5 Tips for Fire Safety
~ Natalia Radcliffe ~ Fires. Something that is a constant concern for many living in Southern California. There are plenty of environments in the state that are ripe areas for fires to start, especially when confronted with the infamous Santa Ana winds.
According to an AP article, Santa Ana winds are dry and suck the humidity from the area they are going over. Not only do they do that, but as they are making their way across land, they pick up speed.
So, when California encounters Santa Ana winds, the environment becomes drier, sometimes dripping into single-digit humidity, and experiences high winds. These two factors can make the perfect catalyst for a fire to start. One small ember, one small spark, can catapult into a raging fire that can devastate whole communities.
In light of the fires that have been happening in Southern California in the past few weeks, we want to share with you all some tips the Red Cross offers regarding fire safety, and tips for planning for the worst case scenario. We ourselves at Prospector Ranch have been monitoring the fires and keeping go bags ready just in case. You never know when you could be faced with a fire, and as they can spring up so quickly, every second can count when making sure to get essentials and important items before leaving the area in the fire’s path.
General
Tip #1. Have smoke detectors outside of every bedroom/sleeping area, and on every level.
As the Red Cross emphasizes, you often only have minutes to get away from a fire, especially if it starts in your house. Therefore, having multiple smoke detectors to be able to more quickly detect when there is an unnatural amount of smoke in the house can give you more time to react and get out to safety.
Tip #2. Fire escape plan. Know of at least two ways to escape your house.
If you are trapped in your home and a fire is raging toward you or starts in your house, it is vital to know ways in which you can exit. Identifying exits in your home and routinely practicing escaping your house in the event of a fire can reduce panic in the midst of a real crisis, giving you the opportunity to think clearer and be able to get everything important before leaving to safety.
Tip #3. Know where your valuables are.
In an emergency, you don’t want to be searching for minutes for the valuables you know you need to take with you. Knowing where important documents or valuables you want to take with you can save you time and peace of mind.
Pet Owners
Tip #4. Make sure to have your pet’s documentation handy and accessible.
Just like how it is crucial to have important documentation for yourself, it is also important to have similar documentation regarding your pets. Some shelters or businesses that can take in your pets in the event of an evacuation may ask for information such as vaccine status, any relevant medical information, et cetera. It makes things a lot easier if you have that information handy, so you can have an easier time finding shelter for your pet if need be.
Tip #5. Have shelter plans in place in case of evacuation.
Not all shelters, hotels, et cetera, will welcome pets. Therefore, it is crucial to have plans in place where your pets can take shelter, either at a location you can all stay together, or places in which your pet can take temporary shelter. The last thing you would want to happen is to be stuck without a safe place for you and your pets to stay.
Not only does the Red Cross have tips on fire safety and preparedness, it also is involved in relief efforts and providing aid and support to those affected by the fires. You can find information on how you can donate and help support those affected by the wildfires in this Los Angeles Times article that lists many businesses and organizations who are stepping up and contributing to providing relief, support, comfort and peace of mind to many of those who have lost much in the past few weeks. Our hearts go out to our fellow Californians who have been affected by the multiple fires that have raged across Southern California. We encourage you to take a look at the businesses and organizations listed in the article and reach out with a donation if you can, for those who have faced hardship and tragedy.
Information obtained from:
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire.html
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/pet-disaster-preparedness.html
https://apnews.com/article/santa-ana-winds-california-0b2c68cdc29a7c354238c6ccc09c830c
Background picture on thumbnail by damian Ruitenga on Pexels.
