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Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 Mike has been with the White Bear Lake Fire Department since 1978 and has been acting as the fire inspector for about 24 years. He is also a paramedic and worked as a fire fighter until 2007. When Mike joined the fire department, Chief Vadnais was fairly new in his post. Early on, Tim worked closely with the White Bear City Council to create the position of full time fire inspector, in about 1988. "Mike is a dedicated advocate for the safety and welfare of the people in the White Bear area," says Ron Hawkins, EMS Quality Assurance, paramedic and firefighter for the W hite Bear Fire Department. "He's a committed fire inspector, a thorough fire investigator and a highly skilled paramedic. I really enjoy working with him." Mike performs home fire inspections upon request and distributes numerous smoke detectors each year, all free of charge. "It's something easy and very effective that we can help people get into their homes properly." He often finds that existing smoke detectors are too old to work right or they are installed in less than ideal locations. The same holds true about carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. They work best if they are installed in the correct spots and if they are less than ten years old. One problem with older detectors, for instance, is that household fumes and dust build up on the components over the years, making them less effective. "It's okay to take the upholstery brush from your vacuum cleaner and clean off the outside of your detectors once in a while." Mike says it's important to know that small fires in your home can double in size ever minute. That means the little kitchen fire can go from a small problem to an engulfing catastrophe very quickly. These facts make it clear that fire prevention efforts, coupled with education and inspections are crucial to keeping residential fire deaths a thing of the past. The results speak for themselves. There hasn't been a residential fire death in the area in 27 years. In the 20 years preceding this, on average two people died every three years. Fire Safety a Huge Priority for Mike Turnbull (continued from page 1) Mike's Tips for Preventing a House Fire or Getting Out Alive if One Happens: 1. If the smoke detector is old and yellowing, its needs to be thrown away and replaced with one that has a ten year battery. If you can't afford to do this, the fire department will supply them for free. 2. Learn to use a fire extinguisher properly, and keep a small fire from getting out of hand. 3. Don't run the dryer if you are not going to be home. 4. Consider using the dishwasher only when you are going to be at home. 5. Clear out the areas around your furnace and water heater. 6. Make sure you have enough fire extinguishers and that they are mounted or located in highly visible areas. Mike has devoted his career to fire safety. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like a home inspection, contact him at 651- 429-8568.