Community

Safe Winter Travel

Winter conditions call for different driving tactics.  Ice and Snow, Take it Slow - slower speed, slower acceleration, slower steering, and slower braking.  Give yourself extra time to reach your destination safely.  It's not worth putting yourself and others in a dangerous situation just to save time. 

• Drive with your headlights on.
• Drive for conditions. Don't get overconfident with four-wheel drive. It won't help you stop any faster.
• Winter road conditions result in longer stopping distances. Drivers should allow additional room between their vehicles and others. 
• Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots.  These all have potential to develop black ice that makes driving hazardous. 
• Avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen the chances of losing control of the vehicle.
• Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra time to react.
• Trucks take longer to stop.  Don't cut in front of them.
• Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on snow surfaces. Don't let your car make a bad decision for you.
• Stopping on snow and ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don't have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Either way, give yourself plenty of room to stop.  

Guyasuta VFD & Fire Prevention Week Presentation

Station 219 gave a fire prevention week presentation to the students of Fox Hill Preschool.  The students were able to interact and ask questions to the firefighters regarding fire prevention and safety.

Holiday Fire Prevention Tips

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. According to the United Sates Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of the outlined precautionary tips, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires

• Holiday Tree Fire Hazards - Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
• Selecting a Tree for the Holiday - Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

   

• Caring for Your Tree - Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

   

• Disposing of Your Tree -Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

   

Holiday Lights

• Maintain Your Holiday Lights - Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.

   

• Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets - Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.

   

Holiday Decorations

• Use Only Nonflammable Decorations - All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

   

• Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace - It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

   

• Artificial Holiday Trees - If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

   

Candle Care

• Avoid Using Lit Candles - If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

   

• Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree - Do not go near a holiday tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

   

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan. 

Summer Camp

Emergency Services Day

The 1st Annual O'Hara Township Emergency Services Day (ESD) was well received by all those in attendance. This community orientated expo is designed to let the residents 'get up close and personel' to the apparatus, equipment & most importantly the men and women of the fire and EMS service in the Township. Guyasuta VFD hosted this event at our Station No. 2 located on Locus Drive across from the Boyd Community Center. Parkview FD, Pleasant Valley VFC and Stat MedEvac all pitched in to make this a very memorable day. A mock rescue was conducted by the Township's Rescue Department, Guyasuta VFD, Parkview FD demonstarted foam application and Pleasant Valley VFC held a HazMat demo.

A beautiful day on Appartus Row.

Guyasuta VFD Rescue open for inspection.

O'Hara Township Councilman/Firefighter Brian Kozera gives an extinguisher lesson...

Pleasant Valley VFC puts on a HazMat Demo for the folks....

Parkview FD front & center on Apparatus Row with their new foam engine...

Guyasuta VFD's vehicle extrication demo was a big hit...

Yes boys..that's STAT MedEvac landing on the scene..pretty cool!

Guyasuta's own Marty doing that rope thing he is SO good at....

Guyasuta's own C-1 rigging the system on the roof. Who said all Chief's do is talk on the radio? Hey what is that in C-1's hand...a radio?