Mobile Home Fire on Northern Ranches Road

OnMarch 30, 2010 Deep River Fire Department, Northview Fire Department, Monocure Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire on Northern Ranches Road. This was a single wide mobile home that had an electrical failure.

Structure Fire on Edwards Road

On May 23, 2010 Lemon Springs Fire Department, Carolina Trace Fire Department, Tramway Fire Department, Benhaven Fire Department, Sprout Springs Fire Department, and Cameron Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Edwards Road. The house has major damage and was caused by a kitchen fire. Nobody was injured at the fire.

Structure Fire on Cumnock Road

On March 18, 2010 the West Sanford Fire Department, Northview Fire Department, Northewest Pocket Fire Department, Tramway Fire Department, and Goldston Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Cumnock Road. Others responding to the call were NC State Highway Patrol, Sheriff Department, Lee County Emergency Services, American Red Cross, and Emergency Medical Services.

What is Lee Linked? We need your help.

Lee Linked is a program that capitalizes on advances in technology. Through Lee Linked, Lee County Government can enhance the way it communicates with citizens, conducts business, and attracts and retains employees.

Lee Linked has a great deal of potential. Not only will it allow citizens to receive information, updates and news from Lee County Government, it will allow citizens to interact with its county government regarding those news feeds. This is two-way communication

WE NEED YOUR INPUT

The Lee County social media committee wants to hear from you! Please use the below email address or review our website at www.leecountync.gov to take an online survey and provide input in the following areas:

• social media channels used in Lee County

• type of information fed through social media

As a community, let’s develop Lee Linked so it’s a program that just makes life simpler, easier and better.

For more information Email us at: linked@leecountync.gov

MVA Lemon Springs Road

At approximately 1350 on Wednesday Lemon Springs FD, Tramway FD and CCH Advanced Life Support responded to an SUV and a van that had collided near the intersection of Lemon Springs Rd. and Brenda St.  The Jeep was found in a ditch and turned on its side with a patient inside.  The occupant of the SUV was removed had only a few minor scratches.  Of the three occupants in the van, one occupant was transported to CCH.  Units from SFD, SPD, LCSO, NCSHP, and LCOES also responded.

Remote Control Kits for Electric Fireplaces and Stoves Recalled by Dimplex North America Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Remote Control Kits for Electric Fireplaces and Stoves

Units: About 700,000

Importer: Dimplex North America, of Ontario, Canada

Hazard: The plug-in wall unit can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Dimplex has received about 5,000 reports of the plug-in wall units overheating including 19 reports of damage beyond the remote control and one report of a house fire in Columbus, Ohio that resulted in considerable property damage.

Description: The recalled remote control kits are used with Dimplex, Electraflame, Symphony, Optiflame, Electralog and Charmglow brand electric fireplaces, stoves and fireplace inserts. They include a black or dark gray hand-held remote control and also a black or dark gray wall unit that plugs into an electrical wall outlet. Recalled model numbers include 47-1001, 47-1010-R and APT-1315. The model number is printed on either the plug-in unit or the hand-held remote control. The fireplace or stove's brand name is printed on both units.

Sold at: Mass merchandise, home improvement, specialty fireplace and furniture retailers from January 1998 through December 2008 for between $200 and $1,500 for the fireplaces and stoves. This recall includes remote control kits subsequently replaced under warranty.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the remote control kits, unplug the power cord from the remote control kit's wall unit, remove the wall unit from the electrical outlet and contact Dimplex for a free replacement kit. Consumers can continue to operate the fireplace or stove by plugging the fireplace or stove's electrical cord directly into an electrical outlet.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dimplex North America toll-free at (866) 673-9880 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.recall.dimplex.com

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/.

submitted by: Lee County Emergency Services DFM Mike Tatum

Time to Check Your Smoke Alarms

Press Releases from the U.S. Fire Administration

This weekend, March 13 and 14, we will all be setting our clocks to Daylight Saving Time. The time change is a good reminder to check your smoke alarms. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 66 percent of home fire deaths that occurred between 2003-2006 were in homes without a working smoke alarm. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke. Smoke alarms must be maintained! A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all, so test your smoke alarm monthly by pushing the “test” button, if it has one.

Smoke alarms are powered by either a battery or are hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Hardwired smoke alarms are usually equipped with a backup battery. If your smoke alarm is powered by battery, the battery needs to be replaced annually unless it is a long-life battery (check the owner’s manual). All batteries should be maintained and replaced in accordance with manufacturer’s guidance.

Choose an annual date, such as the time change, when you will remember to maintain your smoke alarm in tip top condition. Check the manufacturer’s expiration date on the label, replace the batteries if needed, and clean dust away from the slots so that smoke can enter freely. All smoke alarms, hard-wired and battery powered, should be replaced every ten years. These simple steps will help ensure that you and your family will have the best chance of surviving if fire should strike.

USFA has a fire safety campaign called Install. Inspect. Protect. which provides information about home smoke alarms and fire sprinklers. Please visit the campaign Web site at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smokealarms/

U.S. Fire Administration • U.S. Department of Homeland Security • Emmitsburg, MD 21727 • (301) 447-1000

submitted by: Lee County Emergency Services DFM Mike Tatum

Noncontact Electrical Tester Recalled by Fluke Due to Shock or Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Fluke VoltAlert® Voltage Detector

Units: About 33,000

Manufacturer: Fluke Corporation, of Everett, Wash.

Hazard: The testers can fail to give an indication of live voltage, resulting in the operator falsely believing the electrical power is off, posing a risk of serious injury or death from electrical shock or thermal burns.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries have been reported.

Description: The Fluke voltage testers look like a pen with a yellow, white and gray body. The testers measure 90 to 1000 volts alternating current (VAC). “Fluke” and the model number are printed on the front of each unit. The recall involves Fluke 1AC-A1-I VoltAlert® tester with the following model and item numbers:

Product Marking Description

1AC-AI FLUKE-1AC-I VoltAlert Voltage Tester

Sold at: Industrial distributors and electrical wholesalers nationwide from September 2009 through February 2010 for about $25.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled product immediately and contact Fluke for a free replacement.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fluke toll-free at (888) 983-5853 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.fluke.com/1AC-A1recall

submitted by: Lee County Emergency Services DFM Mike Tatum

TRAINING UPDATE

The "Art of Reading Smoke" class Sunday, March 14, 2010 has moved to the NC Cooperative Extension Service McSwain Center due to the large response for the class.  The McSwain Center is located at 2420 Tramway Road.  Class will start at 0800 in the McSwain Auditorium.  Please arrive by 0745 to complete registration and be seated.  Class is scheduled to end at 1700.

Telebrands Recalls Scarves with Microwaveable Heat Packs Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Therma Scarf scarves

Units: About 98,500 in the United States and about 1,500 in Canada

Importer: Telebrands Corp., of Fairfield, N.J.

Hazard: The heat packs can overheat when heated in a microwave oven, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received seven reports of overheating, including five fires, three of which resulted in property damage to the microwave. Two of the incidents were in Canada. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled scarves have pockets and microwaveable heat packs composed of flax seeds. The scarves are made of polyester/cotton, and were sold in black and camel colors.

Sold at: Bed Bath & Beyond® stores, As Seen on TV retail kiosks in shopping malls nationwide, through direct response television and over the internet at www.thermascarf.com and www.asseenontvguys.com from October 2009 through January 2010 for between $20 and $25.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Therma Scarf and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. If purchased through the infomercial or over the internet, consumers will be contacted by Telebrands with instructions on how to obtain a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Telebrands at (800) 777-4034 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.telebrands.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=991

submitted by: Lee County Emergency Services DFM Mike Tatum

08:00 Winter Weather Update

Lee County Government and the City of Sanford are working on a delayed schedule opening at 12:00 today. Lee County Schools are closed. COLT’s transportation is also closed.


It appears that the snow has left the area and moved onto the coastal plains of North Carolina. Lee County first started receiving sleet around 8:00PM last evening with very little, if any accumulations. Heavier amounts began to fall around 10:30-11:00PM with moderate accumulations. The wintery mix changed completely over to snow after midnight with the heaviest snow fall occurring between 01:00-05:00am resulting in a accumulations of 3-8 inches of snow across the county. At 3:00am this morning, US1 Southbound and HWY 78 in both direction were completely closed due to tractor trailers that had jackknifed in the roadways resulting in considerable traffic backups. Last night’s storm was very localized with surrounding counties receiving very little accumulation. The roads in our county are littered with abandoned vehicles that became stranded throughout the early morning hours. EMS and Fire crews responded to multiple motor vehicle accidents across the county with the most serious occurring on HWY 421 South this morning. The driver of the vehicle at fault jumped and ran and was apprehended by the Lee County Sheriff’s office after a foot pursuit that lasted over thirty minutes. They were also assisted by WRAL’s Sky 5 piloted by Steve Wiley. Road conditions continue to improve but we urge people to stay off the roads this morning and allow crews to continue to clear the roadways.

I have spoken with Representatives from Progress Energy this morning and they relayed the following information: There are approximately 6500 customers without power. They are lines down that will have to be restrung and they have crews en-route to Lee County to aid in restoring the power. Local power crews have been working throughout the night to restore power and they also have damage assessment teams in the field working to minimize the power outage down time. We should begin to see power restored early afternoon to mid afternoon today. Please be patient as they work diligently to restore the power across the county.

Special thanks to Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Sanford Police Department, Central Carolina Advanced Life Support and our local fire departments for all their help throughout the night.

Be safe…….Be prepared,

Shane

Wreck on Hwy 421

With our unexpected snow storm there were several wrecks all over the County. This wreck was on Highway 421 and involved two vehicles. One patient was transported to the hospital by EMS. For a few hours early this morning US 1 was shut down with vehicles stranded in the snow. Fire Departments have been out most of the night removing trees from roadways.

14:12 Update from the National Weather Service in Raleigh

Please read the following information just sent out by Jeff Orrock with the National Weather Service in Raleigh. We will monitor the roads throughout the rest of the day, evening and into the morning hours. Additional information will be sent out as needed.


Shane Seagroves


With snow starting to spread into the area from the southwest this afternoon forecast snow amounts have been increased by 1-2 inches across the area. Despite the slight increase in snow amounts overall impacts should be limited due to continued marginal temperatures at or just above freezing tonight. Roads may become slushy to partially snow covered overnight. Timing of the snow remains on target with the moderate to occasionally heavy periods of snow expected this evening and overnight. The snow showers should taper off by daybreak with just some lingering snow into Wednesday.


Please see the latest weather briefing attached as well as online:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/downloads/Briefings/

Latest Update From the National Weather Service

1250 PM EST TUE MAR 2 2010

SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE TRIANGLE AREA FROM THE SOUTH
THROUGH THE MID AFTERNOON HOURS...

A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW AND RAIN WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
THE TRIANGLE AREA BY 100 PM. THE PRECIPITATION WILL REACH RALEIGH
AND DURHAM BY 200 PM AND SHOULD FALL MAINLY AS SNOW.

BY 4:00 PM, THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD HAVE SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF THE
TRIANGLE AREA. NEARLY ALL OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL AS SNOW
NORTH AND WEST OF SANFORD, CLAYTON AND ROCKY MOUNT WITH A MIX OF
RAIN AND SNOW SOUTH OF THOSE AREAS.

TEMPERATURES WILL FALL FROM THE UPPER 30S TO LOWER 40S INTO THE
MID TO UPPER 30S BY 400 PM. LITTLE ACCUMULATION OF SNOW IS
EXPECTED THROUGH 400 PM, EXCEPT ACROSS GRASSY AREAS. ROADS
SHOULD REMAIN JUST WET THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

Shane Seagroves

Lee County Red Cross Blood Drive at Walmart in Sanford

WalMart

3/5/10
1:30p-6:00p
3310 NC Hwy 87 South
Sanford, NC 27330


Visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/ or contact customer service at Walmart to make an appointment call 919-776-9388.

***NWS Raleigh Briefing***Winter Weather Tuesday Night into Wednesday

We just recieved the latest update from the National Weather Service in Raleigh for possible winter weather Tuesday night into Wednesday. It appears that we are on the line once again for the heaviest snowfall with the heavy band extending from US1 to I95. Accumulations will be limited due to warm temperatures today as well as warm ground temperatures. Accumalations are expected to be one to to inches. The heaviest snowfall should occur during the night Tuesday into Wednesday morning. We will continue to follow the storm and send information out as it becomes available.


Shane

Please see the latest weather briefing attached to this email and online highlighting the weather situation.
Weather Briefing: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/downloads/Briefings/

While models continue to increase the amounts of forecast precipitation, temperature trends are rather warm and should limit heavy snow accumulations as meting occurs as snow tries to accumulate Tuesday night. That said there is the potential for periods of heavy snow overnight Tuesday and into early Wednesday morning, Heavy snowfall rates could overwhelm warm air and ground temperature mainly from Raleigh east to I -95. Periods of heavy snow could result in higher snowfall amounts as well as more accumulations on road surfaces.

Please keep up with the latest forecasts at http://wether.gov/raleigh

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH CAROLINA - SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
800 AM EDT MON MAR 01 2010

*******************************************************************

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NORTH CAROLINA
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 06
STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL 930 AM WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2010

*******************************************************************

This week has been declared North Carolina's Severe Weather
Awareness week for 2010.
Today's we will define exactly what is a severe thunderstorm?


Severe Thunderstorms
For the first time since 1954 the National Weather Service has
redefined the hail criteria for severe thunderstorms. The new hail
size criteria classifying a storm as severe is hail 1 inch in
diameter hail or equal to the size of a quarter. For the last 55 years
hail three-quarters of an inch in diameter or penny sized was considered
severe. This means severe thunderstorm warnings will no longer be issued
for hail the size of pennies and nickels. This will result in a
reduction in the number of warnings issued this year. On average
only about 40 percent of all hail reported in central North Carolina
is quarter size or larger. The wind criteria for a severe
thunderstorms...58 mph or greater...remains unchanged.

Over the last five years there have been nearly 5000 reports of
large hail and damaging wind statewide resulting in over thirty two
million dollars in damage. Severe thunderstorms are also responsible
for injuries and even deaths in the state resulting from lightning,
high wind and tornadoes. The severe thunderstorm season in central
North Carolina typically starts in March and does not end until late
in the fall.

In 2009 warnings issued by National Weather Service offices provided
An average of 19 minutes for severe wind and hail, with detection
rate of ninety percent. It is worth noting that the National Weather
Service does not issue warnings for lightning and given the deadly
nature of lightning you should always be aware of the lightning
danger anytime a thunderstorm is nearby. A good rule of thumb to
live by is when thunder roars go indoors.

Large Hail
In the last 5 years severe thunderstorms in North Carolina have
produced hail as large as tennis balls and baseballs across the
piedmont and eastern North Carolina. While hail is not usually life
threatening, these large chunks of ice cause serious damage to
roofs, automobiles, and crops. Hail season in central North Carolina
typically runs from mid March through early July, typically peaking
in May.

Hailstones grow in thunderstorms with strong updrafts. These strong
upward moving currents of air keep the ice suspended inside the
thunderstorm...allowing the chunks of ice or hailstones to grow
larger and larger. Once the hail become too heavy for the updrafts
to keep suspended...they fall to earth as hail. Thunderstorm
updrafts which show signs of rotation on radar are very effective at
suspending hail since the internal velocities in rotating updrafts
are higher that those of non rotating updrafts.

Damaging Wind
Severe gusts of wind from a thunderstorm called downbursts or
straight line wind are a serious danger. Nationally over the last 30
years nearly as many people have been killed by straight winds as
from tornadoes. Thunderstorm gusts rush down from the storms
sometimes reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. Thunderstorm wind of
this magnitude impact large areas creating widespread damage and
injuries. Damaging straight line winds can cause damage equivalent
to that of a tornado.

Lines of well organized thunderstorms...called squall
lines...occasionally move across central North Carolina in the
spring and early summer. These dangerous storm systems can be very
explosive racing across the state at over 50 mph creating widespread
wind damage over entire counties.

Damaging wind events in central North Carolina typically start as
early as mid march and run into august. Damaging thunderstorm wind
events are most notable from may through early August which is much
longer than the typical severe hail season.

Safety
You can protect yourself during thunderstorms by remembering this
phrase...hide from the wind and lightning. Stay away from windows
when storms approach and seek shelter in an interior bathroom or
closet when the wind really starts to blow. Your best line of
defense against severe thunderstorms...is to stay informed. There
are so many great outdoor activities across the state of North
Carolina and severe weather can bring a quick end to a day’s
pleasure. Listen to NOAA weather radio, television or local radio
for the latest forecasts and possible threat of thunderstorms and
severe weather. If warnings are issued...take action and protect
your family and property. Remember being safe is a lot better than
being sorry.

Commercial Ice Cube Machines Recalled by Scotsman Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Scotsman® Commercial Modular Cube Ice Machines (Modular Cubers)

Units: About 43,000

Manufacturer: Scotsman Group LLC, of Vernon Hills, Ill.

Hazard: The solenoid, an electrical component in the product, can fail and result in an electrical arc that can pose a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The company has received four reports of fires and 37 reports of burned or melted components, resulting in replacement of machines and component parts. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled machines are designed to be installed on top of ice storage bins or ice dispensers, and typically are used in commercial establishments. Model numbers begin with C0322, C0330, C0522, C0530, C0630, C0830, C1030, C1448, C1848, C2148, EH130, EH222, EH330, or EH430, and serial numbers of the recalled machines within these model designations begin with 05, 06, 07, 08 or 09. Model and serial numbers are on the back of all machines and, depending on the model, behind the machine’s front panel either in the lower right corner of the machine or on the left side of the sheet metal wall that separates the larger (equipment) compartment from the smaller (ice-making) compartment.

Scotsman® commercial flake and nugget ice machines, commercial undercounter cube ice machines, and residential ice machines are not involved in this recall.

Sold Exclusively at: Commercial food service equipment distributors and dealers nationwide from September 2006 through December 2009 for between $4,000 and $14,000.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Customers should stop using the recalled ice cube machines immediately and contact the company to schedule a free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Scotsman at (800) 541-0520 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the company’s Web site at http://www.scotsman-ice.com/

submitted by: Lee County Emergency Services DFM Mike Tatum