Kindle the flame with your valentine, not your house!

LITTLE ROCK — As Valentine’s Day arrives, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages everyone to keep in mind candle safety tips to avoid a not so lovely evening.

“Though candles add ambience, they can also result in an unplanned visit from your local fire department,” says Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy for NFPA.

According to NFPA research, between 2013 and 2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 7,900 home structure fires that were started by candles per year. These fires caused an annual average of 80 civilian fire deaths and 720 civilian fire injuries annually; with three of every five (60 percent) home candle fires occurring when something that easily burns was left or came too close to the candle.

More than one-third (37 percent) of home candle fires started in the bedroom.

Five things you should know to avoid a candle fire:

• Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.

• Blow out all candles before you leave a room or go to bed.

• If a candle must burn continuously, be sure it is enclosed in a glass container; or placed in a sink, on a metal tray, or in a deep basin filled with water.

• Hand-held candles should not be passed from one person to another at any time.

• Never leave children alone in a room with a burning candle.

NFPA always reminds the public to make sure they have working smoke alarms and to develop and practice an escape plan. For more information about candle safety, please visit www.

nfpa.org.

Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.

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Corps of Engineers funding includes $114.7 million for Arkansas projects

LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, reports that the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget includes $114.7 million in federal funding for the district’s civil works program.

This is part of the $5.9 billion in discretionary funding for the Army Corps civil works program worldwide. The proposed funding will improve the reliability and resilience of the district’s multi-purpose reservoirs and inland waterway navigation system, while enhancing the environment, generating hydroelectric power, providing recreational activities to the public and reducing the risk of flooding.

The FY21 budget provides $61.9 million for operation and maintenance of 12 reservoirs across Arkansas and southern Missouri. The reservoirs provide flood risk reduction in the White River and Little River watersheds.

Nearly 20 million people visit the district’s recreation areas each year.

Additionally, several of the district’s reservoirs provide reliable drinking water to more than 400,000 people every year.

Also included in the budget is $49.4 million in operations and maintenance funds to provide reliable navigation via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The Three Rivers Study, a three-year study of navigation and environmental issues at the confluence of the Arkansas, Mississippi and White rivers, is proposed to receive $3.2 million in the FY21 budget.

A list of Civil Works projects, programs and activities included in the FY21 budget are available at www.swl.usace.

army.mil.

Little Rock District manages $3.1 billion in public infrastructure across 750,000 acres of public land and water.

We are responsible for more than 300 miles of navigable waterways, 13 navigation locks and dams, seven hydroelectric power plants, 146 public parks, and 12 multi-purpose reservoirs which have prevented more than $5.1 billion in flood damages.

The district’s additional missions include emergency response and regulatory responsibilities in Arkansas.