Are you prepared to protect your home from wildfire?
Many Boise neighborhoods face a unique threat from wildfire and the Boise Fire Departments wants to help you prepare. Visit the following website for information:
This site also has a list of additional web sites recommended by Boise Fire Department Fire Prevention experts that illustrate the dangers your home may face. These sites provide easy to understand lessons on wildfire behavior, plus important landscaping, construction, and home improvement recommendations to decrease your home's risk from wildfire.
Despite being prone to fire, more and more homes are being built at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where undeveloped wildlands meet homes.
Go to the following link: https://www.adafireadapted.org/homeowner/about-adafac/ to learn how you can protect your home.
You can also sign up for a home safety evaluation by our Wildfire Mitigation Team at https://www.adafireadapted.org/homeowner/wildfire-home-safety-evaluation/
ACHD: Report Potholes
The Ada County Highway District is asking for your help to find potholes in Ada County that need to be repaired. The asphalt plants are fired up and ACHD crews are ready to hear from you!
IT'S SIMPLE:
- 1. Locate a pothole
- 2. Report it
- 3. ACHD will repair it as quickly as possible*
HOW TO REPORT A POTHOLE:
TELLUS People can report roadway issues, give comments, concerns and compliments through the Tellus system. All Tellus inquiries are forwarded to the appropriate department for response. Use the following link: tellus@achdidaho.org
ACHD REPORTER People can report potholes and other roadway problems with their smartphones using the ACHD Reporter app. Simply click on the link below and follow the instructions to download the app to your cell phone. Then take a picture of the pothole, give a brief description of the location, and hit send. Now you can report potholes (or any other roadway issue) anytime, anywhere! Use the following link: ACHD Reporter Smartphone App
CALL 208-387-6325 (east of Cole Road) or 208-387-6350 (west of Cole Road).
Though there may be other contributing factors, potholes are generally created when water gets into the base material of the road, weakening the structure. Traffic moving over the poorly supported asphalt surface then causes the road to begin to disintegrate, creating potholes.
*ACHD Maintenance crews normally respond and fill pothole requests within 24 hours. However, response times may vary.depending on volume of requests.
Castle Hills Park: Limited Off-leash Hours
In an effort to preserve the park for all users, the Collister Neighborhood Association requests that residents and visitors respect City regulations. Off-leash dogs must bekept in the proper area during off-leash times. Dogs must be leashed between 10:00am and 4:00pm. Please help maintain Castle Hills Park for everyone by complying with park regulations and picking up after dogs at all times.
Education and enforcement ($81.50 citations) are key to reducing the number of offenses. Report violations to Jerry Pugh at Boise Parks and Recreation via email atjpugh@cityofboise.org or phone 208-608-7617.
For emergencies, such as an aggressive dog, contact the Boise Police Department.
Your Safety First: Fire and Crime Prevention Newsletter
The Boise Fire Department and Boise Police Department have partnered to create a bimonthly (electronic) e-newsletter designed to provide information about safety programs, as well as promote special events. This newsletter will offer a greater variety of information on seasonal safety tips and crime trends. It will also include a link via the Neighborhood Crime Stats to the Ada County comprehensive crime map.
Over the next couple of months there may be some duplication of safety topics as we transition from the monthly Neighborhood Watch Crime Bulletin to the bimonthly Police and Fire Safety First newsletter .
If you would like to receive the newsletter, please click on the following link:
http://police.cityofboise.org/home/newsletter/ and complete the simple form. Your information is not shared with any outside parties. Please forward this email to your neighbors and encourage them to sign up for the newsletter so that they, too, can stay informed regarding the safety and security of their neighborhood(s).
Carrie Demirelli
Boise Police Department
333 N. Mark Stall Place, Boise, ID 83704
Fax: 208-570-6119, Attn: Carrie
Email: cdemirelli@cityofboise.org
Telephone: 208-570-6070
Boise Police Department
Medication Drop-off Locations
Safely dispose of any unused, unwanted, or expired medications from your household (people or pets) at any of the permanent drop-off locations listed below.
Ada County Sheriff's Office
7225 Barrister Dr.
Boise, ID 83704
Phone: 208-384-3983 Email: adeckers@cityofboise.org
Garden City Police Department
301 E 50th Street
Garden City, ID 83714
Phone: 208-384-3983 Email: adeckers@cityofboise.org
Boise City Police Department
333 N Mark Stall Place
Boise, ID 83704
Phone: 208-570-6000 Email: adeckers@cityofboise.org
Eagle Police Department
1119 E. State Street
Eagle, ID 83616
Phone: 208-384-3983 Email: adeckers@cityofboise.org
More information is available at the Drug Free Idaho Website, at the following link:
http://drugfreeidaho.org/rx_take_back.html
Phone Scam
The Scam: Victims report receiving a call from someone claiming to be a US Marshal and using a real name from the US Marshals website. The caller says there is a warrant for the citizen’s arrest and threatens the victim with arrest if they don’t go purchase a pre-paid cash card. In this case they are asking for a Green dot card, then the caller demands the victim give the card's serial and security number to them over the phone. The caller will either stay on the phone with the victim while the card is purchased or provided a call back number.
Officers advise anyone receiving such a call to hang up and immediately call local law enforcement.
- Legitimate law enforcement agencies would not call individuals and demand money under any circumstances.
- Never give a credit, debit or pre-paid cash card number over the phone. Individuals claiming to collect debts may try to instill fear in potential victims to persuade them to send money.
- Unlike a credit card, pre-paid debit cards are untraceable and charges cannot be reversed. When the serial number of the card is given to the scammer, the victim is out the money.
- If you believe you may have a legitimate warrant for your arrest or unpaid traffic fine, in Ada County, go to https://adacounty.id.gov/webapps/sheriff/reports/#/warrants or call Ada County Records at 208-577-3000. Outside Ada County, look up and call your local law enforcement agency phone numbers so you know you're talking to a legitimate local public agency.
- Education is the best prevention for scams. The FBI has a web site continuously updated on the latest phone, mail and Internet scams. http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety
Variations of this scam are being reported around the country, using a variety of reasons, from a traffic ticket to missing jury duty, to threaten victims with arrest if they don’t purchase a pre-paid debit card and give the scammer the number.
Solicitors Are Knocking...Are You Prepared?
As the weather warms we tend to see an increase in solicitor activity, and every year officers respond to calls about suspicious or aggressive door-to-door solicitors. In some cases, offenders pose as solicitors or delivery people, knocking on doors to determine if anyone is home. If no one answers, they move to the back of the home (out of sight from the street), and locate an unlocked window or force their way in. If someone answers the door, they pose as a legitimate company or act as if they have the wrong address. Door-to-door salespeople can be legitimate as long as they have a solicitor’s license, obey the law, and are transparent about who they represent and what they are selling. The Boise Police Department wants to remind residents to be cautious when dealing with solicitors, and to be informed about Boise City solicitor regulations.
City Licensing:
All Boise City door-to-door solicitors must be licensed by the City and display their official license when interacting with home owners. Boise City Solicitors Licenses have the individual's name, picture, and the Boise City logo. If a solicitor knocks on your door, ask to see their license. If they do not have one, have them leave your property and call Non-Emergency Dispatch at 377-6790 immediately. Provide a description of the solicitor, direction of travel, and if possible, vehicle description with license plate number so an officer can respond and conduct an investigation. If you feel any licensed solicitor has been rude or aggressive, get their name, their solicitor license number and call the Boise City Clerk's Office at 208-384-3710.
Representatives from non-profit 501c(3) organizations (certain charities), local service groups such as Boy or Girl Scouts, and political groups are not required to have a city license. However, even if a solicitor claims to be a non-profit organization you should still ask for identification to confirm they are an actual representative, and if you feel threatened, call 911 immediately. Solicitors are allowed to engage in their licensed business only between 9:00 a.m. and one hour after sunset unless located in a commercially zoned area.
Crime Prevention Tips:
- Do not allow or invite solicitors into your home. They can conduct business on your doorstep -- they do not need to assess your belongings or use the bathroom where most prescription meds are kept.
- Ask to see a City-issued license to sell – it must be on their person and in plain view. They must be honest about who they are and what they are trying to sell.
- Ask for written information about the company. Let them know that you will be doing research on that company before purchasing any of their products.
- Be cautious about giving out any personal or financial information without being certain of the product and the seller’s intentions.
- Report aggressive or suspicious solicitors to law enforcement immediately by calling Police Dispatch at 911. Provide a description of the solicitor and what direction they were headed.
- Alert other neighbors in the immediate area. If you have a Neighborhood Watch, immediately contact your NW Chairperson who can notify the other residents of this activity.
- To establish a Neighborhood Watch in your area, contact cdemirelli@cityofboise.org.
- Consider posting a “No Solicitor” sign on private property. “No Solicitors” means No Solicitors!
During the Daytime:
- Keep exterior doors and windows locked, including both bay and side garage doors. Don’t forget to secure your pet door!
- Turn off outside lights (not motion sensors).
- Make the home look occupied by picking up your newspaper and removing flyers from your front door; consider leaving a radio on while gone.
- Keep landscape trimmed to prevent hiding places.
- Don’t leave spare house keys under a flower pot or doormat – give a spare to a trusted neighbor or friend.
Solicitors operate all year and calls regarding non-licensed solicitors are common. Education will help you, your family and your neighborhood stay safe from crime. For more information, please contact the Office of the City Clerk, Boise Licensing at phone 208-972-8150 or visit the following link to review the Boise City Code on Solicitors:
http://cityclerk.cityofboise.org/media/223496/13539_0512.pdf
Carrie Demirelli, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, Boise Police Department
333 N. Mark Stall Place, Boise, ID 83704
Office phone: 208-570-6070
Email: cdemirelli@cityofboise.org
Report Suspicious Behavior
"If You See Something, Say Something"
An alert public plays an important role in keeping our community and neighborhoods safe. Simply put, be aware of your surroundings when in public and promptly report something that seems potentially suspicious. Staying alert is not about becoming paranoid – it is being aware of one’s surroundings.
What is potentially suspicious behavior? For examples on spotting and reporting suspicious behavior or terrorist activity, please visit our police webpage at:
http://police.cityofboise.org/crime-prevention/see-something-say-something/
Carrie Demirelli
Boise Police Department
333 N. Mark Stall Place, Boise, ID 83704
Fax: 570-6119, Attn: Carrie
Email: cdemirelli@cityofboise.org
Telephone: 570-6070
Neighborhood Vandalism
There has been recent vandalism near Cynthia Mann Elementary School—graffiti on fences and the canal bridges, as well as arson—burning in the school trash bins. The police department is aware, and is investigating. As neighbors, we need to keep an eye out for any unusual activity, around the school and elsewhere. If you see vandalism or graffiti in progress, please call 911.
To report instances of vandalism or graffiti, or if you have any information about these crimes, call Boise City Police Department, Non-emergency phone number: (208) 377-6790.
The Boise Police Dept. has online information about how to deal with graffiti, available at this link: http://police.cityofboise.org/media/2453/GraffitiBrochure.pdf