Our community needs us more than ever.

This past week, RMES experienced a devastating loss when a fire destroyed our back hall. While we remain fully operational and ready to respond, the back hall was a place that housed trucks and extensive equipment that served and protected our community. Thankfully no lives were lost, but the damage is significant and the road to rebuilding will take some time.

We're working with our insurance company to understand what will be recovered, what is limited coverage and what isn't covered. Some of our equipment, while useful, was older and the costs won't be fully covered when replacing them.

We've launched a fundraising website to help rebuild what was lost: RebuildRMES.org.

Every donation, big or small, brings RMES closer to restoring the space.

Together, we can #RebuildRMES.

Redwood Meadows Emergency Services is OPEN and responding to calls.

While a fire destroyed our back hall and some apparatus, our main hall and main apparatus remain operational and our volunteers are ready 24/7 to protect the community.

Any reports that RMES is closed are incorrect.

We are here, we are responding, and we will continue to serve Redwood Meadows, Bragg Creek and the surrounding area as we rebuild.

RMES members stood watch overnight to ensure the fire in our backhall didn’t flare back up, and it didn’t.

Today, we turn our focus to auditing our equipment inventory to share the full loss with our insurance company, in addition to the 4 vehicles destroyed. An independent investigation will be done to determine the cause of the fire and the results will be shared with our community.

We begin this work with thankful hearts for the outpouring of support and encouragement we have received from fire departments and fire personnel across the country and our community.

We need your help.

It will take time to replace 120 Engine and 120 Tender, which both RMES and our partners rely on to support emergency response. Our immediate need is for donations of a new pick-up truck to replace the one we lost that supported grass fire and working fire operations and the UTV which also supported grass fire responses and on average 100 backcountry rescues annually. We can’t do our important work without them. If you or someone you know might be able to help us, please contact RMES.

Updates: https://www.facebook.com/RMESFire

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Here’s some holiday safety tips to keep you safe as you enjoy the holidays:

1. Merry and Bright: Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders, or loose connections. When replacing bulbs, unplug the light string and be sure to match voltage and wattage to the original bulb.
2. Lights Out: Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.
3. O Christmas Tree: If you have a freshly cut tree, keep it watered and away from open candles. If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it’s labeled “fire resistant.” Fire-resistant trees are less susceptible to catching fire.
4. Work as a team: When stringing lights and decorations above your normal reach, be sure to use a proper ladder with someone supporting the base.
5. The Great Outdoors: When hanging outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from metal rain gutters. Use insulated tape or plastic clips instead of metal nails or tacks to hold them in place.
6. Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. Paper burns very hot, which can ignite a fire in any residue in your chimney or the chase. Instead, recycle (or better yet, reuse!) your wrapping paper. And, have your chimney professionally cleaned prior to use.
7. Prevent electrical cord damage. Don’t mount lights in a way that might damage the cords, and avoid using nails or tacks. Use hooks or insulated staples instead.
8. Secure candles. Keep candles on a sturdy base to prevent tipping. Never leave a lit candle unattended.
9. Sound the Alarm: Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work, and be sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home -- especially near sleeping areas.
10. Clean the Clutter: Don’t store combustible materials near your tree, furnace or block furnace vents. Think of your friendly local firefighters when you’re decorating near front doors and ensure there is ample room for us to move in/out of your front entrance, without bumping into Frosty the Snowman!

And…if you see our big red trucks coming down the highway with lights flashing; pull over, STOP, and let us get quickly and safely to a neighbor in need!

Until next month, stay safe and happy holidays!

Oh Deer!

Did you know that November is deer mating season? That means drivers run a high risk for collisions with deer and other wildlife. Animal-vehicle collisions are two times more likely in November than any other month of the year.

Use these tips to avoid animal strikes and minimize their impact:

1. Buckle Up: More than half of human fatalities from animal strikes happen after a collision because drivers aren’t wearing seatbelts. Not only is buckling up the law, but it can also save your life.
2. Slow down. Always drive the speed limit so you have enough time to scan the road for wildlife and react if an animal crosses your path. Also, remember your visibility decreases at dawn and dusk, so adjust your vehicle’s speed accordingly.
3. Don’t tailgate. Following other vehicles too closely reduces your field of vision and shortens your reaction time.
4. Know the area. Be extra cautious on roads surrounded by farmland or trees on either side. Look for posted animal crossing signs and slow down when you see them. Remember where you’ve seen wildlife in the past.
5. Stay alert. Use your high beams at night if there is no oncoming traffic. Watch for the reflection of deer eyes in your headlights. Look for shadows near the shoulder of the road or signs of movement between you and the lights of oncoming cars.
6. Don’t swerve. If you swerve to avoid an animal, you run the risk of colliding with a guardrail, utility pole or other stationary object. You also might drive off the side of the road and experience a rollover. If you can’t avoid a collision, slow down as much as possible and brace for impact. It’s safer than putting your life at risk by swerving.
7. Look for “animal friends”. Deer travel in groups. If you see one, it’s likely more will be nearby.
8. Don’t trust deer horns or whistles. They’re proven not to work and may actually startle the deer, causing the animal to stand still in the roadway.
9. Know what to do if you strike an animal. Pull over to a safe space. Turn on your flashers. Use caution when approaching an injured animal. Call 911 if needed.