Protecting Your Home from Fire

It only takes a matter of minutes for a home to be completely ravaged and destroyed by fire, but most home fires can be prevented. It all starts be being aware that the danger exists, and then taking the necessary steps to safeguard against fire in your home. In many cases, you don’t have to lose your home and possessions to fire, if you think ahead and take action now. Even though you likely have protection against fire with your homeowner’s insurance coverage, that money can’t replace your memories, your photographs, and other memorabilia you may have.

Candles are very popular nowadays, to add that extra romantic feel to a home, or even for fragrance. While candles are beautiful when lit, they can pose a real threat to your home, particularly if left unattended. If you have candles in your home, you should make certain that you blow them out whenever you leave the room, even if only for a few minutes. In the amount of time it takes you to go answer the door, your home could catch on fire thanks to an unattended candle. Never place candles near anything that could catch on fire, such as curtains, furniture, clothing, papers, etc. Even if your candle is placed in a heavy glass holder, it could still get hot enough to break the glass, creating a very real fire hazard.

When you use appliances, such as toasters, coffee makers, waffle irons, etc., make certain that you immediately unplug them when you are finished. Never leave them plugged up, as this could definitely cause a fire in the right circumstances. Even if you turn the power off of the item, it still isn’t safe until it is unplugged from the power source. Remember that these items get very hot, and if placed next to any kind of flammable material, could also be a potential fire hazard.

You should check all of your power cords at least once every three months, and maybe even more often if you have pets or small children. Frayed cords, either from frequent use, age, or mistreatment, could very easily cause a fire to occur in your home, so it is important not to overlook this task.

If you have children at home, you should teach them about the dangers or fire, and what to do in case a fire did occur. Talk to them about how matches, lighters, etc., could cause potential fires, and why they should never play with these items. If your children are home alone, they shouldn’t try to cook their own food, opting instead to eat foods that come straight from the cabinet or refrigerator instead, as cooking could also cause a potential fire. If you aren’t sure that your children can obey these rules, then they should not be left home alone.

Make certain that you have working alarms and extinguishers located throughout your home. Test them on a regular basis to make certain they are in good repair. Teach your children and everyone in your home how and when to use an extinguisher, and have them checked frequently as well, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Experts: San Diego Still Safe Spot To Cruise

While the recent Costa Concordia disaster off the Italian coast may have some worried about the hazards of cruise travel, experts say San Diego has very little to worry about.

Sierra Club Stands in Solidarity with Port Truck Drivers’ Struggle

Seattle-Tacoma, WA – In the past week, we have seen hundreds of courageous acts by the port truck drivers of Seattle and Tacoma, as they abandoned their trucks and walked-out of the Puget Sound Port in protest of the safety hazards they face daily at their jobs, hazards that jeopardize their health and the health of the communities they work in.

Arsenal: Should Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Start Ahead of Gervinho at Left Wing?

It would seem the cruelest of happenstances: By serving your country in your continent's premier international competition (and making the semifinals at that!), you come to lose what had become a consistent spot in your club's first-choice starting XI. The hazards of football, I guess. It is not so much that Gervinho, the player in question currently away with Cote d'Ivoire at the African Cup of ...

ECOVIEWS: Why do we need the Environmental Protection Agency?

Want to have cancer-causing, bird-killing DDT sprayed in your neighborhood? How about having high levels of brain- damaging mercury dumped into your favorite fishing spot? What about paper mill wastes clogging up rivers and fouling the air people breathe?

Private lot may be spot for firehouse

A private lot on Andover Street is now being considered as an option to relocate the Ballardvale fire substation.

Cycle group finds Auckland danger spots

Cycling safety advocates have identified several dangerous hotspots on Auckland roads which they say need fixing to avoid similar accidents to the one which killed a nurse cycling along Tamaki Drive in 2010.

Washington County public safety officials warn motorists of high-water hazards on roads

Twenty-four roads across Washington County have flooding that is causing lane closures. Another seven roads either have lane closures or are completely blocked by downed power lines and trees.

AAA gives seven simple rules for driving safely on slick roads

Posted: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 3:52 pm | Updated: 3:58 pm, Wed Feb 8, 2012.

'New Girl' Recap: Landlord

descrip

Trevali Intersects Multiple Zones of Thick Massive Sulphide Mineralization at Stratmat Deposit in New Brunswick, Canada

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA-- - Trevali Mining Corporation is pleased to announce that recent diamond drilling at the Stratmat zinc-lead-silver-copper deposit, in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New ...