February 2023 Newsletter

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 to

*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 fires are a major killer. Worn, loose cords, flickering,
hot or warm to the touch, should be disconnected.

Clothes dryers – clean the lint screen after every load. Clean ducts and machines at least annually.

Don’t let children play with fire-ever. Keep lighters, matches where children can’t find them.

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 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.
www.srfiresafe.org, srfiresafecouncil@gmail.com, 858-201-3711