Please note that our offices will be closed early on Wednesday 12/24 and all day Thursday 12/25 and Friday 12/26 for our staff to enjoy Christmas with their families.
Our offices will also be closed Thursday January 1st to celebrate the New Year 2026!
The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration with family and friends to give thanks for the life we have and the people we share it with. During this time, many family traditions are put into motion. Secret family recipes come out for the holidays, the decorations go up to celebrate the season, and the candles come out to enhance the ambiance of the home. All these things, if not properly managed, can lead to an unforgettable holiday season for the wrong reasons.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking, decorations, and candles are the leading causes of fires during the holiday season. Cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day and are usually the result of unattended cooking due to family distractions, multi-tasking, or exhaustion. Decorations account for an estimated average of over 800 fires per year and cause an estimated $17 million in damage per year. Over 50% of decoration fires were started from electrical issues such as improper equipment, installation, or faulty bulbs. Candle fires peak during the holiday season contributing to 12% of Christmas tree fires and 50% of decoration fires. The most important way to protect yourself against these common issues is to be self-aware and educate yourself.
Fires can be avoided. To find out more about the some of the contributing factors to fires during the holiday season and some tips to ensure a safe holiday, visit the NFPA and take advantage of the free resources and tip sheets available to be more prepared. Hope you and your loved ones have a safe and joyous holiday season!
Every once in a while, we find ourselves in need of a rescue. Whether it’s from an accident, a natural disaster, or sometimes just from ourselves, there are available resources to help you out of a tough spot. One such resource that you might not have heard about is the Spokane County Technical Rescue Team.
At a 2025 ASSP Inland Northwest / Pacific NW Section AIHA Chapter meeting held in Spokane, WA, the Technical Rescue Team provided valuable insight into the roles that they perform to support the community. They are trained and equipped to respond to various incidents that include trench or building collapses, confined spaces, or rescues that require advanced technical rope or water skills. They spoke about their continuing evolution of training and resources in order to fill gaps in response activities throughout the region.
To find out more about what’s happening in Spokane County Fire District 9 and the services they provide, check out their website here.
Starting tomorrow many Washington state businesses will have to start collecting retail sales tax for previously exempted services:
Learn more about ESSB 5814 from the Washington Department of Revenue’s website.