Amador County – Fourth of July weekend is right around the corner, and the U.S. Forest Service, public land offices and law enforcement agencies are preparing for any and all situations that may arise on one of the biggest recreational holidays of the year. The Forest Service is urging visitors to keep wildfire prevention in mind during celebrations on public land. “Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal,” said the agency last week, adding: “Campfires and charcoal barbecue grills are not permitted on Forest Service beaches or in the general forest.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said last week “the Forest Service recently provided more than $35 million in grants to state forestry agencies for preparedness, suppression, equipment, and training for more than 42,000 personnel.” The agency also provided more than $10 million in grants to local volunteer fire departments. The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit says “an additional safety concern is the volume of runoff from snow melt causing rivers, creeks and waterfalls to run high, fast and cold.” They say “water that you may have crossed easily at one point in the day may not be crossable when you're ready to return.” Marine law enforcement officers will also be out in force at various public lakes and waterways as part of a national coordinated effort known as Operation Dry Water. They will be looking for boat operators whose Blood Alcohol Content exceeds the state limit of .08 percent. Operation Dry Water will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, as well as boater education. “We want people to be safe and have fun while recreational boating, but alcohol use has become the leading contributing factor in fatal recreational boating accidents,” said marine law enforcement officials in a release last week. According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, Boating Under the Influence is still the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Finally, getting to and from your weekend vacation is an important time to stay alert, as the Fourth of July is one of the most dangerous driving days of the year. A survey release Monday from the University of Minnesota's Center for Excellence in Rural Safety found an overwhelming 83 percent of Americans consider the winter months to be more dangerous , and only 8 percent believe summer is the most dangerous time on the roads. This is contrary to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which says traffic and holiday-drinking are the primary causes of accidents during the holiday. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010 06:20
Law, Safety Officials Prepare for 4th of July Weekend
Amador County – Fourth of July weekend is right around the corner, and the U.S. Forest Service, public land offices and law enforcement agencies are preparing for any and all situations that may arise on one of the biggest recreational holidays of the year. The Forest Service is urging visitors to keep wildfire prevention in mind during celebrations on public land. “Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal,” said the agency last week, adding: “Campfires and charcoal barbecue grills are not permitted on Forest Service beaches or in the general forest.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said last week “the Forest Service recently provided more than $35 million in grants to state forestry agencies for preparedness, suppression, equipment, and training for more than 42,000 personnel.” The agency also provided more than $10 million in grants to local volunteer fire departments. The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit says “an additional safety concern is the volume of runoff from snow melt causing rivers, creeks and waterfalls to run high, fast and cold.” They say “water that you may have crossed easily at one point in the day may not be crossable when you're ready to return.” Marine law enforcement officers will also be out in force at various public lakes and waterways as part of a national coordinated effort known as Operation Dry Water. They will be looking for boat operators whose Blood Alcohol Content exceeds the state limit of .08 percent. Operation Dry Water will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, as well as boater education. “We want people to be safe and have fun while recreational boating, but alcohol use has become the leading contributing factor in fatal recreational boating accidents,” said marine law enforcement officials in a release last week. According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, Boating Under the Influence is still the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Finally, getting to and from your weekend vacation is an important time to stay alert, as the Fourth of July is one of the most dangerous driving days of the year. A survey release Monday from the University of Minnesota's Center for Excellence in Rural Safety found an overwhelming 83 percent of Americans consider the winter months to be more dangerous , and only 8 percent believe summer is the most dangerous time on the roads. This is contrary to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which says traffic and holiday-drinking are the primary causes of accidents during the holiday. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Latest from
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