WOODBRIDGE DISTRICT UPDATES - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27th

Enjoy the important things in life during this holiday season!

Friends and Family!

Be Safe!

Prince William Fire and Rescue

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and delicious meals shared around the table. However, it’s also a time when home fires and cooking-related injuries are more likely to occur. Thanksgiving leads the calendar as the peak day for home cooking fires, followed closely by Christmas and Christmas Eve. These fires result in injuries, tragic losses, and significant property damage.

One common culprit? Turkey frying. While fried turkey has become a holiday favorite, the process involves high temperatures and large amounts of oil, posing serious burn and fire hazards. Despite advancements in fryer safety, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns that even the most careful home cooks face risks. The NFPA advises against the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers unless operated by trained professionals, such as those at grocery stores, specialty food retailers, or restaurants using professional-grade equipment.

For those craving fried turkey, the Prince William County Fire & Rescue System suggests opting for a safer alternative: an oil-less turkey fryer.

Turkey Frying: Hazards and Precautions

If you choose to fry your turkey, here are key risks to watch out for and precautions to take:

• Hot Oil Spills or Splashes: Placing or removing the turkey can cause oil to splash onto the flame, igniting a fire.
• Fryer Collapse: Outdoor fryers, even with a stand, can tip over, spilling hot oil.
• Oil Combustibility: Hot oil can splatter when exposed to rain or snow, leading to burns.
• Burn Hazards: Fryers in close quarters pose risks to children and others. Oil in the pot remains dangerously hot for hours after use.
• Frozen Turkeys: Cooking a frozen or partially frozen turkey causes oil splattering or steam, which can result in burns.
• Grease Fires: Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Instead, evacuate and call 911.

Safety Reminder: Do not use turkey fryers in or under structures like garages, decks, porches, or barns that could catch fire.

Cooking Safely This Holiday Season

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires, but with a little extra care, these fires are completely preventable. The Prince William County Fire & Rescue System urges residents to remember “Look When You Cook.”

Tips to Prevent Cooking Fires

1. Stay in the Kitchen: Always remain nearby when frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
2. Turn Off the Stovetop: If you need to leave the kitchen, even briefly, turn off the heat.
3. Use a Timer: When simmering, baking, or roasting, check food regularly and use a timer as a reminder.
4. Clear the Stove Area: Keep oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, and curtains away from the stove.

What to Do in Case of a Fire

• For a Pan Fire: Cover the pan with a lid to smother the flames, turn off the heat, and leave the pan covered until completely cool. Never use water to extinguish the fire.
• For an Oven Fire: Turn off the oven, keep the door closed, and call 911 if the fire grows.
• For a Microwave Fire: Turn off the microwave, keep the door closed, and wait for the fire to suffocate.

If the fire cannot be safely contained:

1. Get Out Immediately: Close the door behind you to slow the fire’s spread.
2. Call 911 Once Outside.



Cooking together is one of the joys of the holiday season, but safety should always come first. For additional information and tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association at nfpa.org.

Prince William Police

Click It or Ticket It!

Are you brave enough to weather the February elements in support of a worthy cause? If so, registration has opened for the 2025 Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Virginia. This year’s event is at Leesylvania State Park, 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr., Woodbridge (22191) on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

The Prince William County Police Department is looking for hardy individuals – or teams of family, friends, co-workers, or organizations – willing to brave the cold temperatures on land, and in the water, to help raise money for Special Olympics.

Registration is open, and the public can participate in several ways:

• Take the “Plunge,” either as an individual or as a team that you put together with friends, neighbors, family or co-workers. Join Team PWCPD and start fundraising!
• Donate funds (if crazy, fun action is not your thing).
• Come out and cheer everyone on.
• 
  

There’ll be live music, games, door prizes, food trucks, law enforcement displays and more, including a costume contest and, of course, a chilly plunge into the Potomac River!

To register as an individual or as a team for “Team PWCPD,” and for more information, please visit: https://www.polarplunge.com/prince-william. This link also has information on donating to Team PWCPD.



The Polar Plunge benefits Special Olympics, an organization which is supported by law enforcement officers throughout the United States and in 45 countries.

VDOT lifts lane closures for Thanksgiving holiday travel

RICHMOND, Va. — The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here. That means turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. It also means more people traveling on the roads to visit their loved ones. To help everyone arrive at their destinations safely, VDOT is suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads from noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27 until noon on Monday, Dec. 2.

While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. 

VDOT offers several resources to help plan travel ahead of time. 

TRAVEL TRENDS MAP HELPS ESTIMATE PEAK CONGESTION

Based on historical data, periods of heavy congestion are most likely to occur from mid-morning to evening on Tuesday and throughout the day on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Sunday after Thanksgiving, with pockets of congestion on Saturday near shopping destinations. VDOT's online, interactive travel trends map shows peak congestion times anticipated on Virginia interstates during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period. While it cannot precisely predict when congestion will occur this year, it can help motorists avoid travel when traffic has historically moved the slowest.

PLAN AHEAD WITH ENHANCED VDOT 511: TRAFFIC INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Upgrades to the 511 website and phone system bring an improved experience for travelers to aid in navigating the roadways this season. The latest version includes highly tailored my511 notifications, faster and clearer traffic cameras, estimated toll pricing pins, new travel time graphics, improved park-and-ride information, and more enhanced map features. To receive travel alerts, users will need to register on 511.vdot.virginia.gov. Travelers can access the 511 system on the website, mobile app or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia. 

NORTHERN VIRGINIA EXPRESS LANES SCHEDULE AND OTHER INFORMATION 

• Find directional schedules for the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes, and information for the I-495 Express Lanes at expresslanes.com. 

HAMPTON ROADS TUNNELS AND OTHER INFORMATION 

• Traveling through Hampton Roads — For Thanksgiving travel requiring water crossings between the Hampton Roads Peninsula and Southside during construction of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes such as the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, the Route 17 James River Bridge, the free Jamestown-Scotland Ferry or I-95 to minimize potential delays. 

STAY SAFE 

Here are some additional tips for safely navigating the roadways during the holiday period: 



• Buckle up and ensure passengers and car seats are secured.
• If you plan to drink, have a designated driver, use public transportation or make plans for a rideshare.
• Be patient and follow the posted speed limit and consider leaving early to allow extra time to reach your destination.
• Watch for deer and stay extra alert when driving near areas wildlife frequent.
• Put your phone down and don’t drive distracted.
• If you get fatigued while driving, take a break at one of the more than 40 rest areas open to the public. Nearly all are open 24/7.
• Obey the “Move Over” law, requiring motorists to move over one lane, if possible, for all vehicles with flashing lights, flares or warning signs stopped on the side of the road. 

 For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

Learn about agency projects and programs at Northern Virginia Joint Transportation Meeting Dec. 2

Join representatives from six transportation agencies at 6:30 p.m. at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Building

The meeting will include an opportunity to learn about various transportation initiatives, including:                             

• The Commonwealth’s SMART SCALE process and Round 6 applications
• VDOT’s Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions (STARS) studies
• NVTA’s multimodal transportation investments
• NVTC’s Commuter Choice and Envision Route 7 programs
• DRPT’s funding opportunities and Six-Year Improvement Program
• VRE capital project updates
• TPB’s ongoing update to the region’s long range transportation plan (Visualize 2050)

PW Parks and Recreation

George Mason University - Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center Special Offer

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

on Freedom Center Membership

Friday, November 29!

40% off annual membership available 5 to 7:30 a.m.

30% off annual membership available 7:30 to 10 a.m.

Additional membership-related savings are available starting Tuesday, November 26, and going through Sunday, December 1: 

• 20% membership discounts for new or expired members or adding access to the club locker room to a current membership.
• 25% membership discount for adding a family member to a current membership

Purchase eight hours of personal training or more and receive a 6-month membership at no additional cost.

Community Service

Fall Schedule/Free Trainings

Mason Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Virtual Center for Active Adults

The Virtual Center for Active Adults (VCAA) is brought to you in partnership with Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and ServiceSource. Join live, interactive programs and engage with other adults! Prerecorded programs are also available on demand to meet the needs of your own schedule.

For more information on the VCAA, visit bit.ly/NCSvcaa

Special Event - Neabsco Potomac Commuter Garage Ribbon Cutting

woodbridgesupervisor.org/staff

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram