Five Fire Safety Tips

With the fire season officially launched this week with two fires breaking out in the Sunland-Tujunga area, the Glendale Fire Department has issued some tips for the public to protect home, family, and possessions.

1. Develop and maintain a fire safe landscape around your home. By creating a fire safe landscape (defensible space) of at least 30 feet around your home, and out to 100 feet from structures, you will reduce the chance of a wildfire spreading onto your property and burning through to your home.

2. Streets and roads must be marked with clearly visible street signs. The first few minutes of a fire are the most critical for saving your home. Firefighters must be able to immediately locate and safely travel to your home to have a chance to protect it. Your street address must be visible, clear and un-obstructed for easy identification by emergency response personnel.

3. Establish your family evacuation escape plan. Even in a fire-safe house you may be required to evacuate to survive a wildfire. prepare, plan and practice a family evacuation escape plan. Be familiar with and know where all access and egress routes and roads are located in your neighborhood. Know two ways of escape.

4. Build or remodel to fire-safe your house. Your home could be vulnerable to a wildfire because of its design, construction and location. If you are preparing to build, buy or remodel a house, you should know what to look for in a fire safe house. A few modifications to your construction plans can reduce the chance of your house catching fire, or resist further damage if it does catch fire. Don't let your house become another fuel for a wildfire.

5. Make the inside of your home fire safe. Utilize smoke detectors, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers to make your home safe from kitchen, electrical, or other fires that may originate inside your home. Create an escape plan for your family and practice your plan frequently. These simple tools can make the difference between life and death.

The Glendale Fire Department is committed to ensuring the safety of our community. For questions or to schedule a home inspection visit of your home, contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 548-4810.