Marion County, Florida has received over 4 inches of rain in the first ten days of this month. The recent wet weather, however, brought a false sense of security to those who practice backyard burning. The area’s drought index is still high as rainfall is still 4 to 10 inches below normal. After the rains dried out, low humidity and wind gusts fueled several recent wildfires.
Forecasts Look Grim
Unlike much of the western part of the United States, wildfireseason in Florida runs from December through June, opposite of hurricane season. Ocala.com reports that forecasters predict the below-normal rainfall to last through late May. Consequently, experts recommend Marion County residents refrain from backyard burning until there is regular rainfall.
Protection from Wildfires
Although the recent wildfires have not grown past a few acres, homeowners should still take precautions to protect their homes since the area is rich with highly flammable plant life, such as pine trees.
Keep vegetation such as trees and shrubs a minimum of 30 feet away from the home. Prune trees that are close to a home to 15 feet away from roofs and chimneys.
Keep lawns mowed and green.
Move landscaping plants and vines away from the sides of a home.
Avoid using dried pine needles as a decorative landscaping element.
Keep combustible materials 50 feet away from a home.
Dangerous and unpredictable, wildfires are best fought with fire damage prevention measures. Anytime there is a high risk for wildfires, residents should consult their local fire department to see what the professionals recommend to keep their property safe.
A disaster no business owner wants to face: an explosion in the building, being critically injured and two trapped employees. This event happened today at a furniture store in Wayne, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. As of 2 p.m. (PST), two trapped employees were still missing. Rescuers are fearful of secondary explosions and the presence of flammable materials.
The blast happened around 9 a.m. local time; residents as far as a mile away felt the blast. Consequently, police evacuated area residents from their homes and businesses. Experts believe the explosion was caused by a natural gas leak because a furniture store employee called the gas company to report a gas leak in the building. The explosion happened as a store employee attempted to seal the leak.
What to Do When You if You Suspect a Gas Leak
When you detect the smell of natural gas in your home or place of work, immediately:
Ventilate the building by opening doors and windows.
Do not turn on or use any electrical devices, or light a match, while inside the affected building.
Evacuate everyone inside the building to a location outside that is a safe distance away.
Turn off the gas valve, which you can find by the gas meter on the gas inlet pipe. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the valve so the oblong stem is at a 90-degree angle to the inlet pipe.
Call the gas company from a nearby location or with a cell phone (once you are outside the building). If you do not know the number for the gas company, call 9-1-1.
Creating a Disaster Plan
No business owner wants to imagine his building exploding, but it is a necessary task if the use of natural gas is employed. All business owners should create a disaster emergency plan that includes planning to keep a wrench by the gas valve permanently, to never leave flammable or combustible materials inside the building and to create a business continuity plan. A business continuity plan outlines how operations will continue after a disaster. For example, it will list remote locations from which to work, a plan to restore damaged documents found in the aftermath and the contact information of those who can help with this process.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…seem like a potentially dangerous situation. The holidays are a time for merriness (or at least acting as if you are happy), smells of spiced apple cider, bells, gifts, holiday parties, connecting with friends and family, eggnog, embarrassing holiday sweaters, garlands, sparkling lights and warm homes. A blazing holiday house fire can quickly mess-up your holiday plans and cheer. As you decorate, celebrate and be jolly, keep safety a top priority this holiday season.
Christmas Tree and Holiday Décor Safety
Keep your tree well watered.
Use lights designated for indoor use that are cool to the touch. Consider upgrading your holiday lights to LEDs, which stay cool.
Turn off all the holiday lights and animated decorations whenever you leave your house or go to bed.
Fireplace Safety
Use a screen around an open fireplace.
Do not allow children or pets to play around a fireplace.
Keep all combustible material away from a fireplace.
Do not hang stockings on the mantle if you have a fireplace without a closing door.
Extinguish a fire before leaving your home or going to bed.
Space Heater Safety
Keep space heaters 3 feet away from all walls and furniture.
Do not leave items, such as gifts or boxes, near space heaters.
Turn off the space heater when you leave the room, especially if you are leaving your home for any amount of time.
Do not leave a space heater on while you sleep.
Do not use a space heater as a blanket or towel warmer.
Other Considerations
Never leave candles unattended. If you are hosting a party or have a home with children and/or pets, consider using flameless, battery-operated candles.
If the power goes out and you do not have a fireplace, never use a barbeque grill to heat your home. Instead, stay the night at a hotel or local emergency, warming shelter. If the power is out temporarily, wait it out at a designated warming shelter or even a friend’s house.
Make this holiday memorable for the right reasons. Easy holiday practices go a long way if you follow through with them.
Family, football, pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberries and “the bird”: these components, and more, help make up the day we call “Thanksgiving.” In a flurry to be prepared for this special Thursday, many people focus on what they need to do to get the food on the table in time for dinner without any major culinary disasters. What many do not think about, however, is safety. Coincidentally, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days for firefighters and emergency workers. Help give these workers a break and keep your family safe with the following Thanksgiving Day tips.
Tips for Having a Safe and Fire-Free Thanksgiving Holiday
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Do not use water to try to extinguish a grease fire; this will only cause the fire to spread.
Make sure your smoke alarms work.
No wizard sleeves. While cooking, make sure you wear sleeves that fit snuggly around your arms and wrists, or wear shirts with short sleeves. Shirts and dresses with flowing sleeves can easily catch on fire over a hot stove.
Invest in timers. Use timers to help you keep track of all the food cooking in the ovens and on stovetops.
Keep any non-food items away from the stove. This includes potholders, plastic wrap, bags and so on.
Turn the handles of pots and pans inwards. This will help prevent having someone accidentally bump into them.
Do not leave cooking food and candles unattended.
Double check to see that the stove and oven are turned off.
Designate an adult to do a walkthrough of the home after the guests leave to make sure all candles are extinguished.
When frying a turkey, do so at least 10 feet away the home and other flammable surfaces. Make sure the turkey is fully defrosted before placing it in the hot oil, and monitor the fryer the whole time it is in use and when the oil is hot.
Clean your oven before and after Turkey Day. Bits of grease that remain in the oven can easily catch fire.
Do not allow children, pets or many guests in the kitchen area. This will help prevent accidents.
It is NationalFire Prevention Week. While much of fire safety focuses on tips for the home, it is also important to prevent fires at your business. Most business owners do not think about hazards they cannot control until it is too late. There are techniques offices can implement to prevent fires and get back on their feet when the unthinkable happens.
Office Fire Prevention
Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Use several different outlets with surge protectors to prevent sparks from flying.
Purchase fireproof file cabinets and safes. Place important documents and items in them so you do not lose them in a fire.
Check the batteries in smoke alarms on a monthly basis, and replace the batteries every year.
Replace empty fire extinguishers.
Unplug non-essential machines, such as coffee pots and space heaters, on a nightly basis.
Do not keep flammable materials in the building.
Conduct emergency drills on a regular basis with office staff.
After speaking to your insurance agent, contact a fire restoration specialist immediately after a fire. Disaster recovery services will help clean a building affected by smoke, fire, or water and check it for safety. Additionally, these professionals use document restoration techniques.
Continue conducting business at a preplanned remote location while your office is being restored.
