Disaster Recovery News

As the cold weather continues across the U.S., emergency workers are responding to a growing number of deaths. The reason behind the fatalities is due to inappropriate means of trying to stay warm.

WWL-FM105.3 of Louisiana reports that recent fires unnecessarily took the lives of a handful of people. The report states Fire Marshal Butch Browning shared: “…deadly fires not only occur because  of using inappropriate heating sources, but using proper heating sources like space heaters in an improper way.”

Browining also recommends only using a space heater when awake. Also, make sure smoke detectors in the home work. If not, Browing states, “your family has less than a 40% chance of waking up in a fire.”

Learn more about heating your home safely.

Photo by A Million to One CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Independence Day is here. With fireworks and firecrackers come fires. To ensure the safety of your family and neighborhood, keep the following tips in mind:

• While at a fireworks show, stay at least 125-feet away from the area where the fireworks will be set-off.
• Do not touch any fireworks that have fallen to the ground or even partial parts of a firework. Do not pick up any fireworks that look like they did not explode. Instead, contact the local fire department.
• Keep animals away from fireworks displays. The loud noises can hurt their sensitive ears or scare them, causing them to run away.
• Keep children and pets at a safe distance away from the grill and grilling tools.
• Never fire a gun into the air in celebration of Independence Day. A stray bullet can unintentionally hurt someone. Plus, it is against the law to do this in many states.
• Only light fireworks outdoors.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby while setting-off fireworks.
• Youth under the age of 16 should always be supervised when handling fireworks.
• Do not drink and light. Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.

More on fire safety.