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CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis: Prevent a Holiday Fire with These Top Five Safety Tips

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Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is reminding Floridians to take steps to prevent a fire during the holidays. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an annual average of 200 home structure fires start with a Christmas tree resulting in an average of six deaths, 16 injuries and nearly $15 million in damages. In addition, 58 percent of Christmas tree fires occur in January and February when a tree is often neglected and becomes dry.
“In the midst of our holiday traditions, we tend to forget the dangers that a dry and improperly placed Christmas tree can pose to the safety of our families and neighbors,” said CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “It only takes a matter of seconds for a dry Christmas tree and its surrounding furnishings to catch fire. Keep your trees watered, placed in a safe area and have them immediately removed from the home following your holiday festivities.”  
Be sure to remember these top five fire safety tips to help prevent a Christmas tree fire from ruining your holiday:
1. Make sure your tree is healthy. Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
2. Keep the tree away from sources of heat within the home. Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any fireplaces, radiators, candles or heat sources.
3. Keep your tree hydrated. After your tree is up, add water to the tree stand and be sure to add water daily.
4. Decorate the tree with the proper lighting. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree and inspect your lights and accessories to make sure there aren’t any broken bulbs or damaged wiring. 
5. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t exceed the recommended number of light strands that can be connected to one another and make sure you are using indoor and outdoor lights when appropriate.

State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis Releases Top 7 Fire Safety Tips for Thanksgiving

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According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home cooking fires. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis released the following seven safety tips to avoid a holiday disaster.
“While holidays are filled with laughter and family memories, any firefighter can tell you how quickly they can become a disaster,” said CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “Although you can’t completely eliminate your fire risk, there are simple steps to take to avoid a tragedy.” 
  1. If you fry a turkey, do it away from the home. Put the turkey fryer the farthest you can from your home and keep it on a level surface. The smallest spark can ignite a fire.
  2. Thaw the bird completely when frying. Ice or water mixed with hot oil is a major fire hazard.
  3. Don’t overfill the fryer. Filling the fryer to the top with oil can cause oil to spill over and ignite.
  4. Monitor the oil temperature. When cooking oil is heated beyond its smoke point it can catch fire.
  5. Get a fire extinguisher. A Class K (kitchen type) or grease-rated extinguisher is the best option. Never leave the fryer unattended.
  6. Pay attention to the stove. Turn in handles of pots on the stove to avoid scalding hot food from spilling.
  7. Check the kitchen floors. Keep the kitchen free from toys and pets to avoid accidents.

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis Offers Full Florida Support to Texas Counterparts

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Tuesday evening, CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis spoke to Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy with Texas’ Department of Insurance and offered the full support and resources of Florida’s fire service community to assist with Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
“Even in the heart of a devastating situation, Fire Marshal Connealy remains optimistic about recovery efforts thus far, and was grateful for the support of Florida and other states as Texas begins to pick up the pieces following the worst storm in recent memory,” said CFO Patronis. “We know recovery is measured not in days or weeks, but in months and even years, and we’re prepared to support Texas recovery efforts for the long haul.”
As waters slowly start to recede in Texas, CFO Patronis is also offering the full resources of Florida’s experienced insurance fraud investigators, who are trained to combat scams that are common following natural disasters, such as rampant unlicensed contracting and fake FEMA representatives who attempt to charge for assistance with the filing of federal flood insurance claims.
“After disaster, families should be free to focus on their health and safety, without worrying about the possibility of scammers wanting to take even more away from them than what they’ve already lost,” said CFO Patronis. “Our investigators have years of experience dealing with these types of opportunistic scammers, and we know how to track them and take them down. As the next phases of recovery come into focus, we stand ready to put more boots on the ground.”
Additionally, CFO Patronis and Fire Marshal Connealy forged a partnership to allow Florida officials to participate in Texas’ future after-action activities. This partnership will offer Florida a unique opportunity to learn valuable information about successful disaster recovery strategies and strategies that could be improved upon for future storms.
“Hurricane Harvey could easily have hit Florida’s shores, and I believe there’s much that can be learned from our Texas counterparts. I thank Texas officials for offering Florida a seat at the table to learn, to share best practices, and to improve upon our own Florida strategies ahead of the next storm.”