The leading cause of death in America is house fires, to get into specifics, most casualties happen in the kitchen. It’s a sad but a true fact. Most people in the US assume and say, “Oh I know about fire safety, just have a fire extinguisher in your house and if something catches on fire you call the fire department.” This is just barely grazing the surface of fire prevention. Yes having a fire extinguisher is very important, but do you know where you’re supposed to keep it? How often you need to check it? How many you need? Where to get one from? When to test them? And so on and so on. 

It is expected that not everyone knows about fire prevention. But seriously, fire is dangerous and it can kill you if you’re not careful. Children and teenagers are more often than not the cause of a fire, but it’s not usually there fault. As long as they didn’t purposely set the fire. They simply didn’t know the correct precautions. 

Take for example PASS. Now how many of you know what PASS stands for? Well for those of you who don’t, it stands for Pull the handle, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side. This easy little reminder can help you and your family remember how to use a fire extinguisher because I know if I didn’t remember PASS then I would panic and most likely fumble around with the fire extinguisher until I figure out how to use it. Because let me tell you, the first time I tried to use a fire extinguisher it did not end well. How many of you know how to use a fire extinguisher? 

With Spring about to be sprung and we move forward to Spring and Summer, that only means warmer weather and the FFAM convention on April 12-14, at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. I hope everyone has enrolled and will be attending the great classes that are being offered free of charge. A reminder to all departments that will be entering their winning posters. They need to be delivered to the ladies’ auxiliary booth before the opening of the convention or they will not be judged. Also, please read over the rules for the contest to ensure the posters meet the contest requirements and all necessary information is filled out on the label. I hope everyone attends for the fun, fellowship, education, competitions and much deserved awards.

Talking about much deserved awards, some of you reading this may not know but a great friend of mine and the fire service received a much-deserved award in February, my friend Chief Ken Hoover retired from Little Dixie Fire Protection District after more than 40 years of service. Thank you for all you’ve done for the fire service, FFAM, and for me. Thank you for being a friend, mentor, and teacher. Have a great time with your family and enjoy your new life of retirement and let the good times roll.

President Kenneth Hoover presenting Kiya Smith, from Ms. McManus’ 4th Grade at Hawthorne Elementary School in Mexico, Missouri, with a check and her winning poster. Kiya Smith’s parents are Korey and Amanda Smith and April Smith. Kiya’s father is a firefighter with the Little Dixie Fire Protection District.

Hello and greetings from District 7 and the east side of the state. I hope everyone had a great safe summer with family and friends.

Where has the time gone? Can you believe that summer is almost over? School has started, and the Missouri State Fair is in the history book. I have to say to the ones that didn’t attend the fair this year, you all missed a great time! The first Saturday was a busy time for the Missouri State Fair Fire Department, with the crowd and the heat, the crews kept busy. This year we had many new faces to help man the station and I want to say thank you for a great job. I can’t wait to see you all next year. Thank you to the seasoned members that showed the new faces around the station and made them feel at home and part of the team and family. I hope when the rookies got home they told of all that happens at the state fair and they return next year and bring a few more colleagues with them. A great job by all because it takes everyone to make it happen and without the member departments and districts that allow us to use their equipment, we could not have the only eleven day fire department in the nation. So thank you to all that donated. This was Chief Rogers last year as fire chief and a big thank you to Donnie for a job well done. Congratulations to the new Fire Chief Terry Plumb. While I’m sending congratulations, I need to congratulate all the award winners. In my eyes each one is a winner. Continue Reading →

Hello from District 7, the east side of the state. Summer is here and she has been a little hot. How has everyone been handling the heat? I’ve heard many heat related calls in our area.

With it being Summer that means fair time. The Missouri State Fair is August 9-19. I’m asking all districts and departments that have poster winners, to please have your winners contact Jamie Miller and make arrangements to come to the Missouri State Fair.

Each winner and their immediate family will get passes to enter the fair. The winners will receive their prize money and passes for the “mile long midway,” and be our guest for supper at the Missouri State Fair Fire Station. So I hope to see all the winners at the 2018 Missouri State Fair. Be our guest and have some fun. Continue Reading →

Hello from District 7. I hope everyone is doing well. I believe spring has sprung and summer is upon us. As they say that’s a wrap, the 2018 St. Joseph convention is in the history books and a good time was had by all that attended. Thank you to the St. Joseph Fire Department for the hospitality.

At the convention, the fire prevention posters were judged. I want to say thank you to the FFAM Auxiliary who have the difficult task to choose which artist has the best poster and when I see the posters, I wish I could say everyone is a winner and in a way they are because they won from their department or district.

The theme was Plan Two Ways Out, Every Second Counts. Sixty-six posters were submitted from seven districts or departments. With that being said, I’m challenging all directors, departments and districts to get the word out and let’s get more posters for next year. I want to give a thank you to Gail Hagans for the question she asked, “Who is able to submit posters?” School curriculum/schedules can be difficult, and departments often aren’t able to get the poster contest in their local schools. This poster contest is open to all organizations including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, home-school kids or even just kids in your community. As long as they fit within the grade requirements and are sponsored by their local department, their poster can be submitted. I challenge everyone that reads this to go out and spread the word. Fire prevention is every day, not just in October. Continue Reading →

Winter’s end brings hope for brighter days and warmer temperatures. Unfortunately, Spring also ushers in its own challenges and unique safety issues. There’s a lot more to spring cleaning than vacuuming up the dust that accumulated over the cold, dark months of winter. The fresh start of spring is the best time to ensure your home is prepared for the spring and summer season. As we spring forward change the batteries in your smoke detectors

To verify your smoke detectors are in good working condition, test each one individually. Ask a family member to stand as far away as possible from the detector you are testing. It’s vital that your family can hear every detector from anywhere in the house.

You should have a carbon monoxide detector outside every room and on every level of your home, and check the batteries in each one every month. The gas sensors in CO detectors have a limited lifespan, and the test button tests only the battery, not the sensor. So replace or recalibrate your detectors at least every five years, even if the detector still beeps when you push the test button. Continue Reading →

Hello from District 7, the east side of the state. I hope everyone had a great and safe Christmas. As we say goodbye to 2017, let’s remember all the brave men and women who gave all. They are watching over us so please be with their families. We are in a new year so let’s make 2018 the best year yet and get the most out of training and encourage districts and departments that are not FFAM members to join the best firefighter’s association in the state!

As I’m typing I can hear the wind blowing at the house. The outside temperature is a balmy 14° with a wind chill of -10° so when you’re out, be sure to bundle up in layers, make sure your automobile is ready for the cold, pack extra water and blankets and carry kitty litter or ice melt for extra traction. If you don’t need to be out, stay inside and enjoy a hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

With the new year approaching, it also means that Winter Fire School is coming up. I hope everyone takes advantage and signs up for classes and gets the opportunity to attend the exposition. There are always lots of great deals. Continue Reading →