The County of Los Angeles Fire Department provided the following tips to increase safety and reduce fire hazard risk to homes. The following are recommendations for preparing your home ahead of a fire.
* Back your car into the garage heading out, with windows closed and keys in the ignition.
* Close the garage door, leave it unlocked and disconnect the automatic door opener in case of power failure.
* Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times, and stay tuned to your local news station.
* Move combustible yard furniture away from the house or store it in the garage.
* Cover windows, attic openings, eaves and vents with fire resistant material such as 1/2-inch, or thicker, plywood. Close window shutters and blinds if they are fire resistant.
* Attach garden hoses to spigots and place them so they can reach all areas of your house.
* Fill sinks, bathtubs, trash cans, buckets and other containers with water. Keep small rugs or wet towels handy to dip into the water and extinguish spot fires.
* If you have an emergency generator or a portable gasoline-powered pump that will supply water from a swimming pool, pond, well or tank, clearly mark its location and be ready to operate it.
* Place a ladder against the house on the opposite side of the approaching fire for access to the roof.
* Close all windows and doors around your home to prevent sparks from blowing inside.
* Close all doors within the house to slow fire spread inside the house. Turn on the lights in all rooms of your house, on the porch and in the yard. Your home will be more visible through the smoke or darkness.
* Shut off butane/propane or natural gas valves.
* Move furniture away from windows and sliding glass doors to keep them from igniting from the radiant heat of the fire.
* Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood.
For additional fire safety information call the Community Relations Office at 213.881.2411 or contact your local fire station.