Safety Tips

Have you ever heard of a "hot load"? It's a term used to describe a truckload of trash or recyclables that catches on fire, smolders, spontaneously combusts, or becomes toxic as a result of incompatible waste mixing in the load-holding compartment of the truck. Unfortunately, hot loads can occur in neighborhoods during trash and recycling collectio...

A surge in garage fires has sparked concerns among residents and fire departments alike, with at least one recent local San Tan Valley fire being traced back to the charging of lithium-ion batteries. Fire departments across the nation have been grappling with a significant increase in fires caused by these batteries, which power a wide range o...

As the weather warms up, many people enjoy spending time outdoors, and one of the most popular outdoor activities is hiking. However, with the arrival of spring, we must also be aware of the potential dangers of hiking, particularly the presence of rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes found in many areas of the United States, including Ar...

Residents of Pinal County, be on high alert for scammers claiming to represent the County Treasurer's Office and demanding payment for taxes. The Pinal County Treasurer's Office has received reports of individuals knocking on doors and asking for payment of taxes in this fraudulent manner. It's essential to understand that the Pinal County Treasure...

San Tan Valley is a beautiful place to live with winters that make most of the country jealous. That's why San Tan Valley is so fortunate to have a large number of snowbirds who have made San Tan Valley their 2nd home. While we welcome snowbirds, only living in a home for part of the year can leave a house vulnerable to damage, bugs, and ...

Attention all San Tan Valley residents planning a trip to Northern Arizona this weekend: As winter storms are expected to hit the high country, it is important to prioritize your safety on the roads. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is advising drivers to slow down and avoid traveling in potentially hazardous winter weather condition...

Recent storms have brought attention to the importance of being vigilant when purchasing a used vehicle, particularly in private sales. Cars that have been damaged by floodwaters, such as those resulting from recent rainstorms in California and other states, can sometimes find their way to Arizona to be resold. The Arizona Department of Transportat...

 "I didn't think I'd get caught" is a lousy excuse for drinking and driving. This PSA from NHTSA highlights some of the many impacts of a DUI—including owning up to family, friends, and victims. Alcohol-impaired crashes kill more than 10,000 people in the United States every year— this holiday weekend, if you plan to drink, make a plan for a s...

Feasting with family is part of many holiday celebrations.  Follow these tips to help prevent food poisoning, or foodborne illness, during the holidays: Keep foods separated Cook food thoroughly Keep food out of the "danger zone" Use pasteurized eggs for dishes containing raw eggs Do not eat raw dough or batter Thaw your turkey safely Wash yo...

The Arizona Department of Revenue cautions taxpayers to be aware and don't get haunted by "ghost" prepared returns this Halloween season or any time of the year. A ghost preparer is someone who is paid to prepare a tax return, but does not sign it or include other necessary information to identify themselves. ADOR warns taxpayers that if a preparer...

Ready to buy a used car? Don't be deceived. The Arizona Department of Transportation-Motor Vehicle Division encourages consumers to protect themselves when buying a used vehicle, either from a private party or a used vehicle dealer and advises to follow these steps:Once you find a vehicle you would like to buy, find a mechanic you trust to inspect ...

Each year more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather hazard. The Centers for Disease Control report that more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous floodwater. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near floodwaters. "People undere...

Smishing is on the rise – and hackers are getting better than ever at stealing personal information. What's smishing?Smishing is when a hacker attempts to obtain your personal information through scam text messages. Sometimes, they can even pose as your bank. Follow these three tips to make sure you don't get scammed.Don't click any links. Scam lin...

We rely on our phones, we pay good money for our phones, but it has become a hassle to use our phones the way we want to – to answer calls and texts. To make matters even worse, consumers lose $10 billion a year to scams related to illegal robocalls and about $1 billion to scam robotexts. The stories of people whose lives are wrecked by scam calls ...

Three numbers could help save thousands of lives and on Saturday, a brand-new suicide hotline number is launching: 988. Ben Smith, CEO and founder of Gnosis IQ in Chandler, says that there will be many benefits to having such a shortened number for people to call to get help. "The pandemic did play a toll on people," Smith said. "One of the benefit...