Area Briefing, Dec. 11-17, 2014

FIRE OFFICIALS REMIND HOLIDAY COOKS TO BE CAREFUL

The Clark County Fire Department recently issued a reminder for residents to use caution while doing their holiday cooking.

About 19 percent of residential fires in Clark County were related to cooking in 2013, with frying posing the highest risk and unattended cooking the leading cause of the blazes, according to the department.

The department’s safety tips include:

— Young children should remain out of cooking areas.

— Position grills, fryers and other outdoor cooking devices away from walls, siding, deck railings, eaves and branches.

— When deep-frying turkeys, do it away from combustible items. Use only an approved turkey fryer with a built-in thermostat. Make sure the fryer cannot tip over, a common cause of fires.

— Keep flammable materials such as oven mitts and towels away from the stove or cooking device.

— Do not cook while consuming alcohol.

— Don’t forget to turn off your oven, fryer, barbecue and stove-top burners.

— Every kitchen should have a working, multipurpose fire extinguisher with an ABC rating.

— For small stove-top fires, turn off the burner and place a lid on the pan or pot to smother it when safe to do so.

— For an oven fire, turn off the heat. Keep the oven door closed to smother and extinguish the fire.

— Do not use water to extinguish a grease or oil fire. It will cause the burning grease to splash from the pan and spread the fire. Turn off the stove, fryer or propane tank supply valve, and use a lid, baking soda or a fire extinguisher on the flames.

For more information, visit clarkcountynv.gov/depts/fire or call 702-455-7311.

FILL THE FIRE TRUCK TOY DRIVE UNDERWAY

The Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation kicked off its annual Fill the Fire Truck toy drive Dec. 2 at Findlay Chevrolet, 6800 S. Torrey Pines Drive.

The drive, put on with the United Citizens Foundation, is planned through Dec. 21. Residents can drop off new, unwrapped toys or gift cards at any Clark County fire station. The toys are set to be distributed to valley children through area agencies, churches and nonprofits.

The Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation includes personnel from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and the Clark County, Henderson, Nellis and North Las Vegas fire departments.

The United Citizens Foundation helps ensure that those in need receive food and other basic necessities.

For fire station locations, visit tinyurl.com/fillthefiretruck. For other additional information, visit theburnfoundation.org or unitedcitizensfoundation.com.

OPEN HOUSE PLANNED DEC. 13 AT CLARK COUNTY FIRE STATION 34

The Clark County Fire Department plans an open house from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at Fire Station 34, 8675 W. Oquendo Road.

Attendees can donate new, unwrapped toys or gift cards at the event for the annual Fill the Fire Truck toy drive to benefit valley children. Safe Kids Clark County also plans to offer free car seat safety checks from 1 to 3 p.m. at the event. Walgreens is set to offer free flu shots, and free dental screenings are planned.

Other participants are scheduled to include Nevada Child Seekers, the Clark County Office of Emergency Management, the Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada, nursing students and WebIZ, the state’s immunization registry. McGruff the Crime Dog also is set to attend.

The next open house is slated from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at Fire Station 25, 5210 S. Pecos Road.

For more information, visit clarkcountynv.gov/depts/fire or call 702-455-7311.

NEW PROGRAM IS ALTERNATIVE TO REMAINING BEHIND BARS

Twenty people graduated Nov. 21 from the Clark County Detention Center’s newly launched Stability Through Assistance, Resources and Support program, or STARS, aimed at decreasing the inmate population and reducing recidivism.

Inmates who meet certain criteria can take part in the three-week program while in custody. Various community partners, court resources and social service groups support participants to ensure their successful re-entry into the community. Upon graduation, participants are placed on house arrest until the completion of their sentences.

For more information, visit lvmpd.com.

HOLIDAYS WARRANT EXTRA VIGILANCE AT THE MALL

To ensure that family members don’t get lost in the shuffle at the mall and become vulnerable to danger, the National Crime Prevention Council suggests various precautions during the holiday shopping season.

— Use AlertID’s free McGruff mobile app to receive notifications about registered sex offenders living and working in the vicinity of shopping venues.

— Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front pocket.

— Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package.

— Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.

— Do not leave packages visible in your car. Lock them in the trunk or take them directly home.

— If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from one another, and select a central meeting place.

— Let children know they can seek help from mall personnel or store security employees.

— Have children keep your cellphone number handy.

— Keep up-to-date photos and accurate descriptions of each child electronically with AlertID’s My Family Wallet, available via the AlertID mobile app.

For more information, visit ncpc.org or alertid.com.

FREE RADON TEST KITS TO BE AVAILABLE

Free radon test kits are set to be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 28 at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Road, in honor of National Radon Action Month in January.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings and cause lung cancer.

When a home is closed up during colder months, radon concentrations typically increase, making winter an ideal time to test a home for radon, according to the Cooperative Extension.

Radon education programs are planned statewide in January and are set to be announced later. The Cooperative Extension offers radon presentations for schools, civic and community groups, homeowners associations, Realtors, builders and the general public.

To schedule a presentation, contact education coordinator Jamie Roice-Gomes at 775-336-0252 or roicej@unce.unr.edu.

For more information, visit radonnv.com or call the radon hotline at 888-723-6610.

TOY DRIVE TO BENEFIT CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

The CASA Foundation of Las Vegas’ annual Angel Tree Toy Drive is planned through Dec. 12, with drop-off locations available across the valley, including Rachel’s Kitchen, Credit Union 1, Distill – A Local Bar and Remedy’s Tavern.

With more than 3,000 foster children in Clark County, CASA’s goal is to make Christmas memorable for each child, with help and support from the Las Vegas community.

CASA, in partnership with Wirtz Beverage of Nevada, is set to host an Angel Tree Party on Dec. 13, when volunteers will wrap toys, pass out gifts and entertain children and their families with Disney princesses, face painting, food, games and a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

A list of toy donation locations is available at casafoundationlv.org.

For more information, call 702-361-4216.

HOLIDAY OIL RECYCLING PROGRAM TO START

Residents can recycle their holiday cooking oil by dropping it off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 26 through Jan. 15 in the south parking lot at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd.

Oil can be funnelled into its original container, sealed and placed in a collection receptacle at the site.

The holiday cooking oil recycling program is a component of the Clark County Water Reclamation District’s Pain in the Drain campaign, which aims to keep sewers free of blockages and overflows caused by oil, fat and grit.

For more information, visit paininthedrain.com.

FREE MONTHLY SAFETY FORUMS PLANNED AT MOB MUSEUM

The Mob Museum, 300 E. Stewart Ave., plans free community safety forums monthly from 1-2 p.m. Saturdays.

The museum is partnering with the Metropolitan Police Department for the series. This year’s remaining forum is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. Dec. 20, covering auto theft.

Forums planned in 2015 are: Jan. 17, vice/human trafficking; Feb. 21, elder exploitation; March 21, homeless liaison presentation; April 18, narcotics; May 16, robbery; June 20, traffic awareness; July 18, gang awareness; Aug. 15, district attorney court procedures; Sept. 19, K-9 operations; Oct. 17, missing persons; Nov. 21, Metro volunteer program; and Dec. 19, emergency preparedness.

For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.org.