Heating equipment is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes. Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 48,530 fires involving heating equipment each year in 2014-2018. These fires resulted in annual losses of 500 deaths, 1,350 injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage. The leading factor contributing to home heating fires was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled ... (Full Story & Photos)

On Thanksgiving Day, many families customarily spend the holiday inside their home or at the home of a friend or family member with the family dinner being the highlight of the day. Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment, at three times the average number per day.

• An estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments ... (Full Story & Photos)

Electricity helps make our lives easier but there are times when we can take its power and its potential for fire-related hazards for granted. Lighting to improve the look and safety of our homes, electric tools to make our outdoor work easier, and power lines to our home, all need to be handled with care. When working with, and using, electricity, we need to be cautious and keep safety in mind.

According ... (Full Story & Photos)

Every six months, as Daylight Saving Time begins and ends, you hear from firefighters, “When you change your clock, check your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.” It is more than a slogan – and firefighters see it often – smoke alarms save lives. Working smoke detectors alert you more quickly in the event of a fire and provide you and your loved ones more time to escape safely.

This weekend, ... (Full Story & Photos)

The following products were recently recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):

1) Product: Venom Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) (Sold Exclusively on VenomMotorsports.com)

Hazard: The Venom Motorsports youth model ATVs do not meet mandatory safety requirements, including speed restrictions, posing a risk of serious injury or death. The ATVs also were imported and distributed ... (Full Story & Photos)

4-02 Box, 16:22 - Squad 4 was dispatched to 19221 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park for a motor vehicle accident, reported serious. Units responding were advised that the vehicle was off the roadway with one subject trapped. Chief 4A arrived on location and confirmed one subject trapped in the vehicle, not breathing. Chief 4 arrived and established the command. Squad 4 and Engine 141 arrived and ... (Full Story & Photos)

On October 25th, Ridge VFD continued Fire Prevention Month activities by entertaining a group of home-schooled kids at our Firehouse in Ridge. A local parent contacted us after seeing our Fire Prevention Week posts from our school visits. She asked if we would consider doing a presentation for her home-schooled children, as well as a small group of her neighborhood home-schooled kids. RVFD educators ... (Full Story & Photos)

Halloween is near and you’re preparing costumes, decorations, and special treats. But, have you considered the accidents that can occur on Halloween? According to the US Fire Administration there are about 10,000 reported fires over a three-day period around Halloween in the US. Those fires caused an estimated 30 deaths, 125 injuries and $102 million in property loss. Dried flowers, crepe paper, ... (Full Story & Photos)