Neighborhood beat

I was laying in bed last night around 10:00 (yeah, I know, but I had to get up and run 20 miles this morning), when I heard what sounded like fireworks. I got up to look out the front window and saw flames up over the trees on the house across the lake. Total loss, but no one was injured. No word on a cause yet. The fire dept was getting on the scene about the time I got outside.

Dustin McDaniel released a timely consumer alert on Friday about fire related deaths (we rank number 1 in the nation in them). Here are six easy preventable measures from the AG's office:
1. Install smoke alarms.
2. Never leave food unattended on a stove.
3. Devise a family fire escape plan.
4. Never leave lit candles unattended.
5. Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects.
6. If you choose to smoke in the home, make sure you extinguish cigarettes and don’t leave them unattended.