The Storm Shelter Registry is a service for Redings Mill Fire District residents to provide information about their storm shelters to help first responders in case of an emergency.

Registering your storm shelter is a simple process. Just tell us your address, the type of shelter you have, where it is located and whether it is a residential or commercial shelter. (If providing GPS coordinates please use Decimal Degrees, ex. Lat. 37.863254 Long. -94.687541)

You may also provide the name and phone number of an emergency contact person. This additional contact information is optional and not required to register your shelter.

All information you provide will be used by first responders — police, fire, and emergency medical service — to help with emergency response, in the event your home or neighborhood are affected by a tornado or other disaster.

You can register here.

Redings Mill Fire District wants to assist our residents with planning and executing safe outdoor burning procedures. Although we can’t standby for your planned outdoor fires, we can help you plan safe and effective outdoor burning on your property.

Redings Mill Fire Protection District and the incorporated villages in our Fire District became Missouri’s first Firewise Recognized Community in 2010.

The Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program is a process that empowers neighbors to work together in reducing their wildfire risk. Join the growing network of more than 1,028 recognized Firewise communities taking action and ownership in preparing and protecting their homes against the threat of wildfire.

Using a five-step process, communities develop an action plan that guides their residential risk reduction activities, while engaging and encouraging their neighbors to become active participants in building a safer place to live. Neighborhoods throughout the United States are embracing the benefits of becoming a recognized Firewise Community – and you can too!

As part of this program you may request a Firewise Home Assessment. This is a 30-45 minute visit with a homeowner that assesses the risk of wildfire affecting your home and outbuildings. At the end of the assessment, we will provide some simple, actionable suggestions for lowering the possibility of your home being affected by a wildland fire.

You can download a copy of the Firewise Home Assessment here: Firewise Wildfire Hazard Assessment

We can also come to your property and provide a Wildfire Burning Plan for you. Our staff can make suggestions on how to best prepare and execute a wildland fire used to clear your property.

Remember, you can call Redings Mill Fire District (417-624-2715) or check our homepage for current open burning conditions. We are always glad to help you with any information we can to assist you in completing a safe and controlled outdoor fire. If your interested in a Firewise Assessment of your property contact us here.

This video, made by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Testing) shows the danger of “modern” fires compared to the danger of fires occuring 40 years ago. Keep your eye on the clock! This video shows how little time we have to get out of a modern residence after a fire has started. This makes the need to have working smoke detectors an absolute in our homes and businesses.

Fire Safety for the Holidays

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there is an estimated annual average of 210 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees. Based on data from 2002 through 2005, these fires caused an average of 24 civilian deaths, 27 civilian injuries, and $13.3 million in direct property damage per year. The NFPA analysis also shows that although the number of Christmas tree fires is low, these fires represent a higher level of hazard. On average, 1 of every 9 Christmas tree fires resulted in a fatality compared to an average of one death per 75 non-confined home structure fires overall. Further, 49 % of Christmas tree fires spread beyond the room of origin. The fires that spread beyond the room of origin caused 94 % of the associated fatalities.

The percentage of trees involved in structure fires represent an extremely small portion of the total number of natural Christmas trees sold, which is estimated at 30 million trees, in the United States each year. The moisture content of each tree can play a dominant role in determining the fire hazard each tree represents.
Properly maintaining a cut Christmas tree is important to retaining a high moisture content in the needles of the tree to limit accidental ignition and prevent rapid flame spread. A tree which has dry needles can readily ignite with a flaming source and generate heat release rates that are capable of causing flashover in residential scale rooms.

Wet trees tell a different story.

For comparative purposes, the NIST researchers selected a green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk’s bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 7.6 liter water capacity. The researchers maintained the Scotch pine’s water on a daily basis. A single match could not ignite the tree. A second attempt in which an electric current ignited an entire matchbook failed to fire the tree. Finally they applied an open flame to the tree using a propane torch. The branches ignited briefly, but self-extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches. Trees that have been watered properly, and maintain pliable, green needles are harder to ignite than dry trees with needles that break easily when bent and fall from the tree when the branches are shaken.

All you have to do is watch the videos to see the incredible difference that keeping your live Christmas tree watered can make in preventing a fire. Water your Christmas trees for safety sake!!

Facts about home heating fires

• From 2010-2012, an average of 45,200 home heating fires occurred in the United States each year and resulted in an annual average of approximately 155 deaths, 625 injuries and $351 million in property loss.
• Heating was the second leading cause of home fires following cooking.
• Home heating fires peaked in the early evening hours between 5 and 9 p.m. with the highest peak between 6 and 8 p.m. This four-hour period accounted for 30 percent of all home heating fires.
• Home heating fires peaked in January (21 percent) and declined to the lowest point during the summer months from June to August.
• Confined fires, those fires confined to chimneys, flues or fuel burners, accounted for 84 percent of home heating fires.
• Twenty-nine percent of the nonconfined home heating fires occurred because the heat source was too close to things that can burn.

It’s Fall and time to check your chimney or flue pipe. Your chimney should be inspected and cleaned by professionals. We respond to many chimney fires each year, and many lead to damage in the home that doesn’t have to happen if you service your chimney or flue properly. Any obstructions or creosote buildup should be removed and any cracks in the flue or chimney should be repaired after they are found. A little prevention can save your home from fire damage.

Today the staff of the Redings Mill Fire Protection District was excited to complete the work needed to place our newest brush truck in service. This 2016 Chevrolet 3500HD Silverado replaces a 1984 Chevrolet. We would like to thank the citizens of the fire district for their continued support which makes projects like this one possible.

Redings Mill Fire Protection District was notified by Senator Blunts Office on May 18, that we have been awarded an Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant in the amount of $20,660. This grant will provide a specialized gear washer/extractor and dryer, as well as gear racks that will help our protective clothing dry between calls. Firefighters all over the country have become aware that the cancer risk for firefighters is 3x higher than the general population, due to the smoke and chemicals we work in while controlling fires. Today’s homes and businesses are full of plastics and chemicals that are carcinogens when they are affected by fire. Having the gear washers that can extract these toxins from our gear has been a need for some time. This grant will provide the equipment that will allow us to wash our gear after every fire, and care for it so that it keeps it’s protective qualities longer. This will make our firefighters safer, and help our gear last longer. We want to thank Senator Blunts office for supporting this important grant program year after year!

The Redings Mill Fire Protection District recently received the results from a Public Protection Classification review that was conducted in September of 2015. This review was conducted by the Insurance Service Office (ISO) for the purpose of gathering information to determine a Public Protection Classification, which insurers use for underwriting and to calculate premiums for fire insurance. The Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) recognizes fire-protection features only as they relate to suppression of fires in structures.

Joplin, Mo. (Feb. 9, 2016) – Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded Redings Mill Fire Protection District a grant in the amount of $25,516.00. The grant will provide new extrication equipment to Redings Mill Fire Protection District that will be used to remove trapped victims from vehicles or other equipment. This equipment will replace 12-year-old equipment and provide increased capabilities needed to open and cut though the stronger materials being used in today’s vehicles. A demonstration of the equipment will be provided at 10 a.m. on Wednesday Feb. 10 at Redings Mill Fire Station 1, located at 344 Redings Mill Road.

The Foundation allocates funding in five distinct areas:

• Life-Saving Equipment
• Prevention Education
• Scholarships and Continued Education
• Support for Members of the Military
• Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Relief

ABOUT FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION

In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has given more than $17 million to hometown heroes in 44 states and Puerto Rico, including more than $511,000 in Missouri.

Redings Mill Fire Protection District serves 114 square miles in Northwest Newton County Missouri just south of Joplin, MO. Their staff of 15 career and 12 volunteer firefighters responds to an average of 1200 calls per year. The district responds from 6 stations and responds to structure fires, wildland fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents and hazardous materials calls. Redings Mill Fire District became Missouri’s first Firewise Community in 2010 and the Southwest Missouri Incident Management Team also. In 2015 their volunteer firefighters provided over 18,000 volunteer hours while training, responding and providing station coverage shifts. This commitment to our community exemplifies our motto that is simply stated in two words. “We Care”