Two homes were destroyed recently by a blazing fire in Alamo, California. Although nobody was injured, property damage totaled over $500,000. It took firefighters over an hour to contain the fire. The fire began when a nearby brush fire caused a power line to snap, creating a second fire that engulfed the houses. (Link)
While not all fires are preventable, there are measures that you can take to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones. Here is a list of fire safety tips to keep you safe this fire season:
- Always stay in the kitchen or by the barbecue when cooking
- Store lighters and matches away from small children
- Ensure that furnaces and space heaters have adequate ventilation
- Maintain your chimney, and clean it regularly
- Use caution when burning candles
- Store gasoline outside in a proper container
- Create a fire safety plan for you and your family in case of an emergency
- Install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of your home
- In the event that your clothing catches fire, stop, drop, and roll
- In the event of a burn, cool the burned area with water and seek medical attention
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the house and know how to use it