January 2023 newsletter

FIRE WON’T WAIT. PLAN YOUR ESCAPE:

We Hope you had a great holiday and looking forward to a new year.
One of the things we don’t think about, are home fires. People die every day in the US 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 specially when using gas.

*Keep lids nearby to cover up flames. **DO NOT THROW GREASE ON GREASE FLAMES!

The 2nd 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 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 kitchen
and garage.
Documents – Store vital documents & 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
model number and serial numbers and those should also be stored in a safety
deposit box or scanned to the cloud.
Have a wonderful and safe New Year.
www.srfiresafe.org, srfiresafecouncil@gmail.com, 858-201-3711