St. Tammany Parish Fire District # 4

Mandeville Fire/EMS is pet friendly! 🐾 Saturday evening we were called to extricate this sweet puppy’s toe from a kitchen sink drain. We were able to save her toe and her family reported to us that she’s home and is as wild as ever.

Thanks to her family for the picture. We love all happy endings!

As much as firefighters love fried turkey 🦃 , we don’t want to respond 🚨 to YOUR house for the Thanksgiving festivities because of a 🔥 . Please follow our safety suggestions below when frying your turkey 🦃 🍽️.

It's community partnerships like this, that help us to better serve our great citizens.

Congratulations to Fire Captain Scott Casio and District Fire Chief Mark Eberhart on their recent promotions.

The burn ban in St. Tammany Parish is being lifted tomorrow morning, November 17, at 8am. Please adhere to the parish burn ordinance guidelines.

President Mike Cooper has notified the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry that St. Tammany Parish is opting out of the statewide burn ban, with support from the local Fire Districts, effective Friday, November 17, 2023 at 8 a.m.

“Recent rainfall has decreased the potential fire risks, so with support of our Parish Fire Chiefs, I have opted out of the statewide burn ban,” said President Mike Cooper. “Until recently, our Parish’s fire potential and conditions were at a record high, causing extreme stress on firefighters, who are responsible for protecting life and property. I greatly appreciate our citizens’ patience and understanding through this burn ban.”

While burning is now allowed in most of unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, citizens are strongly encouraged to use caution when burning yard debris. Burning is not allowed within most municipalities.

According to Parish ordinances, the yard debris fire shall not be greater than eight feet in diameter and four feet in height, be in a container if closer than 50 feet from a structure, shall not be unattended and a water hose must be nearby.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of District Attorney, Warren Montgomery. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Mandeville Fire/EMS sends a heartfelt thank you to all who have served our great nation in the military. Let us honor their bravery and sacrifice today.

Here are some tips to ensure safety when using a heater:
- Keep flammable items, such as bedding, clothing, and curtains, at least 3 feet away from the heater.
- It is important to have a heater with an automatic shut-off feature, so that it will turn off if it accidentally tips over.
- Remember to always turn off heaters before going to bed or leaving the room.
- When using portable heaters, make sure to plug them directly into outlets and avoid using extension cords or power strips.
- Use only portable heaters that have been tested and certified by a recognized laboratory.

Please note that these tips are crucial to prevent accidents and ensure the safe use of heaters.

Come visit us tonight at one of our Candy Depots!

Corner of Scarlet Oak Ln. & Butternut Ln.

The Gazebo on Greenleaves Blvd.

Corner of Woodstone Dr. & Robyn Pl.

Corner of Belle Terre Blvd. & Basswood Dr.

Corner of Grande Maison Blvd & Chateau Grimaldi

We're looking forward to seeing you!

Mandeville Fire/EMS cares about your safety on Halloween.

Happy Halloween!!

We have recently identified several safety risks in our community through a collaboration with the State Fire Marshal's Office. One of those risks is false fire alarms, also known as nuisance alarms, which are most prevalent in our business community. This issue has been identified as most commonly occurring around this time of year as our seasons change the temperatures outside leading businesses to change the temperature inside with heaters, furnaces, and other heating mechanisms.

We are hoping you can help us tackle this issue by sharing our post.

Make sure to maintain a safe distance between your Halloween decorations and potential sources of heat like open flames, lightbulbs, or heaters. Handle flammable items with caution, as they can easily catch fire and pose a significant risk. Keep pathways clear for easy exit during emergencies. By following these safety measures, you can enjoy Halloween without compromising well-being or the safety of others.

Flashlights and battery-operated candles are versatile and functional decorative items for Halloween. These items have practical purposes, with flashlights being handy for navigation and outdoor activities, and battery-operated candles providing a safer alternative to traditional candles. By utilizing these items, you can help ensure the safety of your home and community.

Today is National First Responders Day! Mandeville Fire/EMS would like to express our gratitude to all the brave individuals who consistently give up their time and exert great effort for the wonderful communities we serve. We appreciate the commitment and sacrifices made by all first responders. Thank you for your service!

Halloween has the highest risk of vehicle-related injuries for children compared to other days. To mitigate this, kids should wear bright, reflective costumes, learn road safety, and be with adults. By enhancing visibility and observing road safety, we can lessen the risk this Halloween. Let's all participate in ensuring a safe and fun Halloween for our children.

Mandeville Fire/EMS and Fire District 3 units are on the scene of an 18-wheeler fire on I-12, EB, near MM 70. Traffic has been reduced to one lane while suppression efforts are underway.

Expect traffic delays.

We know, we know, it stinks…

We are VERY aware of the dense fog that’s mixed with the smoke from the marsh fire throughout our response area. We expect to have the smoky smell for the next few days.

Dedication, Honor and Integrity, Pride and Professionalism, Respect and Compassion.
For the next 14 weeks Recruit Class 923 will experience some of the most physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting challenges of their lives on their way to earning their badge. This class is unique in that 4 different St. Tammany Fire districts will be represented. (STFD 1, STFD 2, STFD 4 and STFD 12). Check back here every Friday to see their progress!

Weeks 5 & 6

During Week 5 our class learned about their structural firefighting gear. How it protects them as well as how it can harm them. They have learned to get fully get dressed in under two minutes, how to search large spaces for victims, and many ways to carrying those victims to safety. This week Class 123 learned all about fire behavior. How is starts, the different stages, and what measures can be taken to extinguish a fire. On Monday the class had the chance to watch a replica room, that they built and furnished, burn from the incipient, growth, fully developed and eventually decay phase. On Tuesday the class got to have some real “fun” in their gear with their first attempt at the “firefighter challenge”. This is an extremely fast paced, all gas-no breaks, obstacle course that test their ability to complete fireground task rapidly and without stopping. The rest of the week was spent learning about building construction and the equipment firefighters are expected to know intimately.

Is St. Tammany Parish still under a burn ban?

YES!!

Here's everything you need to know!!

It's looking like a 😎Chamber of Commerce Day😎 kind of forecast for most of the state this weekend BUT the majority of the state will be under some sort of Fire Danger status!!

We know many of you are asking 🔥❌ Is my parish still under the statewide burn ban?🔥 ❌ But we're advising everyone to steer clear of burning this weekend because of the elevated danger. A handful of parishes that opted out of the statewide burn ban have reentered it because of the fires that became too much for fire crews to handle!!

SO... Where the statewide burn ban is still in effect:

(1) The use of open flames in fire pits, campfires, barrels, bonfires, burn piles and like-open burning is included in the burn ban.
(2) Outdoor cooking is not a citable offense, but if your cooking creates a fire that the fire department has to respond to, you will get a citation. It is recommended to conduct all outdoor cooking with safety measures in place including using contained cooking equipment like grills and smokers, designed for cooking purposes only, on a flame-resistant surface with a water source or fire extinguisher nearby.
(3) Mowing and yard work is not banned, however, it is preferred to avoid mowing and/or driving/operating hot machinery and/or any activity that could produce a spark on or near dry, brown, dead grass because of its flammability.

💻If it’s not published on your parish government’s website or social media sites, you can check here with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry:
https://www.ldaf.state.la.us/programs/parish-burn-bans/

❌To learn more about what's legal and not legal to burn in Louisiana, check out this page on the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's website:https://deq.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/About_LDEQ/enviroschool/BurningPresentation_2019_Update.pdf

Congratulation to Fire Equipment Operator Casey Aloi, Training and Safety Officer Greg Albers, and Chief of Training and Safety Keith Murray on their recent promotions.

There is currently a very large marsh fire in New Orleans East.

What does this mean for us? With winds currently from the Southeast, this causes Fire District 4’s area to be covered in a smoky haze. There are currently no active fires in St. Tammany Parish.

Have no fear.

This week fire department members from Mandeville, Madisonville, and the City of Covington completed a 40-hour course in Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations. Through multiple real life based scenarios members completed the lowering, hauling, and packaging of patients that may be encountered on technical rescue incidents. Topics also discussed included rigging and hardware, anchoring, and the use of the incident command system on these types of emergencies.

Leaving food unattended while cooking can lead to cooking fires, which pose a serious risk of fire and even fatalities. There are, however, effective measures you can take to prevent most cooking fires.

It's crucial to remain close by when frying, grilling, or broiling your food. If you need to temporarily leave the kitchen, remember to turn off the stove.

When simmering, baking, or roasting food, it is highly recommended to check your food regularly. Using a timer can be a helpful tool to remind you that your food is still cooking.

When using a microwave, it's important to exercise caution to prevent accidents. Remember to open heated food slowly and at a safe distance from your face to avoid any burns. Additionally, always allow the food to cool down before taking a bite. To ensure safety, make sure to use microwave-safe utensils that are specifically designed for use in microwaves and avoid using any metal objects. In case of a fire, immediately switch off the microwave and keep the door shut to prevent the spread of flames. Stay safe in the kitchen!

To ensure the safety of everyone in the kitchen, it is important to rotate the handles of pots towards the back of the stove and use the back burners whenever possible. Accidentally hitting or pulling on handles that stick out may cause food or liquids to spill, potentially leading to burns. It is crucial to create a designated area around the stove and other hot areas where kids and pets are not allowed. This safety zone should have a minimum distance of 3 feet (1 meter).

Cooking fires are a leading cause of home fires and injuries. Prioritizing cooking safety is crucial to prevent such incidents. Always keep a lid within reach while cooking to quickly cover small grease fires and turn off the burner. The pan should remain covered until it cools down completely. In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If in doubt, evacuate immediately and close the door. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the house.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed 17,450 buildings, displacing many and causing approximately 300 deaths. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need to prevent future disasters. A single spark can wipe out years of hard work and endanger lives. Let's honor those affected and strive for improved safety.

An average of 158,400 home fire structure fires per year are started by cooking. Learn valuable information about cooking and fire safety by visiting https://buff.ly/2AFWROv.

Dedication, Honor and Integrity, Pride and Professionalism, Respect and Compassion.

For the next 14 weeks Recruit Class 923 will experience some of the most physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting challenges of their lives on their way to earning their badge. This class is unique in that 4 different St. Tammany Fire districts will be represented. (STFD 1, STFD 2, STFD 4 and STFD 12). Check back here every Friday to see their progress!

Week 4 Update:
Week 4 started with the second PT evaluation, these evaluations occur every four weeks so peer fitness trainers can monitor gains and tailor workouts. On Tuesday and Wednesday Class 923 obtained their second certification by becoming Hazardous Materials Operations Certified through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. With the end of HazMat training, our recruits spent the rest of the week studying and demonstrating Defensive Driving techniques through our certified VFIS program and driving course. On Friday, the class was rewarded for their hard work with a good ole fashion obstacle course competition, put together by our certified peer fitness trainers.

This ALERT is only a test! Today at 1:20 p.m., on all cell phones, radios, and TVs, FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide Emergency Alert Test.

A waste collection day is happening later this month in Slidell at the Oak Harbor Park and Ride. Take a look at the shared post for the event details.

President Mike Cooper has announced an additional 2023 Waste Collection Day will be held on October 28, 2023 at the Oak Harbor Park and Ride in Slidell. Participants must pre-register to drop off waste as the event is limited to the first 200 registrants.

“Household waste drop-off days are incredibly important for many families in St. Tammany Parish,” said President Cooper. “I am proud of our team, who worked hard to provide another drop-off day this year. I encourage all of our citizens to reserve their time slot and start gathering your household waste for us to dispose.”

The October 28 event will be held from 8 a.m. – Noon at the Oak Harbor Park -n- Ride Facility located at 98 Harbor Center Boulevard in Slidell. To register your time, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848A9AA22A3FCC70-44402627-waste

The following items will be collected:
• Tires (no more than 4). No rims on tires.
• Batteries
• Glass
• Computers / Electronics / Televisions / Monitors
• Documents to be shredded on-site (limited to 3 copy paper-sized boxes).

No paint, liquid wastes or appliances will be accepted. Pre-registration is required to drop-off waste.

Dedication, Honor and Integrity, Pride and Professionalism, Respect and Compassion.

For the next 14 weeks Recruit Class 923 will experience some of the most physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting challenges of their lives on their way to earning their badge. This class is unique in that 4 different St. Tammany Fire districts will be represented. (STFD 1, STFD 2, STFD 4 and STFD 12). Check back here every Friday to see their progress!

Week 3 Update:

Another week, another certification! Class 923 recruits are all Hazardous Materials Awareness Responders, certified through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. This week the class prepared for their Hazardous Materials Operations Certification by learning and performing skills such as selecting the proper PPE, donning and doffing. Damming, diking, diverting and finally decontamination. Peer fitness trainers continued to push our recruits to improve their overall fitness in anticipation of the start of “Fire School” in two weeks!

On Saturday, September 30, come to the Mandeville Trailhead Market and see our special operations equipment presentation from 9:00-12:00. There will be activities for the kids.