My son came home this evening to ask me if I had heard about "the fire".  He's like the kid on the corner selling newspapers.. "Extra! Extra!" always informing me of the goings-on in the community and world, when I seem to be the last to know.  Nevertheless, word spread pretty quickly today about a house in a neighboring subdivision, which burned to the ground late last night.  Wetherburn is a popular neighborhood in Manheim Township, and the shock of hearing the news of one of it's homes burning to the ground had me reeling. To learn that a resident of the home, an elderly woman who used a walker to get around, lost her life in the fire, is just heartbreaking, and I extend my sympathies to the family and her loved ones.

I inadvertently threw out today's newspaper in one of my "gotta clean up this mess" chaotic runs through the house, so I didn't see the article.  But, I found it online on LancNews.  It's disturbing to see the amount of damage, especially since this is my town where I've lived and worked for over 21 years.  I have friends and clients who live in that subdivision.  The shocking truth is... this could have been anyone's home.

So, my plea to you all is .....

• please check your smoke detectors.  Please be sure that they are all in good working order; test them regularly. 
  
• please have emergency phone numbers nearby.  If you live alone, please be sure that your neighbors have the contact information of your loved ones nearby in case of an emergency.
• please have a plan of evacuation.  This would include teaching your children what to do in case of an emergency, and having escape ladders from upper level windows.  This would also include specific plans for evacuating the elderly and young children.  Statistics show that elderly and young children and most often the casualties in a house fire.
  
• please have your furnace, other mechanicals and electrical systems checked to be sure everything is in good working order and up to code.  A friend's elderly mother's home caught fire one night a few years ago when the dishwasher shorted out.  Luckily, only the kitchen in that instance was damaged but her mother's life was spared.  Faulty wiring CAN cause a fire, even in your tried and true appliances that have seemed to work well for years.
  

For additional information on how to safeguard your home and family against a fire, please visit the National Fire Protection Association  .

Authorities don't yet know the cause of last night's fire, but hopefully these reminders and tips can help safeguard your loved ones and your home from a similar fate.  Stay safe, everyone.