ICFD shares safety tips

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - As temperatures rise, and grass and brush dry out, fire officials in Imperial County remind residents to take simple steps to help prevent fires this summer.

It only takes one spark to start a fast moving fire. The fire department says a small fire can double in size every minute, so leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Officials also recommend clearing dry weeds around homes, making sure campfires and fire pits are completely put out, and never leave a barbecue unattended.

"One thing we always stress is when you grill, grill 10 ft away from anything flammable, so your house, any decking, any brush, anything flammable, helps us, helps you, saves everybody in the long run," Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) Fire Engineer Daniel Jauregui told KYMA.

The fire department encourages residents to have an emergency bag ready to go in case of an evacuation, have a family meeting place, and test smoke alarms frequently.

"Little kids, the elderly have a meeting point out front. Out front, we always see the mailbox when we come in, we're gonna stop somewhere where a mailbox should be, or the driveway, and we're able to talk to somebody. 'Hey, is everybody out of the house?' So we say the front of the house, preferably, so we can get a head count," Jauregui explained.

These simple steps can help you and your family stay fire safe this summer.