The norovirus is here in Stevens County.  No, it isn’t the end of the world, but it may feel like it if you catch it.

Here is information direct from the Centre For Disease Control about it, how you get it, and how to treat it.

NEVER be afraid to call 911 if you think you need us!  Don’t second guess yourself and don’t think you’re bothering us.  It’s our job to be there for you.

Remember, it’s a lot easier to call us off than to call too late.  If you think you have an emergency, you have an emergency.  Call 911!

Symptoms

Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines or both. This is called acute gastroenteritis.

The most common symptoms—

• diarrhea
• throwing up
• nausea
• stomach pain

Other symptoms—

• fever
• headache
• body aches

A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.

If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and throw up or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses.

Symptoms of dehydration—

• decrease in urination
• dry mouth and throat
• feeling dizzy when standing up

Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.

Transmission

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. Anyone can get infected with norovirus and get sick. Also, you can get norovirus illness many times in your life. One reason for this is that there are many different types of noroviruses. Being infected with one type of norovirus may not protect you against other types.

Norovirus can be found in your stool (feces) even before you start feeling sick. The virus can stay in your stool for 2 weeks or more after you feel better.

You are most contagious

• when you are sick with norovirus illness, and
• during the first few days after you recover from norovirus illness.

You can become infected with norovirus by accidentally getting stool or vomit from infected people in your mouth. This usually happens by

• eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus,
• touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus then putting your fingers in your mouth, or
• having contact with someone who is infected with norovirus (for example, caring for or sharing food or eating utensils with someone with norovirus illness).

Norovirus can spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships. Most norovirus outbreaks happen from November to April in the United States.

Treatment

There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a viral (not a bacterial) infection.

If you have norovirus illness, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from throwing up and diarrhea. This will help prevent dehydration.

Sports drinks and other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help with mild dehydration. But, these drinks may not replace important nutrients and minerals. Oral rehydration fluids that you can get over the counter are most helpful for mild dehydration.

Dehydration can lead to serious problems. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with fluids given through your vein (intravenous or IV fluids). If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, call the doctor.

December 11th is the Christmas Party to recognize the efforts of our firefighters and volunteers who make this district great!

1730 at the Training Center.

Please bring a dish of your choice.

District will provide ham and roast beef!

Updated for 10/20/17

If you are wondering if you can do a trash/slash burn on your property or otherwise make any kind of fire, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a decision chart to help you decide.

Remember, some burning is permitted and some burning is illegal.  Make sure you are okay to burn before you do.

While the weather is getting cooler and we have had some rain, it doesn’t take much still to start a large fire.  Be careful!

The decision chart is in Microsoft Word format.  You can download it here: FDR_IFPL Decision Form10_19

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that as the statewide burn ban on DNR-protected lands has been rescinded, some burn restrictions are still in place for parts of northeast Washington.

All outdoor burning is still prohibited in the following counties.

• Stevens County
• Ferry County
• Pend Oreille County
• Spokane
• Okanogan
• Lincoln

Campfires are still prohibited in Leader Lake campground in Okanogan County. In all other areas in DNR’s Northeast Region, campfires may be allowed in designated approved campgrounds. Always check first with campground host before lighting a campfire. Individual campgrounds may still prohibit campfires.

DNR staff wish to remind the public that individual landscapes or campgrounds may continue, or enact new, campfire or burning bans at any time as needed per local conditions.

To check on current DNR burning conditions, call 1-800-323-BURN or visit www.dnr.wa.gov.

In addition, individuals involved in forest operations are reminded to continue following Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) system restrictions, which can be checked at www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.

DNR’s wildfire mission

Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department and participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Janet Pearce
Communications Manager
360-902-1122
janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

NOTICE AND ORDER

By order of the Stevens County Fire Marshal, and pursuant to Resolution 47-2008, adopted in regular session of the Board of County Commissioners on June 30, 2008,

OPEN BURNING is still prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Stevens County until further notice. Effective 6:00 pm September 22th, 2017,  recreational fires not exceeding 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height are permitted as well as backyard barbecues, chimneys or patio/deck warmers, as long as seasoned, (clean and dry) firewood, briquettes or propane is used as fuel.  All camp/recreational fires must be attended.

 Violations of this order shall be investigated and prosecuted by the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office/Stevens County Fire Marshal, and the Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney pursuant to the provisions of IFC Section 109.  Any person(s) conducting open burning who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or otherwise discontinue such burning when ordered or notified to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

A violation of this order is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.  (Stevens County Building Code Ordinance 02-1984 Section 7).

Signed and so ordered this 22^th day of September, 2017

Kendle Allen

The district has a new fire truck coming.

Joint Fire Protection District 3 & 8 has started ground work for our new station on Northport-Flat Creek Road. Still lots of work ahead but we are off to a good start.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today campfire restrictions on lands that it protects in many northeast Washington counties.

Effective 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2017:

• All campfires are prohibited in Ferry, Lincoln north of Highway 2, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Stevens counties are prohibited.

Daily updates on burn restrictions are available at 1-800-323-BURN or on the Fire Danger and Outdoor Burning risk map at fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/ and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels map at dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.

DNR’s wildfire mission

Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department and participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Janet Pearce
Communications Manager
360-902-1122
360-688-3047 (cell)
janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

Guy Gifford
Public Information Officer
509-990-6218
guy.gifford@dnr.wa.gov

Edward Lewis
Wildfire Section Manager
Northeast Region
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
(509)710-8127
edward.lewis@dnr.wa.gov

www.dnr.wa.gov