Warmer weather is on the horizon and you know what that means? it’s time to break out the gas and charcoal and grill up some juicy meals! But even grilling comes with its fair share of hazards. A small grill fire could easily lead to a home in flames. In fact, on average 10,200 house fires are started by grills each year, which estimates to be about a combined $37 million in property loss.
So, whether you are grilling for enjoyment, to host family and friends, or just for that savory flavor of summer, follow these simple grilling safety tips to help prevent a house fire:
1. Grill at least 10 feet from your home or garage
The farther away from any structures or home decor the better
2. Do not grill under any overhangs or structures
This includes branches, wires, carports, awnings, etc.
3. Do not leave your grill unattended
It only takes one minute for a fire to double in size
4. Turn on your grill and light your gas right away
Don’t wait, if the gas builds up it can cause an explosion
5. Make sure your grill is not leaking
Test it! Spray your tank with soapy water, if the water bubbles, you’ve got a leak
6. Keep your grill clean
Caked-on grease acts as fuel and will only make a fire stronger
7. Do not put too much food on at once
-Dripping fat will only make the flames stronger
8. Keep water or an extinguisher close by-
If a small fire were to start, you can catch and extinguish it at the source
9. Never grill indoors
A spark or flare-up could easily catch something on fire, plus grills release carbon monoxide, which can be deadly
10. Let your grill completely cool off before moving or covering it
Wait 2-3 hours after use and touch it with your hands, if it is still warm, then wait another 2-3 hours before moving or covering
While you’re enjoying your burger, all it takes is one ember on a cooling, unattended grill to bring your whole home down in flames. Have peace of mind knowing that should anything happen, your home will be protected by the proper homeowner’s insurance coverage.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
The Pinnacle Club is an elite group of achievers at California Casualty that consist of only the very top performers in our Sales Department.
To reach this career milestone you must be excelling day after day, as stats are analyzed on a monthly basis from January – December. This elite group is the top tier of our company’s new account representatives and every day they are setting the bar higher for their peers around them. “We have a really incredible sales staff, who are doing incredible things, like setting multiple sales records. These Pinnacle Club qualifiers are the very best of the best.” -Greg Friz, Sales Manager AVP.
For 2019, the Pinnacle Club is full of new qualifiers, but many are legacy members of the club; some are being recognized for the 18th, 19th, and 20th time!
Congratulations to our Sales Pinnable Club members, thank you for all that you do for California Casualty and our loyal customers. View the full list of inductees below.
According to the National Weather Service, drought conditions are expected to persist through the summer across many western states. If you’re a homeowner in a drought-prone area, that means monitoring water usage, thinking ahead to fire prevention and safety, and maintaining landscaping with drought tolerance in mind.
But there’s one more thing to think about: your foundation.
Drought threatens the integrity of your home’s structure in many ways and can end up costing tens of thousands in foundation repairs if problems are not caught early. Here are some of the most common signs of foundation stress or damage, and what you can do about it.
What’s Going On Under Your House?
When dry conditions persist, the soil under your home can lose enough moisture that it shifts and buckles, causing your foundation to crack. When rain finally returns, the soil soaks it up and expands, lifting up your foundation again, which can cause more cracking or unevenness. If your home, like most, has tree roots under it then the roots can draw moisture from the soil, adding to the problem.
Signs You Have a Problem…
A cracking foundation can cause a domino effect of problems up through the house. Here are some signs you might have issues.
Cracks in rigid wall surfaces such as brick, concrete, stucco, tile, and drywall
Windows and doors that begin sticking or become misaligned
Leaks in the basement
Broken pipes
Gaps along cabinets, baseboards or outdoor trim
Misalignment where your foundation meets an exterior wall
Floors that sink or slope
Cracked basement floor
Cracked or shifted chimneys
Cracked asphalt and pavement on driveways or walkways
What To Do About It
Do a careful inspection of your home inside and out. If you see cracks, take photos, measure, and record them so you have a history to compare with in the future. If the cracks are minor or few, just keep an eye on them. If you see anything serious or worrying, contact a professional. You want to prevent any foundational issues before they cause serious (and expensive) damage. Here are some preventive measures you can take to keep the ground under your home moist:
Install a water system around your home.
Add a few inches of mulch to your landscaping area.
Plant drought-tolerant and fire-resistant shrubs and groundcover, which will hold moisture in the ground and keep it shaded, preventing evaporation.
Keep up with weeding (weeds are thirsty).
Plant any new trees far enough from the foundation to keep roots at a distance.
As always in drought-prone areas, practice water conservation inside and outdoors.
Catching foundation problems before they get serious entails some extra time and attention on your part but will help you avoid costly repairs or even replacement of your foundation.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Did you know that many of the homes destroyed by wildfire actually caught fire from within the structure? This is because embers made their way inside the house through vents, windows, chimneys, or other openings.
Embers can travel more than a mile out ahead of the main fire body, igniting any dry fuel or easily ignited materials in their path. If they land on or become lodged in combustible materials on, in or near your house, they’ll gain a toehold and ignite.
To protect your home from an ember attack this fire season, check its exterior and perimeter for vulnerabilities, then fix, replace, adjust and clean as needed.
The First Line of Defense: Stop the Embers From Entering
Once an ember gets into your home it can burn out of control incredibly quickly. Block entry points by inspecting the following.
Vents – Install 1/8th inch metal mesh screening on attic, foundation, and eave vents to prevent embers from being sucked into your home.
Roofs – Replace wood shingles with non-combustible or fire-resistant roofing. Repair or replace any loose tiles and plug any openings.
Gutters – Remove dry fuels (dead leaves, pine needles, debris) from gutters and roof.
Siding and Trim – Caulk any gaps and replace materials as needed. Fire experts recommend having 5-6 inches of exposed concrete at the base of your house, rather than having siding reaching all the way to the ground where it’s vulnerable to embers. Finally, if you’re in a fire-prone area, consider fire-resistant siding or treatments.
Eaves – Eaves can be an entry point of fire getting into your attic. Cover them with sheathing and use fire-resistant materials where possible. Use tightly fitted joints (such as tongue and groove) instead of butt joints.
Chimneys and Stovepipes – Block out embers by installing a spark arrestor.
Skylights – The safest are double-paned glass, and one of the panes should be tempered glass. Replace any plastic skylights. If the fire is threatening, close skylights.
Windows – Replace non-tempered, single-pane windows with tempered, multi-paned glass. As with skylights, close all windows if a fire is possible.
Garage Door – Close doors as tightly as possible to prevent embers from entering. Consider using trim around the garage door opening to reduce gaps. Be sure the door is closed if there’s a chance of fire approaching.
The Second Line of Defense: Your 0-5 ft Perimeter
If an ember lands on dry, combustible fuel right at the edge of your home, it can spark a structure fire in seconds. Minimize those chances by looking at the following.
Decks and Porches – Repair or replace decayed materials and use metal flashing between the deck and house. Remove anything stored underneath the deck, as well as debris between deck boards or where it meets the house.
Patio Furniture – Move furniture and any other combustible items on your patio to the garage.
Flowerboxes – Remove if a wildfire is active in your area.
Wood Piles – Keep firewood stacks at least 30 feet from your house and other structures.
Propane Tanks – As with firewood, keep tanks no closer than 30 feet from structures.
Vehicles – Close all windows and back into the garage, or park well away from the house.
Mulch Around the Home – Mulch is flammable, so replace it with rock or gravel where it’s close to your home.
Branches and Shrubs – Make sure all are trimmed back. Replace flammable plants wherever possible.
Fortifying your home against embers is one important step in prepping for fire season. Download our checklist for fire readiness and creating a 100-foot defensible space around your home.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Underwriting Service Representative, Hope Lees
Hope has been with us since the summer of 2018 and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to know Hope!
What made you want to work in Underwriting at California Casualty?
I had always wanted to be an underwriter. When I first joined the insurance industry that’s been the goal. I love being able to review, investigate and problem solve.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I love that each account is different! Every day at work really is a new day with new challenges – it’s exciting!
Underwriting is a real team sport so to speak; you have your peers and your mentors all helping you better understand guidelines, procedures, rare occurrences, or new changes. I love that I am able to come into work every day and enjoy my job and leave it all at the door when I go home.
Management really supports you; stress isn’t a problem here like at some other insurance jobs I worked at in the past. Every day is a new day – it’s never boring here!
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
In my time at CalCas I have gained a better all-around improved set of skills including problem-solving, research abilities, and time management.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
Spending time with our friends and family! My husband and I love having our friends over – we all pick a new show to watch and we’ll make wings and food for each week’s new episode.
We love finding new restaurants to try.
We go to concerts throughout the year.
I love traveling! We’ll do quick weekend trips to the hot springs, Las Vegas, Arizona, anywhere we can find a quick last-minute getaway!
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I moved from South Florida to Colorado 15 years ago.
I am the oldest of 4 children – only daughter.
We have 4 rescue cats that were abandoned due to their health conditions. They’re doing amazing and are the sweetest angels.
My husband and I were high school sweethearts – together 8 years, married for 5!
If you want to learn more about Hope or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
