Community Safety Alert
Arson Fire Safety Precautions for Owners and Managers of Apartments and Other Buildings

September, 2005

During the past few weeks several arson fires have been started in Redwood City. All of these fires occurred at night, were set in apartment buildings, and were most frequently started in carports, laundry rooms, storage areas, garbage containers, and other common areas. Fortunately, the quick action of the Fire Department has limited these fires from spreading and injuring residents.

You can help us to protect the community, property, and lives by cooperating with the Redwood City Fire Department and Police Department and by carrying out these safety precautions. Please read these carefully, and provide these safety precautions to all of your tenants, and/or post copies of this sheet throughout your building.

• Advise all tenants of the recent string of arson fires and ask for their cooperation in carrying out these precautions.
• Immediately report to the police any suspicious activity, vehicles, or persons to
  780-7100.
• Immediately report any actual or attempted fires by calling 911.
• Do not allow the storage or accumulation of easily combustible material such as furniture, clothing, junk, weeds, etc., particularly in or around carports, laundry rooms, garbage areas, water heaters, underneath stairways, or in common areas.
• Repair ceilings and walls in carport areas to restore their ability to resist fire.
• Store all fuels, propane cylinders, gas cans, garden machinery, charcoal, barbecue lighters, matches, and other ignition devices in a safe and secure manner.
• Lock dumpsters at night and do not store trash containers under overhangs, in stairways, or in carports.
• Advise your tenants that all parked vehicles, including those in carports, should be locked.
• Limit access to laundry rooms, entrance ways, and other common areas by locking doors - especially at night and on weekends.
• Make sure all fire extinguishers are easily accessible and in good working condition.
• Make sure that smoke detectors are installed where needed and that all of your smoke detectors are in good working condition.
• Eliminate areas that could be used as a hiding place by an arsonist.
• Make sure all emergency exits are clear
• Have an emergency evacuation plan in place and make it known to your tenants.
• Perform safety checks on your property on a daily basis - particularly on weekends.
• Consider installing security cameras in high-risk areas
• Consider pre-connecting a garden hose with a nozzle to a faucet for quick access in case of fire.
• Ensure that your address is plainly visible from the street to aid firefighters in locating your property in the event of a fire.