Commish's Report

FireHouse News….

Due to the extreme "winter" we have been experiencing, the woods around us are extremely dry and brittle. This always creates the perfect environment for a busy brush fire season.

It is important that we all take extreme precautions to insure that we don't inadvertently cause a brush fire to start; especially us smokers. In an instant, a fire can erupt from even the exhaust heat from our cars parked on the side of the roads.

Our volunteer fire department is gearing up for the anticipated period. Although a lot of their equipment is a tad bit tired and needs replacement, these guys and gals have been under the hoods with the bailing wire and the duct tape. Then there is the testing of the pumps and hoses, checking to see that the 4-wheel drive is four-wheeling as well as making sure that they still can fit in their fire gear after all the food during the past holiday season.

Broward County has tested all of the firewells on the west side of town and has identified the ones that do not make the grade. They will be repairing or replacing and installing 25 firewells during this first year of their contract. The Town of Davie is in the process of testing the east side firewells and determining which ones that the firewell doc needs to perform a house call on.

Ground conditions such as blasting and the fluctuation of our water table causes the wells to become inoperative. Rocks collect (and somehow multiply) at the base of the well pipe. Pumping an inoperative well with a fire engine can wipe out the engine's pump system causing thousands of dollars in damage and unwanted downtime of the apparatus. To overcome this, these wells need to be pumped every six months, making them ready to use. Sometimes however, the well is damaged beyond repair and must be replaced.

Last month I promised that I would try and find an economical solution that we all could participate in to make sure that our properties could be located more easily by our police and fire departments in case of an emergency. Well, I got a plan.

We have located a company that manufactures aluminum reflective signs that will accommodate your house numbers. Two styles are available:

· A 6' x 18" double-sided reflective sign that displays your house numbers on both sides that can mount on your mailbox post. The address numbers can be seen from both sides

· A 5" x 14" single-sided reflective sign that displays your house numbers on only one side that you can mount on your fence, wall or on the front of your home.

These custom created signs offer your choice of a green or blue reflective background finish and will display your house address with easy to see reflective white numbers.

The cost for either sign is only $15.00. Within this newsletter you will find an order form. Please take the time to fill it out and send it off to order your customized sign today.

Our volunteer fire department will receive your order, create your custom address sign that will reflectively display your house number and deliver it right to your door. Throw in some cold sodas, and they are liable to even mount it for you as well.

Something such as this is extremely important during an emergency situation. Making it easier for our police and fire personnel in finding your home could possibly make that difference in a life-threatening situation. Let's all participate in this extremely important community effort.

Vice-Mayor Johnny Dollar Police/Fire Commissioner