FireBeater

Once a fire starts, there’s little that can be done to stop it. In less than two minutes, a fire can become life threatening…in five minutes, an entire residence can become engulfed in fatal flames. To ensure you and your family are protected, there are numerous steps that should be taken to prepare for fire emergencies.

First and foremost, install smoke alarms around your home. Be sure to test and clean smoke alarms once month and replace the batteries once every ten years. Properly functioning smoke alarms decrease your chances of dying in a fire by half, so it’s important to your survival that you check them regularly. They should be placed outside your bedrooms on the ceiling or high on the wall, near (but not in) the kitchen, as well as at the top of open stairways or the bottom of enclosed stairs.

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If you’ve never been personally affected by a wildfire, you’ve probably only seen the devastating effects they have on communities through the eyes of a news camera. However, don’t rule out that your area will never fall victim to wildfires simply because you’re not in Southern California. Any area that sees a long period of drought or unusually low precipitation is at risk for a severe wildfire. Every year, an average of 1.2 million acres of US woodland is burned by wildfires. Four out of every five of these fires are caused by humans.

The secondary effects of wildfires are often more dangerous than the flames themselves. Erosion, landslides, invasive species, and changes in water quality can cause serious damage to your lifestyle. Furthermore, large wildfires are capable of modifying the local weather conditions and producing their own weather complete with ashes, head, and dryness.

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In the event of a fire, it is important you know the proper way to escape safely. Though you’ve been hearing it since kindergarten, stop-drop-and roll is key to your survival. Should your clothes catch on fire, do NOT run…running only makes the fire burn faster. Instead, stop where you are, drop to the ground, and roll around until the fire is extinguished. Once you’re flame-free, you can begin running. If you encounter a closed door, do NOT just throw it open. Use the back of your hand to feel the doorknob, the top of the door, and the crack of the doorframe for heat. You don’t want to use the front because if the door burns you, you’re ability to use your hands for alternate escape will be impaired. If the door is cool, open it slowly before proceeding. If you see smoke or flames, close the door immediately and find another way out. If the path is clear, crawl to the nearest exit.  (Read the article)

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When you were younger, you might have worn a mini red firefighter hat and told anyone who asked that you were going to be a firefighter when you grew up. Now that you’re actually grown up, it’s possible to turn those dreams into realities. Firefighters have a tough job—they run into burning buildings while everyone else is running out. Every day, brave firefighters risk their lives for the sake of others. Their jobs aren’t easy, and neither was their path to the firehouse. If you’re serious about becoming a firefighter, here are some of the basics:

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