Fires Begin at Home

In the wake of the devastating Southern California fires, fire safety should be on all of our minds. I read an article on the subject by Alan Heavens when I came back from work the other day, and discovered that I was already committing a safety "no-no." I had left the house with my clothes dryer running.
Here are some tips that we can all use to keep our homes safer from fires throughout the year.
In the Kitchen: Never leave the kitchen when you're cooking, and don't overload electric outlets. Be sure to keep flammable items like towels and grocery bags at least three feet away from the range top. Remember to clean your exhaust hood regularly, and wipe up spilled grease as soon as the stove surface is cool. Run your microwave only when something is in it.
Mount fire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage , and learn how to use them. (I was guilty on this one, too. The dates on mine were obsolete, and I can't imagine stopping to read instructions when a fire broke out.)
Living Areas: Be especially careful with space heaters, keeping them away from curtains and newspapers...and don't forget to turn them off at bedtime. Did you know that the current they require could melt an extension cord?
In fact, don't use extension cords at all, but if you must, be sure that they are UL rated and not frayed or worn.
Common sense items: Don't overload sockets. Your lamp is rated for a 60 watt bulb for a reason. Never leave candles unattended, or where children can reach them. And as for that clothes dryer... clean the filter frequently and make sure that it vents outside, not in the attic.
Smoke Alarms: Be sure to install alarms on every level of your house, and near every bedroom. Check into the dual alarms that provide both ionization and photoelectric coverage, and don't forget to add a carbon monoxide alarm, too. Did you know that there are smoke detectors available on the Internet for the hearing impaired?
The Red Cross has a Fire Prevention and Safety site that offers useful lifesaving information.