Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - Fire House Facts - Sunday July 13, 2008 through Saturday July 19, 2008 The Yuma Fire Department responded to 196 emergency calls for services, which included:

12 - Commercial Assignments Including:  2 cases of outlets or power lines arcing and various alarm responses.

1 - Hazardous Materials Assignment Including: Smell of natural gas, possible leak.

16 - Motor Vehicle Accidents Including: 1 involving 3 vehicles, 1 involving a pedestrian, and 1 involving a wall.

154 - Other Medical Emergencies (serious to minor) Including:   23 for difficulty breathing, 12 for chest pain, 21 fall victims,11 unconscious people, 7 seizure cases, 7 diabetic emergencies, 1 child locked in a vehicle, 2 heat related illnesses, 2 accidental overdoses,7 suicidal subjects, 7 possible stroke cases, a stabbing, a near drowning in a canal, a water rescue from the Colorado river,  and misc. other illnesses and injuries.

13 - Special Duty, Public Assistance, and Residential Assignments Including: 2 vehicle fires, 3 reports of down lines or transformer explosions, 3 reports of smoke in or around residences, 1 snake removal, assisting the Police Dept. gain access to Woodard Jr. High’s roof, and various alarms.

Weekend storms caused some emergency responses for damaged electrical equipment. Some of those calls for service involved burning or damaged power lines. Since it appears “monsoon” season is here, we probably can expect more summer storms to pass through our area. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Always treat any power lines as if they were live. Don’t touch them! Leave that to the experts. Even if a line is not charged at that moment, it could become live without warning. A common time for lines to be down would be during or after storms like we just experienced. Puddles or flowing water expand the area of danger, so be sure to stay well clear of them. Instead of stepping over them, go all the way around.

If power is out, intersections may be dark and the traffic control lights may not be working. If that is the case, approach the intersection with caution and treat it as if it was controlled by four way stop signs. It is not just a good safety procedure, it is the law!

Many traffic accidents seem to occur during or just after a rain storm. Roadways are slick and you need more room to stop. So slow down and use extra caution. Visibility is also reduced. Have you inspected your windshield wipers lately? Heat and direct sunlight can quickly age your wipers. Old and worn wipers can make visibility worse instead of better.

We probably have not seen the end of “Monsoon Season”, so be careful and drive safely!