Time For Annual Heating Safety Check

Now that colder weather is here, State Fire Marshal Mark Wallace is urging Oregonians to use heating appliances wisely and have fireplaces, woodstoves, and other heating equipment inspected for safety. “With the onset of cooler weather, (it’s important to have fireplace and woodstove) chimneys and flues…cleaned and inspected,” Wallace said. “This is one of the most important steps you can take to increase the safety of you family during the winter months.” From 2006 through 2010 in Oregon, there were 2,169 home heating-related fires resulting in nine deaths, 77 injuries, and more than $37 million in property loss. Seventy-six percent of home heating fires occur in the months from October through March.

Here are home heating safety tips from the State Fire Marshal:

Fireplaces and Woodstoves

* Have chimney and woodstove flues inspected and cleaned each year by a qualified chimney specialist. Ask them to check for creosote deposits, soot build-up, or physical damage.

* Always use a fireplace screen. Make sure the screen is made of sturdy metal or heat-tempered glass to prevent sparks from escaping.

* Keep a clutter-free environment. Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations, and flammable materials.

* Store kindling, fire logs, and wood at least three feet from any heat source.

* Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.

* Use proper fire starters. Proper fire starters include newspaper, kindling, or specially manufactured starters designed for indoor use. Never use flammable liquid, such as lighter fluid, kerosene, or gasoline to start a fire.

* Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.

* Use fire-resistant materials on walls around woodstoves.

* Allow fireplace and woodstove ashes to cool before disposing of them.

* Dispose of ashes in a tightly covered metal container and place the container outdoors, at least ten feet from the home and any other nearby buildings. Ashes may retain heat for days after they appear out.

Portable Space Heaters

* When using portable heaters make sure they come with an automatic tip-over switch and a high-temperature limit switch. The tip-over switch turns the heater off if it is knocked over. The high-temperature limit switch regulates the heater, preventing it from overheating.

* Give heaters space. Keep at least three feet of space between the heater and combustibles such as furniture, curtains, blankets, papers, and people.

* Check heater electrical cords. Have your cord serviced if it is frayed, cracked, or becomes hot during use.

* Never use an extension cord with a portable electric heater. It can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

* Never allow children to play with, or around, the heater.

* Unplug heaters when not in use, before going to bed, or when leaving the room.

Electric Baseboard and Wall Heaters

* Be aware of electric baseboard and wall heaters. These heaters are thermostatically controlled and may turn on without warning when temperatures drop.

* Keep combustibles clear. Give heaters space. Just as with portable space heaters, keep at least three feet of space between your baseboard/wall heater and combustibles items such as furniture, curtains, blankets, papers, and people.

Propane Appliances

* If using a propane-fueled heater, make sure it is designed for indoor use. Read all manufacturer instructions and ensure it is properly vented.

* Do not use barbecues for heating or cooking indoors.

* Make sure propane-fueled appliances are properly vented and follow all manufacturer instructions.

* If you smell gas, do not operate any switches, appliances, or thermostats. A spark from any one of these could ignite the gas. Get everyone outside and away from the building. Shut off the gas supply. Call your propane supplier from a neighbor’s phone.

* Avoid kerosene heaters. They can emit deadly fumes.

Smoke Alarms and Home Escape Plans

* Working smoke alarms alert you to a fire and more than double your chances of surviving a fire. In a fire, minutes could mean the difference between life and death.

* Install smoke alarms in every home, on every level, outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom.

* Test and vacuum your smoke alarms each month to make sure they are working.

* Smoke alarms 8- to 10-years-old or older should be replaced.

* Make a home escape plan and practice it with your family at least twice a year.

Carbon Monoxide Dangers

* Home heating and cooking equipment that burn fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane are sources of carbon monoxide.

* Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal if not detected early.

* If you burn one of these fuels for home heating, make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is working properly.

For more home fire safety tips, click here.

For more smoke alarm information, click here.

For more information on carbon monoxide and Oregon’s carbon monoxide law, click here.

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Single Payer Health Care Tour Comes to Coast

(Update: Members of Occupy Newport will march November 19 in favor of single payer – see below)

A speaking tour called “How Vermont Won Health Care For All” will move through Oregon in December 12 – 17. In June, the Vermont legislature voted to create a universal health care program, following a three-year campaign by the Vermont Workers Center (VWC). The Center organized a campaign around the idea that health care is a human right, and in doing so, convinced the Vermont legislature to take action. Two of the Vermont Workers Center organizers, Kate Kanelstein and Sarah Weintraub, will be in Corvallis December 12 and Florence December 13. They will talk about their campaign, and answer questions about how their experience might apply in Oregon. The Corvallis event is held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 at Corvallis Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, (35th and Harrison). For information call 541-752-3207. The Florence meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the Siuslaw Public Library (1460 9th Street). For more information call 541-997-3950.

The tour is organized by the five Oregon chapters of Jobs with Justice (Portland Jobs with Justice, Central Oregon Jobs with Justice, Eugene-Springfield Solidarity Network, Mid-Willamette Valley Jobs with Justice Organizing Committee, Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice) and the Oregon Single Payer Campaign.

Members of Occupy Newport will march Saturday (November 19) for Single Payer Universal Health Care. The action is in solidarity with a coalition of health care reform groups marching nationwide to demand the nation take Wall Street out of Health Care. The group meets at 11:00 a.m. at the intersection of HWYs 101 and 20 in Newport. At noon they will march to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and back. The hospital is at 930 SW Abbey St. in Newport.

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State Revenues Sink Once More

(This article is (C) 2011 by our Oregonian News Network Partner, Oregon Capitol News)

By SARAH ROSS

SALEM, Ore.- In a morning briefing to the legislature Thursday, the Office of Economic Analysis reported that state revenue is down by $106.8 million since its last forecast in September.

The negative balance remaining in the General Fund for 2011-2013 after including this drop in expected revenue totals $84.3 million. Lottery funds are also expected to decrease by $22.5 million.

The decline results from a $33.7 million drop in personal income taxes and a $54.2 million drop in corporate income tax revenue.

Following the presentation, Senate President Peter Courtney told the press that the key forecast will be the one given to the legislature in February, but action cannot wait until then.

“It is critical that we urgently prepare to make adjustments to the budget in February –including a contingency for the worst-case scenario,” said Courtney, D-Salem.

Since the legislature adjourned in June, revenue projections have dropped by $306 million, $192.2 million in personal income tax and $72.9 million in corporate income taxes.

Republican legislators were quick to blame the decreasing forecast projection on Oregon’s weak economy.

“The economic forecast and October’s unemployment report shows that Oregon’s job growth remains weak,” said House Republican Leader Kevin Cameron of Salem. “Private sector job creation is our only long-term solution for generating the tax revenues we need to sustain essential services.”

Meanwhile, both party leaders said they would work together to protect programs like schools and public safety when changing the budget based on the latest revenue forecast in February’s legislative session.

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Hwy 20 Project May Stretch Into 2014

Joe Squire, Project Manager for the Pioneer Mountain-Eddyville project on U.S. 20 confirms it will take two more construction seasons to finish the project that began in 2005. Squire gave an update to the Toledo City Council Wednesday night, including a slide show providing a ‘virtual road trip’ along the uncompleted 5.5 mile stretch. Squire said “I know for sure it will take two construction seasons to finish the work. The obvious question is ‘when’s the first construction season?’” Squire said everyone is working hard to make sure the next construction season is 2012, but he couldn’t guarantee the work would not take until 2014. Meetings continue among the contractor, ODOT engineers and consultants, as they work to find solutions for shifting ground along the project route. He said “ODOT remains very committed to get this thing done. It will save 10-15 minutes of driving time and open up (Lincoln County) to large commercial trucks. He estimated the new road will save G-P Toledo “$50 to $100 per truckload,” making the mill much more competitive.

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Job Events Scheduled for Veterans and Service Members

The first “Hiring our Heroes” (HOH) Job Fairs for veterans and service members are being held this weekend in Oregon City and Pendleton. The Oregon National Guard Joint Transition Assistance Program (JTAP) is working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the project. More than 70 employers “ready to hire will be in attendance,” according to Spc. Cory Grogan, Oregon National Guard. When the Oregon National Guard re-integration program started, Oregon was the only state combining re-integration efforts with a jobs program called the Career Transition Assistance Program, said Plans and Operations Reintegration Manager, Master Sergeant Vince Jacques. An initial conversation between Jacques, after he had recently returned from Iraq, and Brig. Gen. Mike Caldwell, deputy director of the Oregon Military Department, sparked an idea that has now become a joint service team of 16 working with an elaborate network service providers reaching out to service members, families and veterans across the state, Jacques said.

The Oregon Military Department said JTAP expansion “is in response to service members from Oregon who have deployed for federal service in numbers not seen since World War II.” Oregon does not have an active duty military post for any branch of the armed forces. The events are open 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. November 19 at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, and Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton. For more information, call 888-688-2264.

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