Fourth of July celebrations usually signify summer fun, vacations, and the gathering of family and friends. However, Independence Day can also result in tragedy -- in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported on July 4 than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires. Sparklers, firecrackers, and rockets are the leading contributors to these injuries. As a reminder, Avondale Fire-Rescue urges everyone to be mindful of the dangers that fireworks present.

"Leave fireworks to the professionals," said Chief Art Snapp of Avondale Fire-Rescue. "No matter how small or large fireworks may be, it is a potential fire starter."

Attention pet owners! You may consider your pet to be a best friend, members of your family and a lifelong companion, -but, are you prepared to help those pets through a health crises, emergency or even through a disaster? Avondale Fire-Rescue in partnership with Maricopa County Animal Care & Control will host a unique class for you to learn about pet sheltering, first aid and the basics of pet emergency handling and care.

The Pet First Aid and Sheltering class is scheduled 9a.m. to 11:30a.m.on Saturday July 10. Skills will be taught by Lt. John Reynolds of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. The class will be conducted at the Avondale Public Safety Facility; 1825 N. 107 Avenue.

Calling all teenagers! Avondale will host a three-day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class especially for teenagers to help them become better prepared to handle emergency situations.

The Teen CERT program will teach participants the basics of emergency preparedness; fire suppression and safety; basic first aid and disaster medical; light search and rescue, and how to spot signs of terrorism. Participants will also take part in a mock-disaster drill which will allow them to practice their new skills. At the end of the course, participants will also become CPR certified.

"This is a great opportunity for teenagers to gain awareness of careers in the medical and fire science fields. Teens are better prepared to deal with emergencies in their home and school, which increases their confidence level," explained Sue Pistoia, community services coordinator with Avondale Fire/Rescue.

Bee swarming season is here. Within the past few weeks Avondale Fire-Rescue has received several calls from concerned citizens reporting swarms of bees in the city. March and April typically mark the beginning of swarming season for bees, a time when the bees will be moving from place to place. Warmer weather and increased outdoor activity leads to the increased possibility of bee encounters.

Bee hives, especially those that are wild, are where the danger lies. Bees will build their hive (their home) in places where predators can not get to them such as inside sprinkler control boxes, street light poles, utility boxes in sidewalks, inside walls of buildings, inside concrete block walls and inside old hollow trees and desert plants. When the bees begin to produce honey (their food supply) and lay eggs for new bees, they will defend their home. When they believe that either their food supply is threatened or someone will kill their young, they will defend their home by stinging. In many cases the stinging can lead to hundreds of stings. Bees do not attack. They are only defending their home. Sometimes noises such as pounding the ground or tools such as lawnmowers or weed eaters will send out vibrations, which makes the bees believe someone is entering the hive to destroy it. They will send out bees to the source of the noise to defend the hive.

ATTENTION TEENS! Are you adventurous and want to know what it takes to survive the extremes of the elements in the outdoors? Avondale Fire-Rescue offers a unique overnight experience where teens, ages 12-17, will learn and become aware of the dangers associated with being in a desert environment and learn to respond appropriately to hazardous situations to achieve the best possible outcome. Training will emphasize sheltering skills, signaling techniques, and emergency first aid.

The Teen Outdoor Survival Camp is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday April 24, and concludes at noon the following day. Skills will be taught by Randy Anglin of Lionstrike Training Group, and professionals from Avondale Fire-Rescue, Battalion Chief Art Snapp and Community Services Coordinator Sue Pistoia. The camp will be conducted at the Avondale Fire Training Facility; 399 E. Lower Buckeye Road.

The City of Avondale is hiring for full-time Firefighter-Lateral position. To be considered you must be currently employed with Phoenix Metro Partners and have graduated from the Glendale or Phoenix Academy within the last 3 years. This is a lateral position and no wage negotiations will be made.

To view the complete job description Click Here.

You will need to submit your application by January 26th, 2010, by 11:00 p.m.

APPLICATIONS MAY BE OBTAINED AND FILED ONLINE AT:
http://www.avondale.org
OUR KIOSK IS LOCATED AT, AND/OR CONTACT HR WITH QUESTIONS AT:
11465 W Civic Center Avenue
Avondale, AZ 85323
623-333-2200
hr@avondale.org

How prepared are you for an emergency? Don't wait until a crisis strikes to find out! Avondale Fire-Rescue's Community Services Division is offering a free series of classes designed to prepare you to handle a variety of emergencies. From natural disasters such as weather-related events to large scale man-made emergencies, Avondale Fire-Rescue personnel will teach you ways to help your family, friends and neighbors until professional help can arrive. The first class begins on February 25, 2010.

C.E.R.T. stands for Community Emergency Response Team and is a national initiative aimed at training members of the community in basic disaster preparedness, first aid, and light search and rescue. The free training series consists of seven sessions on Thursday nights, starting February 25. A mock disaster drill will be held on the final evening. Sessions are held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Avondale Fire Station 172, 1825 N. 107th Avenue, in Avondale. Registration is required. This program is open to both residents and non-residents in the community. Participants must be 18 or older.

Beginning November 30, Avondale firefighters will be collecting new toys and clothing for children in need this holiday season. Donations will be distributed to the Lions Club and the Agua Fria Food Bank, and then will be given to several adopted families throughout the community.

Avondale firefighters are requesting that the public drop off new, unwrapped toys and clothing November 30 through December 10 at Avondale Fire Station 172 (1825 N. 107 Ave) or Avondale City Hall (11465 W. Civic Center Drive), during the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Avondale firefighters will also be in front of Kohl's Department Store in Avondale, located on the northeast corner of at McDowell and Dysart Road, on the following weekend dates --- December 5 & 6, and December 12 & 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Avondale Fire-Rescue and your local State Farm agents share tips on how to Serve up a Recipe for Safety in your home this holiday season with a FREE Holiday Cooking Safety Clinic, Saturday, November 21. Meet local firefighters, learn their favorite recipes, watch 'how to' and 'how not to' Turkey Fryer demonstration, basic cooking and holiday safety, Fire Extinguisher training, giveaways, and sample tasty treats cooked up by your local Avondale fire officials.

In addition to hosting the upcoming FREE clinic, Avondale Fire-Rescue and State Farm representatives Eric Hamilton and Kevin Smith have teamed up to share tips for a safe holiday.

Amateur radio provides the broadest and most powerful wireless communications capability available to any private citizen anywhere in the world. Federal, state and local governments recognize that amateur radio operators, (hams) can play an important role in times of emergencies or disasters. There are many other aspects of ham radio that make it a hobby suitable for all ages.

The Tri-City Amateur Radio Association, in conjunction with Avondale Fire/Rescue and Avondale CERT, will offer a class leading to a Technician license in the Amateur Radio Service. The class is being offered on three consecutive Saturdays, November 7, 14 and 21 from 8 a.m. to noon. The FCC technician License Exam will be given in the last class. Passing the test will result in a ham license good for 10 years.