Alternative heating devices, downed power lines, portable generators, and damaged appliances are all potential hazards during and after a winter storm.

The U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family, and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after a winter storm.

- Alternative heaters need additional space to operate in. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away.

- Never refuel a space heater while it is operating or still hot.

- If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of snow and debris for easy access by the fire company.

- Always use flashlights and not a candle, for emergency lighting.

- Do not use the kitchen oven or range to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, they can be a source of toxic fumes.

The Midway Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary will be holding a flea market and craft fair on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the Midway Training Grounds (Carnival Grounds) on Rt. 263 in Buckingham, PA. The flea market and craft fair will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; breakfast and lunch will be available. Spaces are approx. 20' X 20' and are available for $25.00 and tables can be rented for $5.00 each. For more information or to reserve a space, please call Kelli at 267-221-0333. Rain date is Sunday, May 13, 2012 (same time and place).

Please join us for the Midway Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary's 8th annual Basket Bingo on Sunday, April 15, 2012!  Advanced tickets $20 - at the door $25.  Doors open at noon and Bingo starts at 1:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Midway Fire Company on Route 202 in Lahaska, PA.  Raffle tickets will be available for special baskets. Extra Bingo cards, door prizes, and refreshments will also be available.  For questions, contact: auxiliary@midwayvfc.com.

Longaberger® and the other basket and collection names are the property of The Longaberger Company®.  This fundraiser is in no way connected with or sponsored by the Longaberger Company®.
 

Midway responded to an accident at the intersection of Route 202 and Route 263 in Buckingham, involving a bus and a truck. The accident occurred at about 5:40 AM this morning. The driver of the bus and four passengers had to be extricated. Several victims of the accident did sustain injuries, but the extent of these injuries is unknown. The cause of the accident is under investigation by Buckingham Police. Rescue 5, Engine 5, Engine 15-1 as well as Fire Police responded to the incident. Central Bucks Ambulance provided patient care and transport.

Twenty five Firefighters from the Midway Volunteer Fire Company received comprehensive health evaluations and physicals. Midway sponsored a mobile medical unit and staff from Professional Health Services, Inc. The physicals and health evaluations took place at our main station in Lahaska on Sunday January15th.In addition to the physicals and health evaluations, the fire company also provides health club memberships. These initiatives are part of an overall focus by the fire company to improve and maintain the heath and fitness of its members. Any fire companies that would like more information on  Professional Health Services, Inc., can contact them by calling (800) 833-3055 or by visiting their website shown below.

Each winter the high cost of home heating fuels and utilities cause Americans to search for alternative sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves and space heaters continues to increase. Homeowners continue to use fire places fueled by both wood and man-made logs. While all of these methods of heating may be acceptable, they are however, a major contributing factor in home fires.

Many of these fires can be prevented. You can prevent the loss of both life and property that is a result of fires by being able to identify potential hazards and following a few safety tips:

- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment.

- Only use heating equipment that has been tested and approved by a recognized testing laboratory.

- Make sure that all fuel-burning heating equipment is properly vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

- Only purchase portable space heaters with an automatic shut-off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.

- Allow wood stove and fireplace ashes t cool before disposing of them in a tightly covered metal container. Keep the container at least 10 feet away from your home.

Additional information on heating fire safety can be found by clicking on the link below.

A report on residential sprinkler systems and fires in Bucks County was released today. This was report was a collabrative effort between the Bucks County Fire Marshalls Association for the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition and Fire Planning Associates, Inc. To view the report click on the document icon above the printer icon below.

As we move closer to winter, home fire deaths and injuries begin to increase. The U.S. Fire Administartion (USFA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) would like to remind everyone that fire safety and prevention is especially important in the coming months because home fires are more prevalent in the winter than in any other season. Each winter there are an estimated 108,400 residential building fires, resulting in 945 deaths, 3,825 injuries, and $1.7 billiion in property loss.

Please visit the links below for additional information on winter fire prevention and safety.

Cooking fires continue to be the most common type of fires experienced by U.S. households. Incidents involving cooking fires increase during the holidays, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of fire related injuries in the home. Using the right cooking equipment and cooking safely can prevent many of these fires. Learn more about cooking safely by visiting the link below.

On Sunday November 6th we will move our clocks back to Standard Time. Please use this opportunity to remember to test the smoke alarms in your home and replace the batteries if they are more than a year old. Working smoke alarms significantly increase your chances of surviving a deadly fire in your home.

In addition to changing the batteries in your smoke alarms this weekend, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) recommends the following simple steps to prtect your life, your loved ones and your home:

- Dust or vacuum your smoke alarms when you change the batteries.

- Test your smoke alarms once a month using the test button.

- Replace the entire smoke alarm if it more than ten years old or doesn't work properly when tested.

- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.

- For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms.

- Interconnect all of the smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Interconnected smoke alarms can be purchased at most home improvement stores.

- Make sure that everyone in your home understands how to respond when a smoke alarm is activated.

Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so that you and your loved ones can exit your home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance away from the fire where first responders can see you.

For more information on smoke alarms and escape planning, visit the USFA link below.