CLEAN IT UP!

Clean it up before it burns! Trash causes more than 120 home fires each day. Help protect your home. Clean out basements, garages and sheds. Get rid of old magazines, newspapers, clothing and other items you no longer use. Store gasoline, kerosene, paint thinners and other dangerous products outside the house and in approved containers. Clear fallen leaves safely from your yard. Remember, trash and clutter give fires a place to start. Clean up today so you will be safe tomorrow.

EACH SEASON PRESENTS SAFETY CONCERNS

Each season presents its own unique home fire safety concerns. In winter, you depend heavily on your heating appliances. Remember:

· Keep your furnace clean and check that the pilot light is working.
· If you use a space heater, keep it away from flammable materials, never use it when you sleep and make sure the wiring is sound.
· Have all alternative heating sources such as a wood stove examined by an expert to make sure they are functioning properly.
· Do not use the oven for heating.
· Clean and check fireplaces and chimneys regularly.

A holiday Christmas tree is a source of joy; but if you're not careful, it can also lead to a fire. Remember:

· Buy a tree whose needles haven't dried out.
· Place the tree away from any heat source such as a space heater or fireplace.
· Buy consumer-inspected Christmas tree lights, and do not overload the circuit with wiring.
· Turn off the tree lights when you go to bed; never leave them on when you're not home.
· Discard the tree as soon as the holidays are over, and even sooner if it starts to dry out.

10 WAYS TO SLEEP SAFE

Most residential fires occur at night while people are sleeping. Here are some bedroom safety tips courtesy of the Sleep Products Safety Council and the U.S. Fire Administration.

· Never smoke in bed. The risk of falling asleep while smoking is too great.

· Don't leave children unsupervised. Store matches and lighters out of children's reach in a locked cabinet.

· Don't place portable heaters within 3 feet of the bed or other flammable materials, or use them to dry clothes.

· Don't leave heaters unattended or go to sleep while they are on. Don't use extension cords with them, and unplug them after you turn them off.

· Don't run electrical cords over or under the bed, or trap them between the bed and the wall, where head could build up.

· Never place heat-producing appliances (such as electric curlers) on a bed.

KEEP CIGARETTE LIGHTERS AWAY FROM YOUNG CHILDREN

Recommendations:

o Keep lighters and matches out of sight and out of the reach of children. Children under 5 years are capable of lighting cigarette lighters and matches.

o Never encourage or allow a child to play with a lighter or to think it is a toy, do not use it as a source of amusement for a child. Once their curiosity is aroused, children may seek out a lighter and try to light it.

o Always check to see that cigarette butts are extinguished before emptying ashtrays. Stubs that are still burning can ignite trash.

o Always check the furniture where smokers have been sitting for improperly discarded smoking materials. Ashes and lighted cigarettes can fall unnoticed behind or between cushions or under furniture.

o Do not place or leave ashtrays on the arms of chairs where they can be knocked off.

o Do not use trash cans to flick cigarette ashes or to discard cigarette butts.

COOKING EQUIPMENT

Cooking equipment is estimated to be associated with more than 100,000 fires annually, and about 400 deaths, 4,000 injuries, and 300 million dollars in property loss. Of these, gas cooking equipment accounts for about 35,000 fires and electric equipment for about 60,000 fires.
Recommendations:

o Never place or store pot holders, plastic utensils, towels and other non-cooking equipment on or near the range because these items can be ignited.
o Roll up or fasten long loose sleeves with pins or elastic bands while cooking. Do not reach across a range while cooking. Long loose sleeves are more likely to catch on fire than are short sleeves. Long loose sleeves are also more apt to catch on pot handles, overturning pots and pans and cause scalds.
o Do not place candy or cookies over top or ranges. This will reduce the attraction kids may have for climbing on cooking equipment, thus reducing the possibility of their clothes catching fire. Never use a chair as a step stool.
o Keep constant vigilance on any cooking that is required above the keep warm setting.

WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE??

It doesn't seem possible we should be talking about Christmas and preventing holiday fires, but that blessed time of year will soon be upon us.

Each year holiday fires cause millions of dollars in damage and leaves many people injured. Take time now to review the simple fire preventions and life saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and/or fire free holiday. People can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday causality if they will follow some of these precautionary tips. As your community's fire prevention officer, it's your job to deliver the message to the people. The ways of delivery are numerous and varied. (Need help with ideas? Call 402/372-5665.)

Preventing Holiday Tree Fires
Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

Select a Tree for the Holiday
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Bouncing the tree trunk on the ground can identify old trees. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut to long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Caring for Your Tree
Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up to early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Disposing of Your Tree
Never put branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center pick-up service.

Holiday Lights - Maintain Your Holiday Lights
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.

Not Overload Electrical Outlets
Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires-they should not be warm to the touch.

Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations
Use only nonflammable decorations.
All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace
It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.

Artificial Holiday Trees
If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

wreath clip art from: http://www.animationfactory.com
remaining clip out from Microsoft Clip Art Gallery

Bob E. Vogltance, Fire Resource Manager
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
441 S. Colfax
West Point, NE 68788
(402) 372-5665
E-mail: bv55315@navix.net

'MONEY CAN GROW ON TREES' …AND VINES AND SHRUBS…

A 3-part series of specialty Forestry Workshops is being sponsored by the Northeast Nebraska RC&D on October 30, November 6 and 13, 2002. Each workshop will have different speakers and topics. The first will be a tour of a working agro-forestry farm by St. Edward, Nebraska.

Learn how to diversify into alternative forestry product crops with a focus on agro-forestry from the growing of fruits and nuts, to the harvesting of woodys and florals for the varied markets. Hear from speakers that are growing, harvesting, producing and/or marketing alternative crops.

Discover opportunities for youth, the first-time farmer and the existing farmer to generate new income. Find ways to re-circulate the financial capital that has been leaving our communities and help build and strengthen relationships with local products.

Now is the time to check into the future of specialty forestry production. Sign up today. For more information or to register call Northeast Nebraska RC&D - 402-582-4866 or email to sandy.patton@ne.usda.gov . Funding is being provided in part by a grant from Nebraska Forestry Service.
(Submitted by Sandy Patton)

DIRECT SEEDING UPDATE

This past summer, Pam Bergstrom, Forestry Intern, measured seedlings at seven different northeast Nebraska direct seeding sites. These sites were planted in November 2001 with the NFS seed planter machine that is available for helping establish conservation tree plantings involving nut trees.

The following is a listing of the more common planted seeds and their height at the end of their first growing season (August 14, 2002). Most seeds had emerged by late May. Horsechestnuts were the first, emerging the first week of May. Pecans were the last ,emerging the last week of May. Black walnut was the most vigorous grower. The other nut species had relatively short growth compared to the black walnut, but had root systems three to five times larger than what was growing above ground. There is great expectation that these seedlings will develop faster than the traditional transplanted seedling with a "disturbed" root system. If you are interested in visiting one of the sites, contact this office for directions to a site nearest you.

DIRECT SEEDING 1 YEAR HEIGHTS FOR SELECTED SPECIES

TREE SHELTERS PROTECT SEEDLINGS/IMPROVE GROWTH

Are you tired of losing tree after tree to animals? Well consider using a tree shelter for protection. These tree shelters can help reduce animal predation on young trees. Whether it's rabbits, mice, or deer, tree shelters will help deter these animals by removing the accessibility of these trees for them to eat. Tree shelters will enclose a tree thus removing the opportunity for animal predation. They allow enough room for the enclosed tree to grow and have a opening at the top for vertical growth. The shelters also act as a greenhouse where studies have shown that trees protected by solid plastic tree shelters are double the size than ones with no protection.

So reduce predation and double the size of your trees by using a tree shelter. There are several styles and mail order sources available. Locally the Tree-Pee tree protection shelter will be available through the Lower Elkhorn NRD. The Tree-Pee is recycled plastic with three steal pins connected to the conical shape shelter. All someone has to do is pick the shelter up and push it into the ground over the tree you want protected. Tree shelters are a cost-shareable item under animal control for CRP plantings, which helps reduce cost. Tree shelters will be available October 15th through the Lower Elkhorn NRD this year. They will be sold in lots of 25 for $50.00. If you're interested or would like more information please contact the Lower Elkhorn NRD at (402)-371-7313 or the Nebraska Forest Service at (402)-370-4024.
(Submitted by Erik Duncan)

2002 CENTRAL REGION WOODLAND STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE

The fifth annual "Central Region Woodland Stewardship Conference" will be held Saturday, November 2, 2002, at the beautiful National Arbor Day Foundation's Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City.

The Central Region Woodland Stewardship Conference is sponsored by State and Extension Forestry in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The conference is specifically designed to provide landowners in the 4-state area with the knowledge and skills to manage their woodland and related resources using good stewardship principles.

The 2002 conference format includes hour-long presentations in four concurrent sessions. The conference will begin at 830 a.m. with registration and refreshments and adjourn at 400 p.m. Concurrent sessions and topics for the 2002 conference include

Wildlife
Enhancing Non-Game Wildlife
Wildlife Damage
Enhancing Woodland Game Wildlife
Establishing and Maintaining Prairies
Photographing Wildlife

Woodland Management
Timber Stand Improvement
Soils Effect on Tree Growth
Chainsaw Maintenance
Developing a Forest Stewardship Plan
Wood For Home Heating

Working Trees
Renovating Windbreaks
Direct Seeding
Weed Control in Tree Plantings
Designing & Installing Riparian Buffers
Black Walnut Nut Production

Tree Health Care
Hazards to Humans in the Woods
Properties & Uses of Native Woods
Fertilizing Trees & Forests
Tree Diseases Update
Tree Identification

Because of their popularity in 2001, three pre-conference optional tours will be available on Friday afternoon, November 1, at no additional cost.

1. Tree Identification tour
2. Hazelnut Research Trials tour
3. Wood Fueled Energy System tour

Conference registration is $30 per person through October 26. Late registration is $35 per person. The registration fee includes a great buffet luncheon, refreshments, and handout materials. Conference enrollment is limited to 250, so register early to insure your attendance.

For more information or a conference brochure, contact any state or extension forestry office in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri or Nebraska, or Nebraska's Conference Coordinators: Dennis Adams, phone (402)472-5822, e-mail dadams2@unl.edu
or Scott Josiah, phone (402)472-6511, e-mail sjosiah2@unl.edu .

SCIENCE CRAFTS HARDIER ELM
From the Chicago Tribune

Forestry scientists in Scotland announced that they have created the first elm trees genetically modified to resist Dutch elm disease. The advance, if borne out, could lead to the reintroduction of the beloved tree known as "the lady of the forest, " which served as a backdrop to American history and once formed arching canopies that shaded so many city streets, back yards, and university campuses. The announcement marks one of several recent breakthroughs in genetic engineering that indicate the science is spreading beyond its early agribusiness roots to show some of the promise scientists had touted, leading to a rice that has added vitamins and tomatoes that can grow in salty soil, and now bringing shade to suburban streets. "This work is friendly to the environment. There's no need for controversy," said Kevan Gartland, head of the Division of Molecular and Life Sciences at Dundee's University of Abertay, leader of the research team.
(Source: SAF Urban Forestry Working Group)

NEW REFERENCE FOR THE PLAINS

A new book that deals with woody plants for Nebraska and surrounding states is now available. The book was written by Walter Bagley and Richard Sutton (UNL) and contains an extensive list of plants as well as identifying characteristics and recommendations. The book is entitled Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies and is illustrated by Nancy Scott. It contains 604 pages and can be ordered from The Blackburn Press, Box 287, West Caldwell, New Jersey 07006. You can learn more about this reference book at http://www.blackburnpress.com/woodplanforc.html. This book promises to be an excellent resource for anyone involved in woody plants, their study, promotion and management in the prairie states. It contains summaries of recent published and unpublished research and extensive references and line drawings.
(Source: Shady Lane Listserver)

WEBSITE OF INTEREST

Below is another good site for high quality landscape tree, shrub, vine and groundcover images, easily downloadable, forwarded by Dr. Scott Josiah, Nebraska State Extension Forester.

http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/landscapeplants/index.cfm

Steven D. Rasmussen
District/Extension Forester
Northeast Res. & Ext. Center
601 E. Benjamin Avenue, Suite 104
Norfolk, NE 68701-0812
Phone: (402) 370-4024
FAX: (402) 370-4010
E-mail: srasmussen2@unl.edu

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