Fire Prevention Tips

 

Fire Prevention Tips

California is notorious for having high risks of both wildfires and home fires. Fire seasons are becoming longer and much more harmful as the years pass due to climate change. There is a consistent lack of rainfall, causing longer dry weather each year, and records of high temperatures are being matched or even broken across California on a yearly basis. In addition to the weather, human carelessness is also a common cause of fires both in the wild and at home.  According to Cal Fire, there have been 7,882 incidents, 3,472,947 acres have burned, and 6,726 structures have been damaged or destroyed this year alone.

            Currently in September of 2020, tens of fires are still raging and impacting many people every day. Even more are affected by the smoky weather that is looming across parts of California. The infamous El Dorado fire has damaged 6 and destroyed 10 structures, and one firefighter have died to it. All of this was caused by a mere lack of awareness in fire safety. The perpetrators caused the fire by igniting a pyrotechnic device for a gender-reveal party within an area full of dry flammable tall grass. This amount of damage could have easily been mitigated by moving to a open area where surrounding isn’t susceptible to flames.

      Living in California, we always have to deal with the hot weather and dry climate. My family and I have done basic fire safety procedures recommended by the Red Cross, where my brother also works at as a disaster program specialist. As a result, I have a lot of exposure and experience with fire safety. Up next are some of the most common causes of fire at home and out in nature and what you can do to help mitigating the possibility of a fire and causing harm to yourself and those around you.

Fire Prevention at Home

o   Install smoke alarms

§  Keep one in each room of your house apart from your kitchen and bathrooms and test them regularly. This will allow household members to be aware of any fires or potential fires.

o   Fire Extinguishers

§  Using these are the best way the quickly put out a fire. Keep at least one accessible in the house and make sure everyone knows how to use one.

o   Keep both your appliances and the area around it, like stove, ovens, and heaters, clean and the area clear of debris.

§  Flames can easily catch things close by and spark a fire.

o   When cooking, avoid leaving the kitchen.

§  Live unattended flames can be highly dangerous.

o   Check your wirings and electrical outlets

§  Replace any exposed wiring and avoid overloading sockets.

o   Candles

§  Candles are a major cause of house fire, keep them attending and away from other flammable objects.

o   Fireplaces

§  Stray sparks from the fireplace can start fires on the incompatible flooring like rugs and other nearby objects. Install a fireproof plating in front of the fireplace, periodically clean the chimney, and dispose of the cooled ashes safely in a metal container.

·       

          Fire Prevention at Nature

o   Campfire, Firepits, Fireworks, etc.

§  Be mindful of the surrounding area. Make sure you’re in an open area away from people, houses, and other flammable objects like grass.

§  Keep water nearby anytime you’re about to ignite something.

§  Be mindful of the wind, keep downwind of anything flammable.

§  Make sure to properly douse campfires and firepits and that there are no small residual sparks.

§  Douse fireworks completely in water to make sure they won’t accidentally go off.

 

Source

    https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/

Image sources

    https://www.farmandfleet.com/blog/electrical-outlets-much-can-plug/

    https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-common-causes-of-house-fires-and-how-to-prevent-them-51360

    https://monsafety.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/campfire-safety/

    https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/