Campfire Safety: Properly Maintaining a Campfire

January 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Camping is a great time to spend with friends and family. With camping comes a campfire so you can toast marshmallows and keep warm. With this campfire come the responsibility of building and maintaining it properly to avoid an uncontrolled fire.

There are three main components of any fire, they are: tinder, kindling and fuel. The tinder is what’s used to ignite the fire; this is usually newspaper or small wood shavings. The kinder are the small twigs and sticks used to get a good flame. Lastly is the fuel, these consist of the large logs that are placed on the fire and burned slowly.

The first step to a safe campfire is clearing the area surrounding the fire. You do not want any stray leave, small twig or shrubs around, as they may catch fire and spread it rapidly and out of control. A 10 foot diameter should be good for a small campfire.

Creating a fire pit of fire circle is an imperative step to campfire safety. A shallow hole is the safest way to go, but a circle of medium sized rock should do the trick. These prevent large logs from rolling off of the fire and into the woods, potentially causing a wildfire.

Always keep several buckets of water within reach. Not only are these used for extinguishing the fire when the night is over, but it also can be used if the fire gets a little out of control.

Never use any type of fuel or lighter fluid to start a fire. The vapors can spread around the area and ignite in a flash, causing a wildfire or catching your camping gear on fire.

The final, and most important step, make certain to completely extinguish the fire and all of the embers. Dump water on them until every single one is drenched and cool enough to grab with your hands.

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Fire Safety: Electrical Fire Prevention

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Many residential fires are caused by electricity. Sometimes it is due to faulty wiring, but a lot of times it is due to improper usage of electrical outlets. There are a few tips and warnings to follow to prevent falling victim and extinguishing an electrical fire.

Do not overload the circuit with adapter after adapter. If you have ever seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the way Clark Griswald has the Christmas lights plugged in is a great example of how not to do it. Too many electronics plugging into one outlet can overload the circuit and cause an electrical fire.

Never plug a damaged electronic device in. One of two things can potentially happen here. The first possibility is that the broken gadget shorts out completely and catches fire. The second possibility is that is creates a short in the wiring for the house and causes a larger fire.

Good housekeeping is a great way to prevent an electrical fire. Dust and dirt can get into electrical outlets, creating a short and causing a fire.

Low hanging light bulbs, like in the garage or basement, are easy hit and broken. This isn’t really a big deal unless the bulb is hit hard enough that the electrical wires inside the bulb touch a piece of dry wood, and then a fire may occur.

Always have all circuits connected to a circuit breaker or fuse.  Never bypass this process as these components break the circuit is a fault is found to help prevent a fire. If a circuit breaker keeps popping, this means there is a problem somewhere, not that it needs bypassed.

Lastly, if an electrical fire does occur, make certain you are using a proper extinguisher to put it out. Only use an extinguisher with a Class C rating. Any other extinguisher may be water-based and you could be shocked.

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Fire Safety: How to Limit a Wildfires Damage to Your Home and Family

January 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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A wildfire can strike at any time and in any place. If you happen to live in a “Wildfire Zone” it is more of a reality. There are a few ways to prevent a wildfire and some tips for surviving a wildfire. Following these can save your home and your family. Being prepared is you best defense.

Only use fire-resistant components in, on and around your house. IF you have landscaping done, make certain to use fire-resistant trees, plants and shrubs. Keep in mind that pine wood is far more flammable than hard wood.

When deciding to paint your home or stain your deck, choose the chemicals wisely. Only choose chemicals that are tested as fire retardant by the Underwriters Laboratory. Never paint or stain using an oil-based chemical as it will just feed a fire.

Only use treated wood to build decks and porches. Treated wood is far less flammable that untreated wood and may prevent catching your entire home on fire.

Have the house built from fire-resistant components. If the house has vinyl siding, make certain the contractor is using fire-resistant siding. The same goes for the roof of the house, make certain all components and non-flammable and non-combustible.

A home that is in a “Wildfire Zone” should have at least 100 feet between it and the nearest pine tree. Always make certain to keep your yard free of any twigs, sticks or leaves, as they are highly flammable and can draw a fire towards your home.

If there is a wildfire threatening your area and an evacuation has not been issued, there are still a few steps to take. Position your vehicle in the garage so it is facing towards the exit, backing up takes longer and every second counts.

Another tip is to confine all of your pets to only one room. This makes for an easier collection if an evacuation is in order.

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Outdoor Burning: Bonfire Safety

January 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Open burning is becoming less and less common in residential areas, but still happens on more rural areas. Open burning usually happens after a large tree is cut down and there is no way to dispose of it. While it is typically legal in most rural areas, the proper steps must be followed and precautions must be taken.

The first step to take is a polite gesture mostly, inform your closest neighbors of you intention to burn and what you intend to burn. This not only gives them fair warning of the possible smoke, but it also alerts them to keep a close eye out for any damages to their house from the fire or smoke.

The next step is to obtain a burning permit. It does not matter where you live, or how far out in the country you are, a burning permit is a requirement. Call your local city office or police station to get the proper steps to obtaining a burning permit.

Never start a large fire using gasoline or any other fuel with flammable vapors. You might take the gas can far away from the fire, but the vapors may spread quickly and create a fireball around the intended fire. All it takes is a split second of heat and that can of gasoline may explode.

Always check the weather forecast prior to burning. If it is going to be a windy day, do not burn. Not only does this unnecessarily spread the smoke from the fire, but it also can lead to red hot embers flying through the air and lighting something else on fire.

Never leave the fire unattended and always be prepared to douse it with water should it get out of control. Lastly, do not turn this big fire into a party. Dealing with a fire this large and hot demands the upmost attention to detail and focus.

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Car fire: Getting Out Safely

January 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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A fire in a confined area is scary enough, but add in a tank full of a combustible liquid and lots of flammable stuff surrounding you and that increases the fear. This is exactly what you go through when dealing with a fire in or around your vehicle. There are some ways to avoid serious injury, should a fire break out.

The very first thing to keep in mind is to relax and assess the situation. If you are panicking, you mind may not be able to properly evaluate the situation If you are inside the vehicle the first thing is to unfasten your seatbelt, or cut it if the latch is damaged—everyone should have a seatbelt cutter in their car.

Calmly turn to any young children in the car and unfasten or cut their seatbelts, remember if you have a baby in a car seat, unbuckle the belt in the car seat, not the car’s belt. Leave the car seat in the car, it is of no importance at this time.

Unlock all doors, if you have power locks and instruct everyone to get out of the car and get away. If you have an infant, you will need to remove it from the car seat prior to exiting.

A few keys, do not attempt to get any belongings from the vehicle, leave everything to burn. No belonging is worth risking your life. Do not attempt to extinguish the flames, as there is fuel from the front of the car all the way to the rear and it can ignite at any time. While child door locks are a good feature, it is recommended to educate your child not to unlock and open doors until you tell them to, instead of using child safety locks. These locks will require you to open the door to let them out, wasting precious seconds.

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Protecting Your Second Home

January 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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What is the job of a property manager or firm? To take care of your investment property while in your absence or because you’ve hired them to do so. A property management company is expertly trained and equipped to effectively manage properties and to take care of any issues that arise. In very large cities, this is a common practice that property owners use, especially if their main home is out of the state. Some commonly known large areas like California have firms that handle maintenance issues like safety and regulation topics that concern their property. Homeowners who have a second home or vacation home in the area locate and use a San Diego property management firm to take care of such issues.

Business and Home Protection

It’s important to make sure that your investment property is adequately taken care of, especially in your absence or in case you’re too far way logistically to handle those issues. San Diego property management firms can also help to maintain your business investment if your property is a business, by ensuring that the property is adhering to fire codes and standards as well as other regulations and restrictions that the property has to ensure that it’s following in order to remain in operation.

If your property is an income resource, it is especially important to make sure that your investment is adequately protected and following the proper codes according to the San Diego law in that area. You will have peace of mind foremost, but more importantly, your income will not be affected in the unfortunate case that your property is shut down or penalized for not being up to code in various areas. Since property managers are specialists in these areas, it just makes good business sense to employ their services and leave the worrying alone.

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Fireplace Safety: Avoiding Chimney Fires

January 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Chimney fires are just that, they are fires that originate inside you house’s chimney. These fires tend to sneak up on people, because they are not easily seen. Anyone owning a house that has a fireplace or wood burner needs to know the signs of a chimney fire and how to avoid them.

The signs of a chimney fire are quite obvious, once you know what you are looking and listening for. It is commonly said that the “roar” of a fireplace is a soothing sound, but too loud of a roar is a bad thing. If you hear what is a significantly louder sounds, like a low-flying jet, than chances are the roar is a fire in your chimney. Another tell-tale sign of a chimney fire are flames or even small sparks shooting from your chimney.

If any of these signs are seen or heard, immediately call the fire department. Gather up everybody in the house and get them out immediately, except yourself. Close the fireplace damper, cutting off the air supply to the fire and then extinguish the fire using a portable extinguisher or baking soda. After the fire is extinguished, leave your house and await the fire department.

Chimney fires are started by a byproduct of burning wood called creosote. Limiting creosote on your chimney walls is the only way to avoid chimney fires. One important tip is to only burn seasoned or dried wood. Unseasoned wood—also called green wood—emits a cooler smoke and allows the creosote to stick to the chimney much easier. The faster the smoke gets out of the chimney, the less chance it has to stick to the walls. Leaving the damper open allows the smoke to escape more quickly and reduces the creosotes chances of sticking on the walls. The final, and most obvious, tip is to have your chimney professionally cleaned at least once a year.

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Fire Safety: Proper Use of a Fire Extinguisher

January 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Most people can easily identify a fire extinguisher and have a basic “point-and-shoot” concept on how to use one. However, there are some very important steps to using a fire extinguisher properly. An improperly used extinguisher can sometimes create more damage than good.

Make certain you are selecting the proper extinguisher for the fire you are fighting. Most household extinguishers are A-B-C, so they can be used on ordinary combustibles (paper, cloth, wood, rubber and most plastic), flammable liquids (gasoline, oil, grease and oil-based paints) and electrical fires. If there is kitchen fire involving cooking oil, a Class K extinguisher is required. If a Class K is not available, use baking soda, not and A-B-C extinguisher as the fire may spread. The final type would be flammable metals, which require a Class D extinguisher, but are uncommon in residential houses.

Ask yourself if the fire is containable using a household extinguisher. Always alert everyone of the fire and call the fire department before using the extinguisher. Secondly, make certain the fire is in a small and contained area before attempting to extinguish it. Make certain you have a clear exit route if the fire should become uncontrollable. Lastly, trust you gut instincts if you think the fire is not controllable with a household extinguisher.

Aiming the extinguisher is one of the most important parts of using it. Do not aim the extinguisher at the flames of the fire; it must be aimed at the base of the flames. The goal is to smother the fuel of the fire, not necessarily the flames.

The last factor is to determine if you are physically capable of handling the extinguisher. A older adult or child may not be able to lift or properly control the extinguisher, thereby putting themselves and those around them in danger.

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Fire Safety: Creating and Executing an Escape Plan

January 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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In the tragic event of a house fire, it is hard to keep a clear head. Having a well-planned and practiced escape plan will make the process more streamlined. There are some important things to remember when creating and executing an effective escape plan.

Create an escape route from every single room in the house. Use graphing paper to make a to-scale map of the house and draw a line indicating the most direct route out of the house. The most important thing about this plan is to practice it. Turn it into a monthly game. Once per month, preferably on the weekend, sound an air horn to awaken everyone and see how long it takes everyone to get out of the house without running.

When a fire starts getting larger, typically it is hard to see. So as your team gets better at this, practice the escape route with the lights off to simulate smoke blindness. Compare these results to the light-on test and continue until the light-off test gets nearly as fast as the lights-on test.

If you have security bars over the windows for safety, make certain they all have emergency releases from the inside. This will help aid the fire department if they are trying to rescue someone trapped in a top-floor room.

Once a fire starts and is not controllable, immediately follow your escape plan. Do not attempt to grab any belongings on the way out. Every second counts at this time.

Always touch a door before opening it. If the door is hot to the touch it means there is a fire behind it and passing through is not an option. Simply move on to another escape route.

Create a “safe-area” outside of the house where everyone is to meet, in case the family gets separated. Once you are outside of the house, do not go back in for any reason. If someone is missing alert the Firefighters.

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Fire Prevention: Properly Extinguishing a Campfire

January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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A camping trip is a great way to spend some quality time with your family or friends. A campfire is a very common part of this quality time, you use it for warmth, cooking s’mores and keeping animals away. However, a campfire can turn tragic if it is not properly extinguished. Properly extinguishing a campfire is easy and can prevent a wildfire.

The first step in properly extinguishing a campfire is allowing enough time for all of the wood to burn to ashes. Partly burned wood may still have hot embers that can reignite the wood. Unattended burning wood can roll into the woods and ignite a larger fire.

Completely drown the fire. Do not just dump a cup of water on the fire and walk away. Make certain that every part of the fire is completely soaked not just the red embers. Though the ember may look like it is all ash, it may still be red-hot in the center.

Plan to wait for upwards of 30 minutes while you listen for the hissing sound to stop. This hissing sound is the water flash boiling when it hit hot embers, which means the fire is still hot and not ready to be left unattended.

Spread the ashes of the fire using a shovel. This allows you to search the ashes for any remaining embers that can blow into the woods and spark a wildfire.

Any remaining sticks or logs in the fire circle must be scraped with the shovel and inspected for hot embers. Scrape any hot embers off and douse them with water. Stir everything together again using the shovel and make sure it is wet and cool to the touch.

Wildfires can spread with just the smallest of spark, so it is imperative that all steps are followed.

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