Montlake Emergency Hub News
Tip of the month
Montlake Emergency Hub is sharing tips from the Emergency Management Division of Washington, www.DisasterReadyWashington.com, to help you prepare for natural disasters. Spend one hour each month to make progress on this essential goal.
This month we will focus on FIRE SAFETY.
Fires can happen at any time, including times of disaster. Keeping your family safe is your first priority. Practicing fire safety in the home and knowing what to do in the event of a fire are key.
Home Safety
Install smoke detectors outside bedrooms, at the top of open stairways and near the kitchen. Be sure to test smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries every 6 months.
Install carbon monoxide detectors 18 inches from the floor on every level of your home. Replace batteries annually.
Store flammable items such as gas or kerosene safely. Never use flammable items inside your home.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions when using alternative heating sources such as space heaters. Never use gas appliances or propane heaters indoors.
Do not use extension cords with frayed or exposed wires. Make sure outlets are covered and no wires are exposed. Avoid overloading power sources.
Store an ABC fire extinguisher on each floor in an accessible space. Make sure family members know how to use them. Use the PASS acronym described in the graphic.
Determine at least two ways to exit each room of your home and review them with family members. Select a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire or other emergency requiring evacuation. Have fire drills to practice exiting the home.
In Case of Fire
If the fire is too big to handle, exit the home immediately. Once outside call 911. Do not re-enter the home. Meet your family at your designated meeting area.
When exiting through a door, check the door and doorknob for heat with the back of your hand. If it is hot, use another exit. If you are unable to exit safely, hang a light-colored item outside the window to notify the firemen that you are trapped. When exiting through doors, close them behind you to confine the fire.
If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll to extinguish the flames.
If you are caught in smoke, stay low, shallowly breathe through your nose and use your shirt as a filter.
For smaller fires, know the best way to extinguish them.
For electrical fires, use a fire extinguisher or dirt. Only use water on an electrical fire if you have first cut the power at the main breaker.
For oil or grease fires, smother the flames with baking soda, a lid, or a fire extinguisher. Never use water on a grease or oil fire.
For other fires use a fire extinguisher or water.
Events
Urban Survival Skills Fair -- If you missed ours in April, The North Capitol Hill Emergency Hub is hosting an Urban Survival Skills Fair on Sunday August 16, 2026, in Volunteer Park.
City-wide exercise -- August 15th the Seattle Emergency hubs group will practice working together after an earthquake in a city-wide exercise called Quake, Rattle, and Roll! Click the link to learn more about it and how you can participate.
Hub 101 Workshop– Our next event in Montlake will be Tuesday, October 6th at the Montlake Community Center 6-8pm. It is a training session for all - to help neighbors better understand how the Hub works and how all members of the community can help in the event of a disaster.
In the event of a major disaster, the Montlake Emergency Hub will activate at the Montlake Library and help the community organize and support our neighbors in meeting their basic needs until help can arrive from outside the impacted area. You can find out more about the Hub at https://www.montlake.net/emergency-hub
Get Involved!
Please consider volunteering with the Montlake Emergency Hub. There are so many ways that you can participate. Please contact us at MontlakeEmergencyHub@Montlake.netif you have any questions or you are interested.
Next meeting:
Wednesday, August 4 -7:00pm- 8:30pm @ Boyer Children’s Clinic 1850 Boyer Ave E. (details to be sent via email)
Please NOTE the new evening meeting timing and new meeting locations:
every 1st Wednesday night – 7:00pm-8:30pm @ Boyer Children’s Clinic
Find out more about us from MCC website! https://www.montlake.net/emergency-hub
