Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

Big E's Sports Grille

710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025 – 7:15 AM

Do you remember the 2016 horrendous fires in Alberta, Canada? What began as a small wildfire, because of the “perfect storm” of wind, dry air, highly unusual temperature for April, and a wealth of combustible trees, it had in one day expanded from four to 2000 acres! Read the highly acclaimed Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World by John Vaillant for the scary and eye-opening details. This book, published just about the time of the Lahaina, Hawaii fire of August 2023, demonstrated what can occur under the right conditions.

Our presentation for 12 March brings the entire issue of fire safety to us as George Orphan, a licensed fire and explosion investigator, presents due warning of “triggers” that appear repeatedly as he has investigated over 1500 home and business fires around the country. Some of these triggers could be in your home. Wouldn’t you want to know what to look for?

Invocation: Eric Nelson
Introduction: Paul Chardoul

Fire

1. We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it.” – Tennessee Williams
2. “Fire safety first, flames last.” – Fire Prevention Slogan
3. There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke. – Vincent Van Gogh
4. Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. – Robert Frost