FIRE prevention week

The Union Fire Protection District is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.

This year’s campaign addresses cooking, which is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.

The Union Fire Protection District encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. Fire Chief Russell Hamilton explains “a cooking fire can grow quickly. We have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Forty nine percent of all U.S. home fires are cooking fires according to the National Fire Protection Agency. Such numbers remind us, public education is still needed.

The Fire District offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you. You are cooking.

2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Firefighters will be focused on presenting this year’s campaign message and how the above safety tips can keep all safer. If one has questions or would like additional information, feel free to contact the Union Fire Protection District @ 636-583-2515

Any questions or concerns may be addressed by calling The Union Fire Protection District @ 636-583-2515

Use caution when open burning

The Union Fire Protection District is asking residents to use caution when open burning on their property. Open burning of tree limbs and residential brush is allowed only outside the Union City limits. The open burning period is limited to the period beginning September 16th and ending April 14th. Brush piles are limited to 16 square feet and the burning may occur between the hours of 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.

The Franklin County area has received favorable precipitation in the recent few weeks, yet conditions can become unfavorably dry in a matter of days. A resident who is burning on their property can quickly create an escalating out of control natural cover fire resulting in damage to others’ properties. Such fires have been known to spread to homes and structures destroying them.

Prior to open burning one should contact the Franklin County Communication Center at 636-583-2567 or Union Fire Protection District Station #1 at 636-583-2515 to confirm open burning will be allowed given the current or forecasted weather conditions.

Some guidelines to follow are:

· Burn piles should be limited to 16 sq. ft.

· Do not burn within 50’ of a structure

· Wind speed must be less than 10 miles an hour

· Humidity should be greater than 50%

· Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose, dirt, or sand on hand as an extinguishing agent

All open burning should be constantly attended, and residents need to have the availability to call 911 if their open burning should get out of control. Household trash, tires, shingles, siding, and treated lumber should not be burned.

Welcome to Union Fire Protection District

FIRE prevention week

WE will never forget

please take the time to remember

Use caution when open burning

CONGRATULATIONS to our new division chief

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