Take steps against home fires
One of the things we don’t think about are home fires. People die every day in the U.S. in home fires.
There are several causes for home fires. One of the main ones is cooking. Best way to prevent cooking fires is stay away from distractions while cooking.
Keep anything flammable away from the cooking area.
Make sure you have tight sleeves while cooking, especially when using gas.
Keep lids nearby to cover up flames. Do not throw water on grease flames!
The second largest cause of home fires is home heating, portable heaters and fireplaces.
Always maintain your furnace.
Smoke is the #1 killer. Unattended candles can be very dangerous.
Electrical cause is a major killer. Worn, loose cords, flickering – hot or warm to the touch – should be disconnected.
Clothes dryers: clean lint screen after every load. Clean ducts and machines at least annually.
Children playing with fire.
Make sure pets can’t jump up on a stove and accidentally turn on the knobs.
Be prepared. Make an escape plan. Practice to get familiar with the escape plan. Include a plan for children and pets. Have roll down ladders in upstairs rooms. Always sleep with your bedroom door closed.
Smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and common area on each floor, but not in the kitchen.
Carbon monoxide alarms should also be in a central location on every level.
Fire extinguishers should be in a central location on every level including the kitchen and garage.
Documents – Store vital documents and photos either in a safe deposit box or scanned and backed up in the cloud. Make sure you have appropriate and adequate insurance coverage. Document home contents and receipts along with the model number and serial numbers. Those should also be stored in a safety deposit box or scanned to the cloud.
www.srfiresafe.org, srfiresafecouncil@gmail.com, 858-201-3711.
SRFSC Honorary Member
The Scripps Ranch Fire Safe Council has a new honorary member, California State Assemblymember Brian Maienschein.
In 2003 and 2007, wildfires swept through his district, including Scripps Ranch, devastating homes and businesses. Maienschein walked the burned-out neighborhood streets himself before constituents were allowed to return, developing a list of homes and businesses that had been destroyed. In response to the fires, Maienschein created a one-stop disaster hub for victims to support and streamline rebuilding efforts, bringing together all the government agencies and services for those impacted by fires. The plan and programs Maienschein created are still national models for disaster response.