Donate extra blankets to those in need

Are you looking for a way to help those less fortunate in El Paso County? Consider donating your extra blankets. Bring any new or clean gently-used blanket to the following locations between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM. The blanket drive runs February 1-29:

• Black Forest Fire Station One
• American Medical Response Operational Office, 2370 N. Powers Blvd.
• Colorado Springs Fire Department, all fire stations
• City of Fountain Fire Department, all fire stations
• Falcon Fire Department, all fire stations

The majority of the blankets donated will go to The Salvation Army RJ Montgomery Center and Soup Run feeding program.

Be careful with fireplace ashes

Embers in fireplace/woodstove ashes can stay hot for many days - hot enough to start a fire if you put them into your trash, or outdoors on a scrap pile. Every winter, we respond to fire emergencies - both house fires and wildland fires - caused by ashes in the trash.

Here's the safest way to get rid of your ashes: Get a large metal bucket, and fill it part-way with water. Dump the ashes into the water, and stir. Don't worry if the ashes float - once they're in the water, they won't burn anything around them. A few days later, it'll safe to dump the bucket where you won't notice it.

Your junk can be our treasure

As you start the new year, you can clean up your clutter and help your fire department at the same time.

We love junk cars! We use them to stage imaginary traffic accidents for medical training. We burn them up for fire training. We cut them up to practice rescuing trapped victims.

If you can donate any type of vehicle, please call Station One for details (495-4300). We’ll need you to sign over the title to the department, and we can give you a letter that documents your donation.

Old buildings give us a great opportunity to practice essential firefighting skills. If you have any sort of old building that needs to be demolished, large or small, please call the station at 495-4300. We’ll arrange to look the structure over to see if we can safely train there.

And we always need old towels, because washing a fire truck is like bathing an elephant. You can drop towels off at Station One during daytime hours.

Over the years, the Black Forest community has generously given us many things we need to stay prepared. Whether you donate a towel or an old car, your donation is important and appreciated!

It's always a good time to prepare

Preparedness begins at home, and it's easier than you think to get started. For a wide range of helpful information, useful tips, and easy-to-follow guides, go to www.ReadyColorado.org

Insurance is essential for both homeowners and renters

After the Fourmile Canyon fire burned 169 homes west of Boulder last September, many fire survivors were shocked to learn that their insurance coverage was not enough to cover the full cost of rebuilding. Watch this excellent short video, produced by Boulder County, to learn how you can avoid this financial disaster if you are ever faced with a total-loss fire.

And if you rent a home, please buy renter's insurance. It's a low-cost way to replace your possessions if the unthinkable happens to you. Some of the survivors of the Fourmile Canyon fire were renters who lost everything because they were uninsured.

Two free downloadable publications can help you be better prepared: “Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value: Understanding the Insurance Value of Your Home”) and “Home Inventory Checklist”.