Resource Center

Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10, 2026)

Fire Prevention starts with YOU!  Join us for Fire Prevention Week 2026 as we “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower™” learn simple steps to help prevent fires and keep your loved ones safe. Explore important fire and life safety tips that empower you to protect your family, your home, and our community.

Fires still cause deaths every year. From 2021 - 2025, there were 86 building fires in the City of Arcadia. Nationally from 2020 – 2024 local fire departments across the nation responded to an estimated annual average 46,652 residential structure fires where either an electrical failure or malfunction was reported as a factor contributing to ignition.

• Residential fires involving an electrical failure or malfunction cause an estimated annual average 527 civilian deaths, 1,580 civilian injuries, and an estimated $2.4 billion in direct property damage each year in 2020 – 2024.
• Residential fires account for almost 20% of all home structure fires deaths each year. Direct property damage caused by these fires accounted for approximately 15% of all home structure fires.
• Home electrical fires occurred in:
  • Kitchen or cooking area (15% of the total)
  • Bedroom (12%)
  • Attic or ceiling (9%)

(Source: NFPA Research)

Your charging habits can make a big difference when it comes to preventing fires.

Check out these safe charging tips: 

1. Cheap charger? Don't chance it. 
Stick with the charger that came with your device or ones approved by the manufacturer. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery and increase the risk of fire. 

2. Soft surface? Hard pass. 
Beds, couches, and pillows are a no-go. Charge on a hard, flat surface to keep your device cool and allow proper airflow. 

3. Full charged? Time to unplug. 
Unplug your device when it is fully charged. 

4. For tools and rides, charge outside. 
Charge large items like e-bikes scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging. These batteries store more energy, and fires can grow quickly if they fail.

5. Feels hot? Stop using it. 
Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sounds. 

6. On a flight? Keep it in sight.
When on a plane, keep devices where you can see them while charging. 

Click here for more information on how you can reduce risk around your home and keep our community safer!

Business Owner Beware!  

Click here for a notice about fraudulent fire extinguisher service companies.

Safety Awareness at Home

Keep your family safe from fire.  Be aware of the potential hazards in your home.  Be sure to have an escape plan for the family.  Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan.  Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Click here for more tips on fire safety in the home.

Smoke Alarm Tips

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics show that working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half. However, they must be working properly to be effective. The association’s data shows that many homes have smoke alarms that are not working or maintained properly, usually because of missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

NFPA and the Arcadia Fire Department agree that interconnected smoke alarms offer the best protection; when one sounds, they all do. This is particularly important in larger or multi-story homes, where the sound from distant smoke alarms may be reduced to the point that it may not be loud enough to provide proper warning, especially for sleeping individuals.

Here are some tips for making sure smoke alarms are maintained and working properly:

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
• If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they’re 10 years old (or sooner) if they do not respond properly when tested.
• Never remove or disable a smoke alarm.

Elevator

Elevators that are not current on state certification or complaints on non-operability should be reported to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Division of Occupational Safety and Health at (909) 889-6395. Elevators are not a method of exiting when there is an emergency. If you are ever stuck in an elevator, please dial 911 for assistance. Additionally, please familiarize yourself with all your exit stairwells and exits that lead to the public way. All exits shall be clear from obstructions, clearly marked, and accessible at all times.

Knox Box

 

Knox boxes can be purchased directly through the Knox Company by contacting them at (800) 552-5669 or by visiting their website at knoxbox.com.