Frying the eggs, lighting up the cigarette, burning the scented candle… we never give them a second thought. But residential fires are the third-leading cause of accidental death in the home, with annual property losses reported in the billions of dollars. Cooking, careless smoking, arson and faulty heating are among the common culprits. Many fire deaths and damages are avoidable with a proper smoke alarm system or residential sprinklers. Check the smoke alarms in your home every few months to make sure they are working properly and be prepared to act responsibly if fire strikes.

It may start like a soft orange glow or cloudlike puffs of smoke in the distance, but with Los Angeles’ unpredictable winds and terrain, that pretty picture can quickly turn into an ugly disaster. The area’s dense brush, dry hillsides and canyons often act like tinder boxes for deadly wildfires, also known as brush fires. These fires can move at an incredibly rapid pace and their heat can quickly rise to thousands of degrees. One of the best ways to keep these fires a safe distance from your home is to clear nearby brush, according to city and county regulations. All homes should be equipped with properly maintained smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher that you have been trained to use.