Home Security Fire Safety
Last week in Los Angeles, CA, nearly 50 homes faced the heat wave of a hotter variety when a Santa Clarita brush fire flew through the valley area, urged on by late afternoon winds. The LA Times reports that a local teen is suspected to have started the fire and two other teens were taken into custody for disobeying authorities. A total of 43 acres were damaged as the fire raced across Santa Clarita. Meanwhile, the 50 homeowners and their families had their home security compromised when they were told by officials to evacuate their land and leave most of their belongings behind. The fire was deemed in-control later that evening, and very luckily no one was hurt. However, the scare that the families faced was a heck of a home alarm to their community, and it raises important question: are you ready to protect your home? Is there total home security for you and your family if a fire happens?
Many of our homes are built with the home security to withstand natural pressures like high-force winds and saturation from rain and snow. Even lightning rods give protection from nature’s white-hot electrical darts. However, one of the most common threats to our precious homes is fire, which is also one of the least common things a home is protected from. The Center for Disease Control cites fire as the number five cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S. and a whopping total of 403,000 fires harmed our homes in 2008, also claiming and estimated 2,755 of our neighbors and friends’ lives. A major problem is the rigged fire, which can come from delinquents and arsonists. The Santa Clarita fire was allegedly triggered and egged on by a couple of careless kids who seemed to have no regard for anyone’s home in the surrounding area. That carelessness destroyed a huge amount of land, and potentially endangered far too many homes like yours.
Smoke Alarms
When considering your own home security for safety against fires, first begin with your smoke alarm. The smoke alarm protects like a burglar alarm, sensing the intrusion of smoke within your premises. Many homeowners unknowingly invest only one or two smoke detectors. Read: This is a mistake! For maximum security, you must have more than one of these sensors in your house. Make sure one is in each of your rooms, your children’s rooms, anyone who is renting a room, and guest rooms. Also, very important places to install smoke sensors are the staircases and hallway, where smoke travels too.
Heat Detectors
Heat detectors are a crucial development in home security and fire safety planning. Heat detectors are placed where smoke alarms don’t work well, like garages, storage rooms, furnaces, high up attics. One useful place for a heat detector is the kitchen, where cooking often triggers the smoke alarm falsely. A heat detector can allow you to cook vigorously, but still be protected from a potential fire.
Batteries: Your Charged Allies
Important: Always change your batteries!
Photo via -ej!
