FIRE
Fire has been on my mind lately, and not in a “let’s roast some marshmallows” way.
From the devastation in California to the horrible fire on Christmas Eve that destroyed a friend’s home in Bluffton, to the inferno at the Turkish ski resort hotel, which claimed the lives of seventy-six souls, to the distressing memory of friend Mary Fielder’s call from Nashville when she lost everything in an apartment fire…
Fire safety has become my latest obsession.
On December 22nd, seated with husband Nicholas in the rear of our plane waiting to depart Denver, I wasn’t thinking about fire. I thought about how much fun we had skiing in Colorado and of returning home to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, a reprieve from thoughts of catastrophic loss.
Buckled in. Nothing to do but lean back, relax, and maybe even take a nap.
But something was amiss. It was way past time to depart for Charlotte, our stop before final destination of Hilton Head.
Why was that nice-looking young couple standing in the aisle? And why were flight attendants taking turns about every 10 minutes, leaning over the seats, and engaging in a strained conversation with a problematic passenger who sat by the window and two empty seats? The only two empty seats on our plane which clearly belonged to the couple standing up in the back of our plane. Everyone on that crowded holiday flight was focused on the bare-shouldered woman wearing overalls sans shirt and an enormous, furry white hat.
What was her problem?
We discovered later that this most unhappy woman insisted she could not sit next to the couple she had rousted from their seats and demanded they be relocated. Since there were no available open seats, Madam had been politely asked one by one by every crew member to leave the plane. The flight attendants, well-trained to maintain calm were cautious. No raised voices. No calls for assistance from law enforcement. No unnecessary drama. Were we ever going to leave Denver? Wasn’t it time to forget being courteous and patient?
Eventually, the woman stopped arguing and shifted to a quiet, childish “talk to the hand” kind of non-response. Some of us wondered out loud if she was perhaps more than looney tunes – maybe even dangerous. Finally, the woman slowly stood up and made an unemotional, silent exit from the plane.
The ordeal was over, or was it?
All this brouhaha took almost an hour, delaying our departure. The connecting flight in Charlotte would leave without us, and the next plane to Hilton Head would not leave until 2 pm the following day.
Trying not to lose our fragile sense of humor, we booked an airport hotel and made the best of it. How nice it had been to board the plane without our carry-ons, which the airline checked for free. At least I still had a few toiletries in my purse, but neither of us thought to squeeze in a change of clothes. Someone told us to take an Uber to a pharmacy for some of Nicholas’s meds, but I was so tired. He would have to stay alive without them until we returned to SC.
After a not-so-delicious, but oh-so-expensive hotel dinner, we settled in for the night. Exhausted, but still able to laugh about our troubles, we quickly dropped off to sleep.
It wasn’t long before I was reminded of my preoccupation with fire safety.
We got a taste of middle-of-the-night mayhem when Nicholas and I were jolted out of a deep sleep by the screeching howl of the hotel’s fire alarm. In a bleary-eyed panic, we dressed and dashed into the hallway, expecting to see guests in full-on “run-for-your-life” mode. Instead, we encountered a young man who nonchalantly informed us that he’d checked with the night clerk – ho hum - false alarm – no need to evacuate. That alarm screamed for a very long 30+ minutes as the staff struggled to turn it off.
Go back to sleep. Right. Not.
Later, the staff offered conflicting stories. One said construction dust had set off the kitchen smoke alarm. The manager spilled the beans the following day. Indeed, there had been a kitchen fire, and the danger had been quite real. She was sorry we didn’t get much sleep. The 6,000 hotel points given as compensation sounded generous until we discovered it takes about 20,000 points for one night’s stay.
The hotel plus dinner and breakfast came to about $250 – not reimbursable by American Airlines, which does not have a policy covering unruly passengers. But, after a few calls and squeaky-wheel emails, the airline did give me enough air miles for a one-way ticket – better than nothing. Perseverance pays off.
I know y’all tune out the blah-blah-blah of in-flight safety spiels and fire safety tips might make your eyes glaze over, but I have a burning desire to share, so please, please read to the end.
Here we go:
PREVENTION IS KEY
• Safety Measures:
o Smoke Detectors: One is never enough – they should be placed inside each bedroom and outside of all sleeping areas; change batteries at least once a year
o Heat Alarms: These special fire alarms activated by extreme heat may not go off early enough for safety reasons. They can still help protect against loss as long as they are never used as a substitute for smoke alarms.
o Fire Extinguishers are handy – in the kitchen, garage, by the fireplace, etc. Know how to use them and regularly check the pressure and expiration date.
PASS = PULL AIM SQUEEZE AND SWEEP
PULL the pin
AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire
SQUEEZE the handle
SWEEP from side to side.
o Kidde.com: to learn more about smoke and heat detectors and fire extinguishers
o Windows: Make sure they aren’t painted shut.
o Fire Escape Plan: Create one and review it regularly. It’s imperative to know where to meet outside. Folks have perished from re-entering a home on fire, not realizing that the “missing” person was safe outside on the other side of the home.
o Fire Hazards: Remove them, including clutter in storage areas (attic, garage, shed, closets).
o The Dryer: Frequently check and clear dryer lint trap and vents.
o Chimneys & Fireplaces: Annual cleaning and inspections are essential! Make sure a glass or a metal fire screen is in front of your fireplace. Load your fireplace from back to front. Don’t burn shiny wrapping paper or anything that might have a combustible coating.
o Space Heaters: Plug directly into an outlet, not an extension cord or power strip, keep at least 3 feet from walls and objects on every side, and unplug when not in use.
o Candles, Stoves & Ovens: Do not use these three typical accidental fire starters to heat your home.
o Fire Blankets: Invest in one or more. fireshieldblanket.com FYI These are only practical if you keep them handy where needed.
o Fire Escape Ladders: They come in various lengths. Amazon has them: 15’ $59.99, 25’ $89.99, and 50’ $159.99.
o Grease Fires: Never throw water on them. Turn off the burner and cover it with something metal. Metal baking sheets work very well. Another option is to cover it with a pot lid, salt, or baking soda. Use common sense. If it’s not a minor, controllable fire, don’t hesitate to evacuate and call 911.
o CLOSE BEFORE YOU DOZE is the phrase to remember. A closed door can slow the spread of a house fire significantly. Close your bedroom door when you sleep. You have less than 3 minutes to escape a fire. Go to www.closeyourdoor.org to learn more.
o Leave it Behind! Gathering valuables before evacuating can cost your life.
• Adaptors, Cords, Power Strips, and Prongs!
o Learn the Differences: Not every power cord or strip is the same. Each has a maximum amperage—don’t exceed it.
o Daisy-Chaining: Running multiple cords together is a short circuit to possible disaster.
o Don’t Run Cords Under the Rug: Over time, the wear and tear of stepping on those under-the-rug cords can expose wires and create a fire risk.
o Respect the Prongs! Mismatched prongs or dodgy adaptors can result in a fire.
o Check Adaptors & Power Cords: Don’t use them if you aren’t 100% certain they are safe.
o Manufacturer’s Instructions: Follow them for storage and disposal. Yes, read that doggone owner’s manual.
• Outdoor safety:
o Grills, Fire Pits, & Firewood: Keep them ten feet or more away from your home and never leave fires unattended until completely extinguished.
o Flammable Liquids & Combustibles: Store them in well-ventilated areas in the original, tightly sealed containers outside your home.
• In a Fire Emergency:
o Chill, Share, Leave, & Call 911: Stay calm, alert others, evacuate immediately, and call 911 when safely outside.
o Just Say No to Hot Doors: Don’t open a door that feels hot.
o Open Doors Slowly: If you see flames or heavy smoke, be ready to close them.
o Close Those Doors: When possible, close doors behind you as you exit.
o Stay Low. Crawl if necessary.
o Don’t Go Back Inside! If you think someone or a pet is still inside, ask a firefighter to rescue them; don’t try to do it yourself. This is one of the most dangerous things you can do in a fire emergency.
o Take the Stairs. Never use an elevator in a fire.
o Stop, Drop, & Roll. If your clothing catches on fire, stop, drop, and roll. Cover your face with your hands. If you are on a rug, roll up in it. If your hair catches fire, smother it with whatever is handy – cloth, shirt, towel, blanket. To help smother a fire on another person, your options are to beat the flames with something convenient like a towel or article of clothing, roll them in a rug, or douse the fire with a fire extinguisher or water.
o Metal Cookie Sheets are effective at putting out small kitchen fires.
o Don’t Hide, Get Outside. Ensure that young children who may have memorized the popular phrase, Stop, Drop, and Roll understand that getting away from a fire is the primary safety rule!
My heart goes out to those who have experienced a fire catastrophe. For those who haven’t, I pray that you will never need my advice.
So, there you have it – let’s make 2025 the year that Beaufort County firefighters remember as the safest ever!
A fire is hot,
And ice is not.
So, don’t forget,
That fires, once lit,
Are not like ice.
They don’t play nice.
And, if they spread.
You could be …
Tamela Maxim is thrilled to write for the Bluffton Sun and Hilton Head Sun. She was previously the assistant publisher of Realtor Listings magazine, editor of Bluffton Breeze and Premier Lowcountry magazines, and occasional contributor to local newspapers and magazines, including Carolina Morning News, Bluffton Today, Bluffton Eccentric, Premier Lowcountry, and PINK. She plays the role of the assistant art instructor on the YouTube channel Art Posse, a local reality TV show that has just completed its 2nd season. www.artposseproductions.com She recently edited and published two books, Et Cetera Y’all, Volume 1 by Annelore Harrell, and From Jellybeans to a Nobel Prize Nomination by Arthur V. Martin, Ph.D.
