Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov

*** For Immediate Release***

Date: Month 00, 2010
Contact: Deputy State Fire Marshal Esther Hernandez
Phone: (360) 596-3926
E-mail: esther.hernandez@wsp.wa.gov

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State Fire Marshal Asks: Are you ready if a wildfire comes near you?

“Give yourself and your family a better chance of escaping harm during a wildfire by taking as many precautions as possible,” recommends State Fire Marshal Charles Duffy.  Below are some basic questions to think about this fire season:

• Are you familiar with your community’s disaster-preparedness plans and have you created a family plan?
• Do you have plans to care for your pets in case of an evacuation?
• Do you know where the closest police, fire and emergency medical facilities are located?
• Have you planned different escape routes from your home and neighborhood and designated an emergency meeting place for the family to meet?
• Is there an established contact point to communicate with concerned relatives?

You should also consider the following preparedness tips:

• A family emergency kit that includes:  At least a three-day supply of drinking water and food that needs no refrigeration or cooking; a portable NOAA weather radio; first aid supplies and medications; basic tools, such as a wrench, a flashlight and gloves; portable lanterns and batteries; credit cards and cash; and important documents, including insurance policies.
• To report a wildfire:  Dial 9-1-1 and be prepared to give the following information:  your name and phone number; your address; the location/direction of the fire; if you know how it started and how big it is; and color of the smoke.

For more information on disaster preparedness, please visit the Office of State Fire Marshal website www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/firemars or the Federal Emergency Management Agency website www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington State’s firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.

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