Disaster Recovery News

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.

Read more Thanksgiving safety tips from the American Red Cross.

Learn more about protecting your home during the holiday season.

[photo: Diana]

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.

Snow in the Northwest Video

Temperatures are expected to lower significantly while the chances of precipitation remain high. This is the perfect recipe for SNOW.

Dave Salesky with KGW’s weather blog in Portland, OR reads:

“There is no way around it– we’re going to get hit with a pretty big storm…

…Cold air arrives…Saturday. Snow levels will drop like a rock. From 7000ft to 1500ft in just a few hours. Heavy snow will fall in the Cascades and Coast Range. Blizzard conditions will exist in Cascades much of Saturday. Maybe 3 feet of snow will fall in the mountains. Locally we’ll see snow in the higher hills not on the valley floor. Precipitation Saturday will be a wintry mix with no accumulation below 500ft.

…A second wave of arctic air that arrives Sunday. Temperatures will fall into the teens and twenties. Another weak low will drop south along the coast. Moisture coming ashore will be snow, all the way to the valley floor. Amounts are still hard to predict at this time. We could see just a few flurries maybe an inch or two.

Lastly I don’t see a warm up coming anytime soon. We might even see another snow event late next week!”

There are several things one can do during the winter to protect their home from the elements and fires. Click here to learn how to keep your home mold-free with all the frightful weather. Then, learn how to keep your home safe as you warm up by the fire (or space heater).

The turning leaves, wind chills, and wet weather are the prime indicators that it is time to turn up the thermostat, throw a log on to the fire, or bring the space heater out of storage. With the rising cost of fuel and electricity, there are many ways you can stay warm and cozy inside your home and do it safely.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety has provided the tips seen below for alternative heating devices, but warn: “Before using any heating device, install carbon monoxide detectors in several parts of the house. Never use a kerosene heater indoors.”

Wood Pellet Stoves: a modern way to heat your home with an automated fuel-delivery system.
- Hire a licensed professional to install these stoves.
- There should always be consideration for proper ventilation and electrical outputs.
- Use floor protection and keep all combustible materials away from the stove.
- Per the manufacture’s guidelines, maintain the stove regularly to keep it in good working condition.

Wood Stoves: a traditional way to heat spaces, but have also been the cause of many home and chimney fires
- Pick a stove that has been approved and tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- If buying a used stove, make sure it is not broken and does not have any cracks.
- Make proper accommodations for the ventilation system you choose.
- Keep combustibles a safe distance away (at least 36-inches, 3-feet).
- Use the proper floor coverings around the stove.
- Keep the flue clear and unobstructed.

Space Heaters: good for small spaces but are also the leading cause of home fires when it is chilly.
- Get a model that has been tested by the UL.
- Buy a model that shuts off automatically and has heat guards.
- Keep all items at least 3-feet away from the heater.
- Inspect the heater before use. Check for cracks or abnormalities with the electrical wiring.
- Never leave a heater unattended.

Fireplaces: the quintessential, traditional way to heat your home that requires a lot of upkeep and care
- Inspect yearly by contracting a professional chimney sweep.
- Clean regularly to keep the fireplace free of obstructions and creosote.
- Install a cap to keep out debris and small animals.
- Use screens or windows on the fireplace closed. Always use a grate.
- Only used approved fireplace tools.
- Clean out ashes in a non-combustible container with a tight lid. Store ashes outside and away from your home.
- Never leave a fire unattended and make sure the fire is completely out before closing the damper.

Click here for additional tips about heating your home with any of abovementioned heat sources, including gas fireplaces.

Prevention with these items is the key to keeping you and your family safe. Check out this short, informational video about chimney and fireplace safety:

More about fire damage prevention.

Learn about the salvage process and fire damage restoration.