5 Ways to Keep Your Home from Burning Down

Our hearts go out to the victims of the California fires that are terrorizing the state. The Valley Fire and the Butte Fire are the two major fires. Each of these fires has grown to consume thousands of acres while consuming hundreds of homes, leaving them to holdup at refugee camps scattered throughout the West Coast. While these fires may not be burning other states, they are burning a truth into the hearts of every American – fire has no boundaries.

Here are 9 things we know about the fires so far:

1. Over 120,000 acres have been consumed
2. Firefighters are saying only a small percentage of the fire is contained
3. Over 20,000 people have been displaced
4. Over 15,000 structures are threatened
5. Over 700 homes destroyed
6. Over 6,000 firefighters are battling these flames
7. Over 6,000 homes evacuated
8. 4 injured firefighters
9. 1 confirmed death

Going Home

Napa County Fairgrounds is normally a place of fun and community. However, this last weekend it has been used as a refugee camp for hundreds that have fled the flames threatening their lives. Most of these refugees have a common thought going through their mind – I want to go home. For many, this causes much fear and hopelessness because there may not be a home when they return. Many witnesses that fled are recorded as saying that they saw fire everywhere around them and that they are thankful they made it out alive.

The notion of going home is a powerful idea for humans. We love the idea of returning to a place that is safe and familiar. Sadly for many California residents this might not happen in the same house or city they lived in last week. We love the idea of safety and familiarity in our home and our communities. When a fire breaks out and destroys what we hold dear we have to ask ourselves “what caused this?” & “could I have prevented it?”

What Can Cause This?

While we understand that the families of California could not prevent the flames that caused them to flee for refuge.  This does not mean that precautions should not be taken in every household to ensure the highest level of fire safety.  There has not been a report yet as to what caused the spark for these particular fires in California. But as a result, there has been an incredible amount of research into how to keep our homes safe from fire. As you might expect, the kitchen appliances are the number one cause for home fires. The second biggest cause of fires is heating equipment and the third is smoking. All three of these are preventable in every home through inspection, research, and preparation. While kitchen accessories create more fires, heating equipment is responsible for most fatalities each year.

Safety This Winter

In 2011, heaters were reported to have caused 400 deaths, 1,520 injuries, and nearly $893 million in direct property damage. And when you go deeper, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) said space heaters cause about one-third of all winter house fires and 80 percent of all winter heating fire deaths! So when it comes to heating your home in the winter it is a wise choice to make sure your heater is the safest heater for your family.

Here are some pointers from the National Fire Protection Association to make sure your family is safe this winter:

1. Use and purchase portable space heaters with an automatic shut off so if they’re tipped over they will shut off
2. Place space heater on solid, flat surface
3. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord
4. Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory such as UL or ETL
5. Never use your oven for heating

As the unknown continues to terrorize California and other parts of the North West we ask that you take a moment of silence for the ones who lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. Don't forget to complete an inspection of your heating equipment to make sure you keep your home and loved ones safe this winter.