.  CHECK WEATHER FORCAST EACH DAY.

             A.  DO NOT OPERATE EQUIPMENT WHEN THE WIND WILL EXCEED 15 MPH.

                   IF THE WIND IS LESS THAN 15MPH START YOUR OPERATION DOWN WIND

             B.  DO NOT OPERATE EQUIPMENT WHEN THE HUMIDITY FALLS BELOW 15%.

             C.  DO NOT OPERATE EQUIPMENT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS IN EXCESS OF

                  100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

             D.  WEATHER CONDITINS ARE ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS WHEN ALL THREE WEATHER CONDITIONS NOTED ABOVE WILL OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING THE DAY.

                   THESE CONDITIONS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE “RED FLAG” WARNINGS (HIGH FIRE DANGER).

                  *ABSOLUTELY NO OPERATIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ON “RED FLAG”   

                   WARNING DAYS.  CALL YOUR FIRE DISTRICT FOR RED FLAG INFORMATION.

              E.  WHEN STACKING STRAW FROM BALING OPERATIONS ASSURE THAT YOU HAVE AN ADEQUATE FIRE BREAK AROUND THE STACK, ESPECIALLY IF THE STACK IS WITHIN  THE FIELD.

IF YOU CONTRACT FOR BALING, DISKING OR CHOPPING OPERATIONS IT IS CRITCAL TO PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO THE CONTRACTOR.

IF YOU OR YOUR CONTRCTOR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ABOVE OPERATIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL THE SACRAMENTO RIVER FIRE DISTRICT AT

(530) 458-0239

AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION.