MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Even though California’s fire season is winding down, people should remain prepared for the possibility of a fire in or near their homes and workplaces.
Families can be prepared for an emergency by knowing possible fire threats and measures to be taken to prevent fires.
“Fires in California are harder to contain,” said Dominguez. “We have a lot of dry areas to the east. With southern California being mostly coastal towns you’d figure we’d get a lot of rain throughout the year, but we don’t. We tend to have a few dry spell years.”
Dominguez added that those dry spells help make fuel for the fires. Shrubs and trees dry out, making it easier for them to catch fire. When it rains lightly in San Diego, it allows for more plants to grow, which adds more fuel for a fire.
Families need to be prepared to keep themselves safe, not just their homes.
“It’s important to know about fire safety so that you know where to go to get information and what you should do in an emergency,” said Jerry P. Dominguez, intelligence analyst, G-3 Mission Assurance Branch.
According to Dominguez, the extent of fire prevention depends on where you live. Those who live in the city have less brush than those in rural areas. People who live far from cities have to conduct certain maintenance others don’t.
For example, people in rural areas should use fire resistant landscaping, such as drought-tolerant plants. Non-combustible siding materials are also a good idea, along with dual-pane windows and fire retardant roofs.
Along with preparing the household for a fire, families should have certain items readily available in the event of a fire.
“You should have an emergency kit to grab on the way out,” said Fred Richards, assistant fire chief for fire prevention, metropolitan San Diego area. “If you are in colder climates pack some clothes to keep you warm. When there is a fire you don’t have the time to get completely dressed. Some other things to consider are wet weather gear, umbrellas, flashlights and an emergency contact card.”
Dominguez recommends also having food, water and emergency equipment that can be helpful in most situations are items that should be included. These kits should be kept in an easily accessible area.
“Most people don’t carry that kind of stuff,” said Dominguez. “I bet if you asked everyone in your shop how many people have jumper cables, you’d be surprised by how many people don’t.”
Dominguez said that having these common items isn’t something most people consider having until after an incident happens.
One way people can prepare before an emergency is to register their phone numbers with the Alert San Diego emergency notification system. Alert San Diego is a regional notification system that contacts homes and businesses that are in danger of experiencing an emergency or disaster.
All landlines, whether listed or unlisted, are already registered in the system. People who want mobile phones registered can go to readysandiego.org. Families with children should help them understand fire safety.
“Practice evacuation drills with them,” said Richards. “Show them how to dial 9-1-1 and test fire and smoke detectors in front of them so they are familiar with the sound and won’t be scared if it ever goes off.”
Richards also recommends other simple ways to help prevent household fires: don’t let anything cook unattended, blow out candles when leaving a room, check smoke detectors regularly, keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach and have a fire escape plan.
People should also be prepared in the event of a fire in the workplace, added Dominguez.
“There should be evacuation plans posted per building, even per work section,” said Dominguez. “Find out how often your office does evacuation drills. You’d be surprised how many offices don’t do drills and when a crisis does happen you’ve got people who aren’t sure where to go, what to do or who to contact.”
Marines who live in the barracks should also be aware of fire prevention and safety rules.
“The barracks rules are there for a reason,” said Dominguez. “They should be adhered to, to help prevent fires as well.”
Some of the rules include no smoking in the barracks, no cooking, no open flames and no hot plates. Marines should know evacuation routes, and where the duty hut and fire extinguishers are located.
“The most important thing to remember with fire safety and prevention is that once you’re out of the building, stay out,” said Richards. “More people have died by going back in for something they think is valuable and get trapped by the fire or choked by smoke.”