Idaho Spuds a Fire Hazard

Photo by Chance Agrella
An interesting AP report coming out of Idaho, one of two states in the USA famous for potatoes: Idaho Fire Crew's Tater Tots Start Blaze.

I get the impression that Tater Tots Flambe' was not on the menu. *laugh*

As stated in the news item, I am sure firefighters and officials are embarrassed over this incident. But, a positive coming out of it is the reminder of just how easily a fire can start, and how careful we do need to be when cooking, and using the stove and oven.

Home fire safety tips given by the experts include installing, checking, and maintaining smoke detectors; having, checking, and maintaining fire extinguishers; keeping flashlights with fresh batteries handy; and having escape plans mapped out that include a meeting place away from the home.

At our house, we put in fresh smoke detector batteries twice a year: during both time changes. If I remember (which I admit I don't always), I test and clean all of our detectors monthly.

Each year, the extinguishers get checked. A local firefighter has a fire extinguisher refill business which is very affordable to use.

We also went through CERT training which taught us how to properly handle fire extinguishers and most effectively put out various types of fires. PASS is an easy-to-remember acronym for how to use a fire extinguisher. It stands for the simple instructions of: PULL the pin, AIM at the base of the fire, SQUEEZE the lever, and SWEEP from side to side.

Different extinguishers are for different types of fires. Knowing the difference is important when purchasing (and using) a fire extinguisher.

So what things do YOU do at your house in regards to fire safety?

Sources:

Idaho Fire Crew's Tater Tots Start Blaze. Associate Press. December 27th, 2007. 12:27 p.m. KSL News.

Fire Prevention. Home Fire Safety Checklist. Buffnet.

Using a Fire Extinguisher. Fire Extinguisher 101.

Fire Extinguishing Agents. Fire Extinguisher 101.

Australia Attacked . . .by Mother Nature?

Photo by Leland Davis
As I was perusing the CNN videos of the day, two were about some 'natural disasters' occurring in Australia of severe weather and an infestation.

These are just two in a series of wild natural events occurring around the world. In the past 30 days alone we have seen typhoons (Vietnam, Taiwan), flooding (Vietnam, a bee invasion (Houston Texas), multiple war stories, and multiple tragic circumstances coming out of Myanmar, to name just a few.

We have, by and large, become desensitized to such events. Modern technology allows us to be more aware, instantaneously, of what is going on in the world around us. The question to be asked is if we are hearing more about these things due to technological advances or due to something else.

Could the bible or other sources predicting an 'end times' be correct?

Matthew 24:7 refers to signs of the last days including wars, natural disasters, plagues, pestilences, etc. Further study of the Bible reveals that these events will occur more frequently and more closely together in the last days.

What I have found interesting is the number of independent sources of 'end times' prophecies and predictions which revolve around the year 2012. The Bible states that no one knows or can predict the time, so I, as a devout Christian, would tend to go by that; however, I think the end times prophecies from sources other than the Bible do give us all something to think about.

That something is that in reality, if there is to be an 'end of times' as predicted by the Bible or other sources, it could realistically, based upon all the other signs listed by all sources, occur or begin to occur at any time.

We can't do anything to stop or prevent it, but we can be prepared. We can learn and watch the signs; and have basic things like food storage, 72-hour kits, etc. We can undergo basic training with the Red Cross, The American Heart Association, or CERT in order to be in a better position to help and protect ourselves and our loved ones in the case of emergencies of any type: regardless of the last days scenarios.

It will cost us nothing to be prepared, but if we are caught unprepared, it could cost us everything.

Like what I wrote and want to buy me a cherry coke?