As of this morning (1/7/2022), State Farm has received over 1,400 home and auto claims, with the vast majority in Boulder County. Temporary housing and advance funds continue to be provided to customers where possible, with nearly $5 Million in advances issued to date. Customers are encouraged to file a claim as soon as possible, and can text the word “CLAIM” to 62789 to receive a link to file a claim.

In addition to State Farm agents, agent’s staff, and local employees, we have mobilized our State Farm catastrophe response teams across the affected areas to help customers with their claims. We also have thousands of employees handling claims virtually across the country in our centralized operations.

State Farm has opened a Catastrophe Customer Care Site located at 61 West FlatIron Crossing Drive in Broomfield (FlatIron Crossing mall, in front of the AMC theater.)

Additionally as part of our overall support for the community, State Farm has committed a $50,000 disaster grant for the American Red Cross of Colorado, with those funds primarily assisting those displaced from their homes.

State Farm There From The Start

As the wildfire spread, State Farm began mobilizing its resources. Our response includes State Farm agents who live and work in the same neighborhoods as our customers; teams of claim specialists trained in disaster response traveling in to evaluate damage on site; thousands of employees in centralized care centers across the country helping answer customers’ questions and file their claims; remote claim teams conducting virtual inspections with impacted customers; and many other resources, all helping customers in their time of need.

State Farm’s Customer Response Unit (CRU) was on the ground Sunday (1/2/2022) assisting the community (beginning in Spanish Hills and Rock Creek) with basic essentials such as fresh water, work gloves, flashlights, first aid kits, and snacks. The CRU also hands out coloring books and teddy bears for children in the community.

Wildfire Defense Systems Activated

Wildfire Defense Systems (WDS) arrived on scene early Friday (12/31/2021) morning. The largest wildfire protection service provider, this complimentary Wildfire Response service was added to all non-tenant homeowners policies in Colorado at no cost to State Farm customers in early 2020. During an active wildfire, if WDS determines a home insured by State Farm is at risk, they will deploy a team that will take proactive counter-measures to protect a policyholder’s property.

On January 1, they continued efforts to mop-up isolated pocked of heat and secure the line. Thanks to a thick blanket of snow over the fire area, significant gains were made toward full containment. Enrolled properties are no longer threatened; should the need to re-engaged WDS arise, they are prepared to respond back to the threatened properties.

Virtual Claim Handling

We are helping customers in more ways, and right now that means leveraging technology and offering virtual claim handling when appropriate.

• State Farm encourages customers to take advantage of potential options for virtual inspections or other methods that do not always require a personal inspection with their claims professional (the virtual option is available in most states if legally permitted.)
• State Farm policyholders who have damage from this event can submit and manage their claim through various channels. This includes calling or emailing their State Farm agent, calling 1-800-SFCLAIM, submitting a claim through our mobile app or through our website at statefarm.com/claims.

Homeowners with fire damage can benefit from more virtual ways to file a claim and receive payment to start repairs. State Farm is leveraging technology by providing virtual claim handling options to customers who have damage from Marshall Wildfire, allowing customers to file and track their claim from the convenience of their phone or other electronic devices.

Once a claim is underway, customers can electronically submit photos, video and other claim documentation, and participate in video calls with their claim representative as available. When electronic communication is not available or preferred, we provide in-person claim handling as appropriate.

On average, the American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year, the vast majority of which are home fires. Home fires are not only the most common disaster, but they are also deadly—claiming seven lives every day. Unlike natural disasters, home fires are largely preventable through fire safety education and preparedness.

Pledge to Prepare consists of two steps:

• Practice a 2-minute fire drill at least twice a year
• Test smoke alarms monthly

The Pledge to Prepare site has a downloadable escape plan worksheet which can help families draw out and plan for escape from each room in the house. The site also has step-by-step instructions on how to test smoke alarms and what to do if smoke alarms are not working.

State Farm paid $2.2 billion on nearly 36,000 claims for home fires in 2020.

“As a company, our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life,” said John Burns, Operations Vice President – Fire Claims. “The collaboration between State Farm and American Red Cross on Pledge to Prepare will help spread awareness about steps to diminish the impact of a home fire. It’s another way we are helping communities prepare for the unexpected.”

Please join us by taking the pledge to keep you and your loved ones safe!

Ben's spent his entire life around horses. Riding since he was five years old, Ben’s passion is thoroughbred horses, taking them off the racetrack, rehabilitating and retraining them before finding them new homes. 

So with the wildfires raging in California, Ben found a way to marry his passions and quickly moved to help. With his truck and horse trailer, Ben volunteered his time and resources to help rescue horses caught in the path of wildfires. 

“These fires are devastating,” Ben said. “We are doing everything we can to help.” 

His life-long experience working with horses has been a huge advantage.  

“I showed up at one farm to help a gentleman with 10 horses that needed to evacuate,” Ben said. “There were no halters and the horses hadn’t been in a trailer in years. There were people there to help, but no one had any experience or training in knowing how to get the horses into the trailer.”  

Ben was able to load the horses on the trailer and moved them to safety. He has moved more than 30 horses to safety on his farm and continues to assist where he can.  

In his day job as a State Farm agent in Walnut Creek, California, Ben stresses how residents need to be aware of the severity of the fires and take any necessary precautions.  

“Get out early, listen to evacuation orders, and have a plan in place,” he said.  

In the News:

• KXTV-ABC10:  Davis resident rescues horses from the LNU Lightning Complex fires (8/20/20)

“My mom is 82 years old and her smoke detector was not working,” says Barb Fowler, Normal, Ill., resident. “She’s had a stroke since we made the appointment to get it installed. Now we want to get everything in order for her to come home and recover.”

Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events are part of the Home Fire Campaign with the American Red Cross. During a recent effort in Bloomington and Normal, Ill., volunteers worked alongside fire departments and other local groups to canvass at-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, educate families about fire prevention and safety and fundraise.

State Farm^® partners with the American Red Cross for the Sound the Alarm campaign to educate community members on fire safety while providing a free smoke alarm to help keep them safe in the future. State Farm has provided charitable support to the American Red Cross and chapters throughout the country for the past 30 years, totaling more than $37 million, including investing in the Annual Disaster Giving Program.

State Farm associates volunteered at 51 events in 17 states, installing 10,718 smoke alarms and making 4,853 homes safer this year.

“The video the firefighter presented during training and interactions we had with people throughout the event made me realize how starting a fire and causing mass destruction could happen quickly. But preventing and keeping our families, friends and people in our community safe is a duty for us all,” says Smit Shah, State Farm employee and volunteer.

This year, the American Red Cross' national efforts to install free smoke alarms and educate residents on fire safety have made more than 50,000 households safer. More than 120,000 smoke alarms were installed across more than 100 at-risk communities.

Bev Kilmartin, Normal resident, saw an ad in the local newspaper about the program.

“The batteries went out on my old smoke alarms, and I realized we’d had them for at least 10 years. When I replaced the batteries, I noticed it wasn’t working correctly, so I decided to call and make an appointment,” Bev says.

“As a widow, it gives me a sense of security,” she adds. “If there is this type of program available, we should take advantage of it.”

“Everyone we encountered was friendly and appreciated us coming to assist them with this task,” says Tim Trunnell, State Farm employee and volunteer. “It was a great way to give back to the community and have fun.”

Normal resident Joe Nicklin contacted the Red Cross for an installation appointment because he knew his smoke alarm wasn’t working properly.

“When I light a fire in my fireplace and smoke gets into the house, the alarm doesn’t go off. That made me feel anxious,” he says. “I sleep with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, so I sleep pretty soundly. I needed some peace of mind.”

“After visiting the homes and installing alarms, it makes you realize how unaware people are of the importance of smoke alarms and how these inexpensive devices can help save a precious life,” Smit says.

State Farm^® partnered with the Red Cross on a campaign to educate citizens across the United States on fire safety and install free smoke alarms. Along with local fire departments and other community partners, more than 100,000 smoke alarms were installed in homes across the country.

Ashleigh Brucker has always had a passion for public safety and education. While in college, she interned with the Champaign Fire Department as safety educator.

“I really love the parts of State Farm that are community driven, people driven and focused on making life go right, so when I saw this opportunity to volunteer I immediately signed up,” the State Farm employee in Bloomington, Ill., says.

During the event, volunteers were divided into small groups with one person focused on getting the household details, one person giving safety information and the others checking current smoke alarms or installing new alarms.

Ashleigh took charge of the education portion for her group. The education packets included a checklist about fire safety such as cooking safety and electrical safety, planning escape routes and how and when to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

“It was so awesome that people were willing to open their doors to us,” Ashleigh says. “We often don’t take time out of our busy lives to think about these things.”

Through 426 Sound the Alarm events, with at least one organized in each state, 43,008 homes were made safer with the help of 30,859 volunteers.

Sonja Campbell-Jones, a State Farm employee in Dunwoody, Ga., used the opportunity to network in her new community. “I consider myself a new Georgia resident, even though I’ve been here for five years. I saw this as a great way to get involved and give back to communities at risk,” she says.

Volunteers canvassed at-risk neighborhoods during their events and found many people to be open and appreciative of the services.

Shakema Green, who works for State Farm in Richardson, Texas, and her 16-year-old daughter, Micaiah, often volunteer together.

“I want her to see through volunteering how other families are in different situations,” Shakema says of bringing her daughter to volunteer events. “No one wants to be down and out; no one wants to be in need. If it was me, I’d want someone to help me or educate me. So, it’s me teaching her to not take for granted what you have and to not look down on others who don’t.”

Firefighter Dayna Hilton kneeled down so she could hear five-year-old Angelica’s story. With eyes as round as saucers, the little girl recalled waking up to thick smoke pouring into her bedroom from a fire that was quickly engulfing her home. Angelica pushed the covers off and dropped to the floor, crawling low – just like Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog taught her at school.

As she wiggled across the floor, the five-year-old ran right into her father’s legs. The man was stumbling through the house, disoriented by the smoke and dangerous fumes. Five-year-old Angelica did not panic. She urged her father to get down on the floor with her and to crawl like Sparkles. Together, side by side, they safely escaped…

Helping those who need it most

Angelica learned fire safety training from a woman named Dayna Hilton, a second generation firefighter and certified Public Life Safety Educator. Hilton is the Executive Director of the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation (KKFSF). She and her team of Dalmatian dogs (Molly, Tango and Sparkles) are recognized around the world as leading fire safety educators.

“Our message has been shared with more than one million children,” said Hilton. “For 15 years we’ve used innovative teaching and technology to share our safety message – and now, that includes Skype and social networking.”

Ten years ago, more than 50% of all child fire deaths occurred to those aged four and younger (usfa.fema.gov).

This tragic statistic distressed Hilton and inspired her to establish KKFSF, a non-profit dedicated to teaching fire safety to children. What makes the foundation distinctive is the use of Dalmatian dogs to help deliver fire safety messages to students.

“From the beginning, my primary goal was to reduce fire deaths and injuries among those most at risk -- children,” Hilton said. “Children are attracted to dogs, and using Sparkles, Tango, and Molly as part of our presentation helps them remember what they have learned.”

Hilton calls this attraction, “the power of the paw.” In other words, the dogs’ furry, friendly demeanor keeps children engaged, which in turn, helps them absorb the information they’ve been given.

Innovative Fire Safety Programming

Molly the Fire Safety Dog’s Skype program, Learning about Fire Safety is Fun enables children to learn basic fire safety knowledge. The interactive 30-minute program is free to schools and other organizations throughout the world thanks to a grant from State Farm. The program features the Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog activity book, a safety demonstration by one of the Fire Safety Dogs that teaches skills such as crawling low under smoke, and other activities to engage the students.

According to Hilton, if you were to add the virtual miles the Fire Safety Dogs have traveled, it would equal the distance to the moon and back.

Lives Impacted Forever

Thanks to the fire safety training from Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles, Angelica is now a teenager. When fire broke out at her home on that fateful night…she and her family made it out just in time.

Firefighters on scene reported as soon as the two were whisked away to safety, the home “flashed over” – a term used to describe a home totally engulfed in flames.

These success stories continue to drive Hilton forward. To date, she is aware of eight children and four adults whose lives have been saved because of the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation efforts.

“Our vision is to make the world a safer place, one fire safety presentation at a time,” Hilton says.

And that is worth it all.

Skype with Molly for free!

Thanks to a grant from State Farm, schools and organizations can Skype with Firefighter Dayna and Molly the Fire Safety Dog at no cost. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, click HERE.

To learn more about the work of Molly the Fire Safety Dog and the Keep Kids Fire Safe Foundation, click HERE. Participating schools and organizations receive links to a free, downloadable copy of the Molly’s Fire Safety Skype Program Coloring eBook and bonus materials.

When duty calls, they respond. When faced with danger, they act. When emergency strikes, they come running.

And they always arrive…on four legs.

They’re working dogs. From police, to military, to search and rescue – their mission is to serve and protect others. While the situations and responsibilities differ, each pooch has the same purpose: Help those in need.

But what happens when these courageous canines need help? Tracy Spader of the K9 Defender Fund found an answer.

“I started the K9 Defender Fund in 2013 out of admiration and respect for the work done by military, police, search/rescue and fire dogs,” said Spader. “These K9’s and their handlers put their lives on the line each day and need to be protected if something goes wrong.”

As the mother of an Air Force Captain, Spader has a deep passion for working dog teams. She’s even opened her home to two military dogs, Buddy and Jig. “It’s a privilege to support the K9’s who work tirelessly to protect us,” said Spader. “No matter the circumstances, no matter the injuries, they’re determined to get up every day and do it again.”

A Kit Fit for a K9

That’s why, four years ago, Spader created the Buddy Bag. With the help of two veterinarians (one of whom spent time with the military), the bag contains supplies specially selected to meet the needs of injured animals.

What’s the cost for a first responder who wants to buy a bag?

Zero dollars.

“Many departments like police and military have experienced budget setbacks. So, the organization donates Buddy Bags to working dog teams in need,” said Spader. “When we provide the bags, I require every handler to give me a verbal ‘YES.’ That means they will work with their veterinarian so they know how to properly use the items found in the Buddy Bag.”

To date, more than 600 Buddy Bags have been donated to first responders in 43 states and areas where the US military is active. While Spader hasn’t heard from every department – she knows the bags are making a difference.

“In Kentucky, an officer and his K9 partner were assisting with an arrest. While stopping the suspect, the dog was injured. Luckily the officer had a Buddy Bag and was able to give aid to his partner at the scene. The dog has made a full recovery and is now back to work. Since that incident, the police department is committed to promoting the use of Buddy Bags,” said Spader.

State Farm is a financial supporter of Buddy Bag program and its commitment to assist emergency personnel. At a recent State Farm Arson Dog training, teams not only detected the presence of accelerants like lighter fluid and gasoline at fire scenes, they also learned how to use the Buddy Bags.

“Many animals in this line of work risk being burned through the course of an explosion, fire or accident,” said Spader. “Rescuers are taught how to administer oxygen, how to perform first-aid for injuries, administer lifesaving drugs and how to use other Buddy Bag supplies.”

So what’s next for Buddy Bags?

“We’re staying busy,” said Spader. “We want to keep supporting K9 units by providing adequate supplies. We’re continuing to fundraise and educate. After all, I’ve seen the difference these furry spirits can make in a person’s life. We need to ensure while keeping others safe, they stay safe.”

To learn more about the K9 Defender Fund or to donate, click here.

Wishing you and yours a healthy, happy, SAFE holiday season!

Holiday Decorating Tips

Follow these tips to help keep your home safe:

Candles

• Keep candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface and at least one foot away in all directions from combustible items.
• Don’t leave candles unattended or within reach of children and pets.
• Don’t allow candles to burn to the bottom of their container.
•  Try using “flameless” candles instead.

Lights:

• Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Lights for both indoor and outdoor usage must meet strict requirements that testing laboratories are able to verify.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
• Check outdoor lights for labels showing that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

Selecting and using extension cords:

• Purchase only cords that have been approved by an independent testing laboratory.
• For outdoor projects, use only extension cords marked for outdoor use.
• Avoid powering multiple appliances with one cord.
• Never use indoor extension cords outdoors.
• Don’t plug multiple cords together.
• Don’t run extension cords under rugs or furniture and never staples or nails.
• Stop using extension cords that feel hot to the touch.

Additional Decorating Content Links:

• Your Guide to Safe Holiday Decorating
• How to Avoid a Holiday Decorating Disaster

Holiday Cooking Safety Tips:

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time.
• Never throw water on a kitchen fire.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms.

Turkey Fryer Fires:

• More than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio. Cook outdoors on a flat level surface, at least 10 feet away from any buildings or trees and keep the fryer off any wooden structures, such as a deck or patio.
• Shut off the fuel source or flame when adding the turkey to the hot oil to prevent a dangerous flare-up, which can occur when oil spills over the rim.
• Make sure your turkey is properly thawed and dried before lowering it slowly into the pot.
• Never leave a hot turkey fryer unattended.
• Do not use ice or water to cool down oil or extinguish an oil fire.
• Keep an extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fire nearby.

Additional Holiday Cooking Content Links:​

• Eat, Fry, Love: A Cautionary Remix
• Putting Kitchen Safety First

Holiday Shopping Tips

Parking lots are busy and have increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the holiday season.

• Use identified travel lanes and watch out for others cutting across lanes.
• Slow down and watch out for cars backing up.
• Watch for pedestrians.
• Park away from other vehicles to help avoid door dings.
• Store purchases, packages, and valuables out of sight.
• Always lock your vehicle and take your keys.

Additional Holiday Shopping Content Links:​

• 16 Travel Safety Tips
• Holiday Safety Alert
• Home Safe Home
• Hustle and Bustle and Fire and Burglary - Keep your Home Safe This Holiday Season
• Tips for a Safer Holiday Season

Think back to your school days. Was it easier to memorize a popular song or a vocabulary definition?

The melody, rhyme and rhythm and its universal appeal makes music a powerful teaching tool. Incorporating song into lessons can make it a fantastic resources in any classroom, no matter the age of the student.

For years, fire safety was taught to Lafayette, IN children at their schools. Firemen would share important fire safety messages with the help of sock puppets, trying to hold the children’s attention. This was fairly effective but they did not know if the children retained the message and the number of children reached was limited.

In the early ‘90s, the Lafayette Fire Department added fire safety songs from a CD the Phoenix, AZ Fire Department recorded. The AZ team created the songs by changing lyrics to popular songs on the radio.

The central Indiana firemen were amazed at how quickly the kids picked up the new lyrics and the messages they carried. So in 1994 with help from a grant by State Farm they moved their fire safety program to a downtown theater, added some live characters (the firemen in costume) and bused hundreds of students from local schools to watch and learn.

State Farm has continued to provide grants for 22 years in an effort to help these Firemen reach as many kids as possible.

“It was an exciting time for the firemen” stated Fire Fighter Jerry Reynolds. “We felt we were making a huge impact in fire safety education.” But the firemen weren’t satisfied, they had bigger dreams.

The Firehouse Band comes together

Three years later, seven firemen from both the Lafayette and West Lafayette Fire Departments formed the Firehouse Band. The kids were mesmerized by the live performances. Teachers reported weeks later the kids were still singing the lyrics. The Firehouse Band knew they found their niche. With the larger show, more volunteers were needed and up to 20 State Farm associates participated in various roles each year.

Teachers requested recordings to be played year round, so the band produced their first CD. The signup for classrooms for the following year’s October shows exploded and the band had to move the show to an even bigger venue. They had morning and afternoon shows with anywhere from 500 to 1,000 Pre-K to 2^nd graders from all over the county attend.

The first songs were borrowed from the Phoenix band with licensing dates. Later, the Indiana band decided to write their own songs. They produced a second CD and developed an accompanying DVD.

Pushing the fire safety envelope

But they weren’t done yet. They brought in more characters played by other firefighters. They performed skits to show the message. Each skit was followed by a song to reinforce the message.

“The combination was perfect,” shared Shelly Tucker, a first grade teacher. “My kids sang the songs for days after going to the show. They still remember the words the following year as sing along during the show!”

“The message is in the music,” Jerry said. Jerry has been a part of the safety teachings since the puppet days.

“I watch the high school kids that once went through the show as a young child walk into the auditorium while we are rehearsing,” Ron Ritchey, the Assistant Fire Chief shared. “They sing the songs out loud - they still remember the message.”

Since the early 90’s, the band has performed for more than 100,000 children. Their main focus is their nine shows each October for National Fire Safety week. But the band has played in many different venues, like the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and Riley Children’s Hospital. And they bring their cast of 20 characters like Mike and Minnie Match, Louie and Luigi Lighter and Sparky the Fire Dog with them.

”As a student I was lucky enough to attend the Fire Safety Show,” says Elizabeth Claxton, now a third grade teacher. “It left a lasting impression on me and now as a teacher, I teach my students using the CD’s and videos that have the same songs and skits I learned from when I was a kid”.

In central Indiana, these committed firemen are leaving a lasting legacy of safety.

Eleven days later, the house burnt down when a candle caught a box of clothing on fire. Luckily, the smoke alarm sounded in one of the bedrooms. The entire family escaped to safety thanks to their gift from the Red Cross and State Farm.

Home Fire Preparedness Arms Families

The American Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign rolled out across the country in October, 2014. The goal? To reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years by installing smoke alarms for families who need them.

Across the country, the Red Cross, along with local fire departments and community groups, are canvassing neighborhoods and teaching people about fire safety.

Bloomington, Ill. (November 19, 2015) — Annually, hundreds of homes sustain smoke and fire damage from cooking fires, but these incidents increase dramatically during the holiday season. Because many families and friends gather in the kitchen during the holidays it is important to follow some cooking safety tips to keep your kitchen free of fire risks and hazards.

Chef Alejandra Schrader and State Farm share how to cook up a delicious holiday recipe while staying safe in the kitchen. Alejandra's culinary training started during her childhood years in Venezuela alongside her mother and grandmother who also taught her the basics of kitchen safety.

"Cooking is such an important part of our families and Hispanic traditions, but being aware of how easily a fire could start is also important. That's why I'm excited to work with State Farm to share easy ways to stay safe while still bringing the family into the heart of the home," said Chef Alejandra. "Whether making everyday meals or preparing a special holiday recipe for tamales, my family observed safe kitchen practices so that everyone, including children, could participate in the process."

In November and December of 2014, State Farm received an average of 18 claims daily related to cooking fires. That number nearly doubled on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. While claims associated with holiday cooking fires have not increased since 2013, damage to property and risk of injury remains. In addition, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 1,000 home structure fires every day and more than two of every five (43 percent) reported home fires from 2009-2013 started in the kitchen or cooking area.

Oil is a key item found in the majority of today's kitchens. Whether a recipe calls for frying or sautéing, we include oil in almost all of our daily cooking. A study published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found 75 percent of range or stove fires started with food ignitions. Forty-three percent began with cooking oil; 33 percent started with fish or meat. Sixty-three percent of the range or stove fires beginning with food occurred when someone was frying.

As the family gathers around the kitchen this season, here are some easy steps for cooking safety and a Recipe4Safety card you can download for your own kitchen.

Cooking in the Kitchen Safety Tips

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. It's important to be alert to prevent cooking fires.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food
• Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot.
• Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water on a kitchen fire.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.

About Chef Alejandra Schrader

Alejandra Schrader is the owner and head chef of Alejandra's Natural Foods, a private chef business and the brand behind her Seasoning Blends. Known as "The Queen of Spice," she's one of the pro-chefs featured on NBC's primetime show Food Fighters. In 2011, she captured the hearts of Master Chef fans on season two of the hit FOX TV show. Passionate about food, she embarked on a journey to create and develop nutritious dishes with bold flavors and textures. Her blog Cook Global. Eat at Home! allows her to share healthy recipes with followers and fellow foodies. With her vibrant genuine love for food, Alejandra has traveled around the U.S. and abroad to support the work of small farmers and to promote healthy eating, biodiversity, and sustainable farming practices. She currently works as an Ambassador for Oxfam America.

A beautiful autumn day in Western Pennsylvania could have turned fatal for a local resident had it not been for the heroic actions of Renno Young.

Eighteen year-old Renno, of Bethel Park will graduate in January 2015 from the local High School. On October 3, his usual trip from the Steel Center for Career and Technical Education to the school turned eventful.

Intending to stop at his home, Renno turned down his street and noticed flames and smoke billowing from a neighbor’s house. As he got closer, he could see someone trying to open the garage door of the nearly engulfed house.

Flames were shooting all around the garage. Young stopped his car and jumped into action, running up the driveway and opening the garage door. A cloud of smoke came from the garage, revealing the trapped woman. He carried her from the burning home and called 9-1-1.

The woman was wearing a burnt oxygen mask. Young retuned to the burning home with another neighbor and carried more than 20 oxygen canisters away from the house. They averted another incident, the heated tanks could have become explosive missiles.

Paramedics transported the homeowner to a Pittsburgh area hospital in serious, but stable, condition. The fire completely destroyed her house.

Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dave Gerber said the fire likely started in the lower level of the house. Seven fire companies responded, but could only attack the fire from the outside, due to the risk of additional oxygen tanks in the home.

“Had it not been for the actions of Mr. Young, this would have likely been a fatality. He is truly a hero,” the Fire Chief shared.

Renno’s State Farm agent, Chuck Falkowski, treated the young man to lunch, expressing his appreciation for Renno’s actions.

“This young man is so deserving of this recognition, it is an honor to have him and his family as part of the State Farm family,” the agent shared.

Renno doesn’t consider himself a hero and didn’t think twice before jumping into action. He calls his actions, “divine intervention.” Very humble about the entire incident, Renno, who works for his family’s restaurant, quietly asked his agent how to get the smoky smell from his car.

The Municipality of Bethel Park and the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company recently recognized Renno for his heroic actions by presenting him with a Medal of Valor and a certificate at a council meeting.

The alarm sounded just as Joyce Miller was about to step out the front door. Her first reaction wasn’t panic, but confusion – there was no burning smell, no heat coming from anywhere on the first floor. But when she went to the second floor, she looked into a bedroom and saw flames stretched from floor to ceiling.

She closed the door on the flames and ran downstairs, calling out for her five cats, hoping to get them to safety before the fire reached the rest of the house. As she looked for her pets, the alarm company called to confirm there was a fire, telling her they had dispatched the local Harrods Creek (Ky.) Fire Department.

Knowing she didn’t have much time, Miller quickly put one cat in the car and backed the car out of the garage. She found another cat and put it in the garage with the doors closed. But try as she might, she couldn’t find the other three cats.

“Common sense comes into play and you realize you have to get out,” Miller said. Hoping the cats were safe wherever they were hiding, Miller hurried out the back door.

A Lesson From Her Neighbor

Miller installed a home monitoring system in her Prospect, KY home at the recommendation of her State Farm agent.

“I had always wanted to do that,” Miller said. “But it’s one of those things you put off.”

Miller and her late husband were longtime customers of State Farm. Denny Vogel, the Miller’s State Farm agent, said he often talks to customers about the benefits of a home monitoring system. But the most powerful selling point is the endorsement of a friend or neighbor who had an experience (burglary) like Miller’s.

“I definitely use it as an example, especially in this neighborhood,” Vogel said.

“I don’t think I realized how great a monitored fire alarm system was,” Miller said, “until the morning of December 11, 2013.”

A Matter Of Minutes

The fire department arrived at 8:08 a.m., just six minutes after receiving the call from ADT. They saw smoke coming from the eaves beneath the roof and worried the fire had spread to the attic.

Firefighters proceeded upstairs to the bedroom where they found a mattress engulfed in flames, caused by a malfunctioning electrical outlet. They knocked down the flames and dragged the bed downstairs into the yard to finish putting out the fire. Though it seemed like an eternity to Miller, it took just 90 minutes for firefighters to save her home.

She found two of the missing cats under a bed downstairs. The other emerged from the basement when the ruckus died down. Now, three months later, repairs to the house are almost complete, and Miller and her cats are getting back to normal.

If a home security system had not been present, it is possible Miller would not have heard an alarm at all and would have continued to leave her home that morning. And she might have inadvertently left the fire to grow. She could have come home to nothing but ashes.

“Even if she had battery operated smoke detectors, nobody would have been there to hear them,” said Major Steven Hanson of the Harrods Creek Fire Department. “We could get there in five minutes or less, but if a fire’s been cooking for 45 minutes, there’s not much to save when we get there.”

The alarm sounded just as Joyce Miller was about to step out the front door. Her first reaction wasn’t panic, but confusion – there was no burning smell, no heat coming from anywhere on the first floor. But when she went to the second floor, she looked into a bedroom and saw flames stretched from floor to ceiling.

She closed the door on the flames and ran downstairs, calling out for her five cats, hoping to get them to safety before the fire reached the rest of the house. As she looked for her pets, the alarm company called to confirm there was a fire, telling her they had dispatched the local Harrods Creek (Ky.) Fire Department.

Knowing she didn’t have much time, Miller quickly put one cat in the car and backed the car out of the garage. She found another cat and put it in the garage with the doors closed. But try as she might, she couldn’t find the other three cats.

“Common sense comes into play and you realize you have to get out,” Miller said. Hoping the cats were safe wherever they were hiding, Miller hurried out the back door.

A Lesson From Her Neighbor

Miller installed a home monitoring system in her Prospect, KY home at the recommendation of her State Farm agent.

“I had always wanted to do that,” Miller said. “But it’s one of those things you put off.”

Miller and her late husband were longtime customers of State Farm. Denny Vogel, the Miller’s State Farm agent, said he often talks to customers about the benefits of a home monitoring system. But the most powerful selling point is the endorsement of a friend or neighbor who had an experience (burglary) like Miller’s.

“I definitely use it as an example, especially in this neighborhood,” Vogel said.

“I don’t think I realized how great a monitored fire alarm system was,” Miller said, “until the morning of December 11, 2013.”

A Matter Of Minutes

The fire department arrived at 8:08 a.m., just six minutes after receiving the call from ADT. They saw smoke coming from the eaves beneath the roof and worried the fire had spread to the attic.

Firefighters proceeded upstairs to the bedroom where they found a mattress engulfed in flames, caused by a malfunctioning electrical outlet. They knocked down the flames and dragged the bed downstairs into the yard to finish putting out the fire. Though it seemed like an eternity to Miller, it took just 90 minutes for firefighters to save her home.

She found two of the missing cats under a bed downstairs. The other emerged from the basement when the ruckus died down. Now, three months later, repairs to the house are almost complete, and Miller and her cats are getting back to normal.

If a home security system had not been present, it is possible Miller would not have heard an alarm at all and would have continued to leave her home that morning. And she might have inadvertently left the fire to grow. She could have come home to nothing but ashes.

“Even if she had battery operated smoke detectors, nobody would have been there to hear them,” said Major Steven Hanson of the Harrods Creek Fire Department. “We could get there in five minutes or less, but if a fire’s been cooking for 45 minutes, there’s not much to save when we get there.”