LAKEPORT, Calif. – Anglers reeled in hefty catches during the third annual Konocti Vista Casino Bass Classic.

The tournament took place Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3.

On the lake in the minutes before dawn on Saturday, multiple fishermen set a course for the Rodman Slough end of the lake.

That's where Saturday’s biggest fish was caught by Preston Henson of Vacaville. Henson pulled the fish from the lake near the mouth at Rodman just minutes after he arrived at the spot.

Takeoff and Saturday’s biggest fish can be seen in the video above shot at Konocti Vista Marina and Rodman.

After weigh-in on Sunday an awards presentation took place at the casino and the following winners were recognized with cash and trophies for their big catches.

• First place: Paul Bailey and Jackson Juarez, 68.02 pounds.
• Second place: Wade Durling and Wade Durling Jr., 62.26 pounds.
• Third place: Ryan German and Firuz Giaztulliin, 61.62 pounds.
• Fourth place: Mark Mendez and Dave Salis, 58.52 pounds.
• Fifth place: Bryan Trudeau and Dan Frost, 58.02 pounds.
• Sixth place: Mike Collins and Charlie Collins, 57.46 pounds.
• Seventh place: Gary Collins and Jason Kincanon, 57.17 pounds.

Watch the weigh-in and awards video below.

Email John Jensen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In an effort to reduce the chronic health problems seen in Lake County, public health officials have released a new booklet offering a series of practical steps to gaining better health.

“Climb to the Peak of Health” presents Lake County residents with a tool to “identify simple and practical ways to improve personal health and to contribute to the overall health of others,” according to a message Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait posted on her agency's Web site.

Pointing to research on Lake County's health issues – such as that contained in the 2010 Lake County Health Needs Assessment and county health status profiles – Tait told Lake County News that the county has many health challenges.

Those challenges include among the worst ratings statewide for the incidences of lung cancer, coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease, accidents, motor vehicle traffic crashes, suicide and drug-induced deaths.

Among those health concerns, Tait said the health needs assessment helped identify key public health priorities: mental and emotional health, wellness activities, senior support services and substance abuse.

Based on those findings, the Lake County Health Services Department collaborated with a “health policy cabinet” – which included interested community leaders – to develop the new “Climb to the Peak of Health" booklet.

Tait said the “Climb to the Peak of Health” message will be the theme for the county's work on preventing chronic health problems.

The booklet can be downloaded at http://health.co.lake.ca.us/ .

Tait said the booklet uses the opening of the trails on Mt. Konocti as a metaphor for the journey to better health.

It offers examples and gives some practice “baby steps” that people can take in making minor but significant changes in their lives, she said.

For each of the health priorities, the booklet offers milestones and paths to wellness for individuals, schools, businesses and community groups.

Among the basics for individuals – exercise, get regular health screenings, manage stress, volunteer and attend to spiritual needs.

For schools, businesses and community groups, the suggestions are taken further. They include developing support networks, offering learning opportunities and addressing nutritional issues – including the creation of food banks.

Tait said the effort is being supported thanks to a federal Community Transformation Grant, for which Susan Jen – with administrative support from Adventist Health – successfully applied.

That grant will be used over the next few years to promote the Climb to the Peak of Health approach as well as other activities that Tait said are intended to reduce Lake County's chronic disease burden.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Earth’s radiation belts were one of the first discoveries of the Space Age. A new finding published in today’s issue of Science shows that we still have much to learn about them.

NASA’s twin Van Allen Probes, launched just last August, have revealed a previously unknown third radiation belt around Earth.

“Even 55 years after their discovery, Earth’s radiation belts still are capable of surprising us,” said Nicky Fox, Van Allen Probes deputy project scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. “We thought we knew the radiation belts, but we don’t.”

Previous observations of the Van Allen belts dating back to the late 1950s have documented two distinct regions of trapped radiation surrounding our planet, known as the inner and outer radiation belts.

Particle sensors aboard the twin Van Allen Probes quickly revealed to scientists the existence of a transient, third radiation belt.

Scientists observed the third belt for four weeks before a powerful interplanetary shock wave from the sun annihilated it.

Each of the two Van Allen Probes carries an identical set of five instrument suites that allow scientists to gather data on the belts in unprecedented detail.

Key data for this discovery came from the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope (REPT) instrument, part of the probes’ Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite (ECT).

“This is the first time we have had such high-resolution instruments look at time, space and energy together in the outer belt,” said Daniel Baker, lead author of the study and REPT instrument lead at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado in Boulder. “Previous observations of the outer radiation belt resolved it as a single blurry element. When we turned REPT on just two days after launch, we clearly saw the new belt and a [gap] between it and the outer belt.”

Back in the 1950s when the radiation belts were discovered, they had little effect on ordinary people. Today the radiation belts are crucial to our high-tech society.

Hundreds of satellites used for everything from weather prediction to GPS to television routinely skim the belts, subjecting themselves to energetic particles that can damage solar panels and short-circuit sensitive electronics.

During geomagnetic storms when the belts are swollen by solar activity, whole fleets of satellites can be engulfed, imperiling the technological underpinnings of daily life on the planet below. The Van Allen Probes directly address these down-to-Earth problems

“The fantastic new capabilities and advances in technology in the Van Allen Probes allow scientists to see in unprecedented detail how the radiation belts are populated with charged particles, what causes them to change, and how they affect the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere,” said John Grunsfeld, NASA’s associate administrator for science in Washington DC.

For more information about the Van Allen Probes, visit www.nasa.gov/vanallenprobes .

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Members of Kelseyville High School's Academic Decathlon team are in the final days of preparation before they set out to compete against teams from around California.
 
Team members Eduardo Alatorre, Blair Brookes, Jennifer Johnson, Daniel Lucas, Caitlin Meisle, Onnivin Pelzel, Maeve Rixen, David Robinson, Helen Ryan, Amanda Spitzer, Tatiana Taranenko and Maxwell Whitaker, along with coaches Erick Larsen and Heather Koschik, will travel to Sacramento for the event.

Junior Blair Brookes said she and her teammates will leave at lunch this Thursday, March 14, to go to the state competition, which will take place over several days, concluding on Sunday, March 17. The competition topic is Russia.

“We're ready to go,” said Kelseyville High School Principal Matt Cockerton.

Over the past decade, Upper Lake has dominated the local Academic Decathlon, with Lower Lake High another top contender whose team took turns representing Lake County at the state competition.

Cockerton said Kelseyville's team had been out of the county competition for at least four years before returning in 2012 to take second place, the prelude to winning the event this past February.

The team needed an estimated $7,000 to attend the state meet, with some of those costs being covered by the Kelseyville Unified School District, Kelseyville High School and the Lake County Office of Education, as Lake County News has reported.

Additionally, Kelseyville Unified Board Trustee Gary Olson spearheaded a community fundraiser to support the team. Cockerton said the effort went very well and raised about $1,700. Cockerton thanked everyone who donated to support the team's trip.

Brookes said Upper Lake High School conducted a fundraiser for the winning team during the county competition that was held in Upper Lake, and contributed those funds toward Kelseyville's trip. Local with Rotary and Interact clubs also donated.

Cockerton called the team “a unique group” that has taken responsibility for organizing itself and its study sessions.

Brookes, who most enjoys the speech part of the competition thanks to her 4-H and FFA experience, said the team members all have different strengths. “It makes a good team,” she said. “We can really help each other a lot.”

She said she likes the aspect of working with the team and learning so much from different people.

Senior Helen Ryan, who competes in the honors division – which requires a grade point average of 3.75 or above – said much of the preparation involves the students studying on their own. She said she's spent about eight hours a week studying, but some of her teammates are doing a lot more.

Both she and Brookes explained that team members are dividing up sections to study and then presenting them to each other during their daily lunch meetings.

Ryan said they just finished the social science presentations and will focus on math this week.

Brookes said one part of the competition already has taken place – last week their took their computerized writing test.

Cockerton credited Larsen and Koschik for their coaching efforts, and for making themselves available at all times to the students. “I can’t say enough about Erick and Heather and how they’ve handled the whole thing.”

Brookes, who also competes in the honors division, called the team's coaches “fantastic,” adding, “They really don't settle for mediocrity at all,” but still manage to make the competition enjoyable.

Ryan said it's been a fun experience working with Koschik and Larsen. Since it's their first time prepping a team for the state competition, “we've all been making it up as we go along, for the most part.”

She added, “They're both incredibly supportive of everyone on the team, and they've taken an amazing amount of personal time to help us prepare. Best part, they bring food to all of our meetings.”

Ryan considered the language and literature section her strongest part of the competition, adding that she's very interested in the history of Russia. “History in general fascinates me, and Russia has thousands of years of history to learn. It's a big section, but an interesting one.”

The most enjoyable part of the competition for Ryan so far was the Super Quiz. “It's the one event where you just have to hope that all of the random trivia you've memorized will come in handy, there's no set guide to preparing for it. It's a little terrifying, and I found the county one to be very exciting.”

She said she's enjoyed spending time with the team, and their small prep events have been fun.

As she prepares for the trip to Sacramento, Ryan noted, “I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited that I have a chance to compete at the state level.”

Brookes anticipates an “intense weekend” of competition.

She said the team has a lot of natural talent and that, combined with hard work, should see good results.

“We're definitely trying to do our best,” and hope to represent Lake County well, Brookes said.

Cockerton said anyone who would still like to donate to the team's trip can send checks in any amount to the Kelseyville Unified School District, 4410 Konocti Road, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – March is National Nutrition Month, a nutrition and information education campaign sponsored each year by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

For some older adults, food choices sometimes are not an option, with low-income seniors having to make painful decisions, such as spending money on medications instead of food.

No senior citizen should go hungry in our community, however, hunger among our elderly population is a growing crisis. Hunger rates have more than doubled for low-income seniors in the United States in the last few years.

In the U.S., there are over five million seniors who grapple with hunger issues, almost three million seniors who are at risk of not having enough to eat, and nearly one million seniors who go hungry because they cannot afford to buy food.

Ongoing hunger and malnutrition can cause chronic diseases that result in expensive hospitalizations and nursing home or other long-term care placements.

Thirty-eight percent of seniors dealing with inadequate food and nutrition have incomes below the federal poverty level.

In addition to the impact of poverty on hunger, several other factors come in to play, such as renting versus homeownership, age, living alone, and raising a grandchild.

Studies reveal that households supporting a grandchild are about two-and-a-half times as likely to have food shortages as households without grandchildren.

In these challenging economic times, it is not surprise that there are increasing numbers of older Americans who do not have enough to eat.

Baby boomers began turning 65 in 2011, and those between the ages of 60 to 69 have the highest risk of hunger.

Lack of proper nutrients significantly increases the chances of poor health, which not only diminishes the quality of life, but also increases utilization of health care services, early long-term care placements, and an increased risk of death.

The Area Agency on Aging supports local home-delivered meals programs in Lake and Mendocino Counties, providing over 400 meals seven days per week. Home-delivered meals are taken, often by volunteers, directly to an older adult’s residence.

Meals are delivered to these individuals because they are typically homebound due to disability, illness or geographic location. The meals are paid for by Older Americans Act funding, donations and sometimes by contributions from the individuals receiving the meals.

In 1972, the Older Americans Act added a “congregate meals” program (served at facilities such as community and senior centers). The home-delivered meals program was added in 1978.

The purposes of these programs are to:

• Promote the health and well-being of older individuals;
• Delay adverse health conditions through access to nutrition and other disease prevention and health promotion services;
• Promote socialization of older individuals.

Thanks to the contracted service partners and volunteers who provide these vital meal programs: Anderson Valley Senior Center, Highlands Senior Center, Lakeport Senior Center, Live Oak Seniors, Middletown Senior Center, Redwood Coast Seniors and South Coast Senior Center.

These organizations help reduce hunger and food insecurity for local seniors.

For more information on senior nutrition, congregate meals sites and home-delivered meal programs in your area, contact the Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Information and Assistance staff at 800-510-2020 or 707-468-5132.

Todd Metcalf is the Adult Services Program manager at the Department of Social Services for Lake County, Calif.

NICE, Calif. – Two Nice residents were injured early Saturday morning when the vehicle in which they were riding went off the highway and overturned.

Daniel Poe, 28, and Nicole Ventura, 31, both sustained serious injuries in the crash, which occurred at about 2:10 a.m. Saturday on Highway 20 east of Reclamation Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Poe was driving a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix eastbound on Highway 20 with Ventura riding as his passenger in the rear passenger seat, the CHP report said.

For reasons that the CHP said are still under investigation, Poe drove the vehicle off the highway's south shoulder, where the car overturned.

The CHP said Poe sustained moderate injuries in the crash, with Ventura suffering major injuries.

Both were transported from the scene by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, as Lake County News previously reported.

Poe and Ventura both were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, and alcohol does not appear to be a factor, the CHP said.

The CHP said the crash remains under investigation by Officer Matt Norton.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – To address the challenges of being in business in a sluggish economy, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce has formed an Economic Development Committee.

Under the leadership of Chair Barbara Flynn, the committee will initiate an outreach program where members survey local businesses to get answers to a number of business-related questions, including the positives and negatives of doing business in Lake County.

The goal will be to identify the hurdles that businesses must clear and respond to their needs, with the goal being to ultimately create and retain jobs in Lake County.

The committee will work in collaboration with other local business groups, the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, county officials, the Small Business Development Center at Yuba College and the California Association for Local Economic Development.

The committee also will address the need for free training in computer use, Web site building and use of social media for business owners to be able to compete in the current market.

The group is looking for available training for employees in both the sales and the hospitality business that will improve customer service and lead to more local shopping and dining, which will help retain existing businesses and create new ones.

The chamber reported that the committee is looking forward to all the communities in Lake County working together in a collaborative effort to retain and attract businesses and grow our economy to provide for a better quality of life.

Members of the committee are Barbara Flynn, chamber director, Brick Oven Pizza and Bellissimo! Wine Country Catering; Anthony O’Brien, Top Speed Data; Jim Magliulo, president Lake County Chamber, CPS Country Air, Wine Barrel Crafting; Armand Pauly, Polestar Computers; Claude Brown, Westgate Petroleum; Claudia Street, Lake County Farm Bureau; Pam Harpster, Workforce Lake; Jack Buell, chamber director, Sutter Lakeside Hospital; Carole Cole-Lewis, Thrive Lake County; Bill Kearney, North Lake Medical Pharmacy; Alan Flora, county of Lake Administration office; Wilda Shock, city of Lakeport, Margaret Silveira, Lakeport city manager; Matt Perry, Lake County administrator; Gary Graves, Graves Financial Services; Tina Chiotti-Stewart, Middletown Florist; Michael Mos, Bicoastal Media; Joy Calonico, SBCD Lake County; Melissa Fulton, chief executive officer, Lake County Chamber; Monica Rosenthal; and Tamara Richmond, executive director of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the committee will begin visits to the businesses for the surveys this month.

There will be a meeting of all interested parties to review the interview materials and provide opportunities for questions prior to beginning the actual interviews.

Anyone interested in assisting with these surveys should contact Melissa Fulton at the Lake County Chamber office, 707-263-5092.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For the fourth year in a row, local child care programs and elementary school classrooms are participating in the Paper Doll Project in honor of April as the nationally recognized Child Abuse Prevention Month and Month of the Young Child.

Nearly 3,000 paper dolls are distributed throughout the county for teachers to use in guided art projects with children.

Throughout the month of April, beautifully decorated paper dolls from Lake County children will be displayed in participating businesses along with an advocacy statement about the importance of child abuse prevention and the quality early childhood education.

Last year, more than 2,500 paper dolls were decorated and distributed, and over 100 businesses and agencies participated.

There are several ways to participate:

– For educators/children’s groups/faith communities: Request supplies for your program or classroom, and give your children the opportunity to participate.

– For business owners/agency representatives: Sign up to have your business participate by displaying the beautiful works of art – paper dolls linking hands – in your office or storefront, along with an advocacy statement. To participate, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-262-4162.

– The popular Advocacy Walk and Children's Festival will be held April 13 in Lakeport's Library Park. Watch for more information, or contact 707-262-4161 for more information.

For more information on either of these events, please contact the Lake County Child Care Planning Council, 707-262-4162 or www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com , or the Lake County Children’s Council at 707-262-4146.

NICE, Calif. – Two people injured in an early Saturday morning crash near Nice were flown to an out-of-county trauma center.

The single-vehicle rollover on Highway 20 west of Robinson Rancheria was reported by a passerby at about 2:15 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol and radio reports.

Two people were reported to have been ejected from the vehicle, which was off the roadway when Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters arrived on scene, radio reports indicated.

Firefighters reported that both crash victims had moderate injuries, with two air ambulances requested.

CalStar 4 and REACH 6 responded to the scene, landing in nearby fields, according to reports from the scene.

Radio reports indicated CalStar 4 lifted off just before 3:15 a.m. with REACH 6 leaving the scene just after 3:31 a.m.

Both air ambulances were bound for Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the pilots reported.

Additional details on the individuals involved and the cause of the crash were not immediately available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three cats are waiting for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

The three friendly felines range in age from 2 to 3 years. The two females have been spayed and the male has not yet been altered.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Female brown tabby

This female brown tabby is 3 years old.

She weighs 8 pounds, has a long brown striped coat and green eyes, and has been spayed.

She's in cat room kennel No. 106, ID No. 35417.

Domestic long hair mix

This male domestic long hair mix is 3 years old.

He has a white and gray coat, green eyes and weighs 7 pounds. He has not yet been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 21, ID No. 35630.

‘Monkey’

“Monkey” is a 2 year old female domestic short hair mix.

She has a black and white coat, weighs 7 pounds and has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. 35538.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week finds another variety of canines needing homes at the county’s animal shelter.

Labs, dachshunds, Chihuahuas, shepherds, terriers and hounds are among the mixes of breeds available.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

'Milo'

“Milo” is a 1 year old male Chihuahua mix.

He has a short tan coat and has been altered.

He's in kennel No. 3b, ID No. 35533.

Dachshund-terrier mix

This male dachshund-terrier mix is 10 years old.

He has a short red coat, weighs nearly 12 pounds and has been neutered.

Visit with him in kennel No. 8, ID No. 35644.

Hound retriever mix

This female hound-retriever mix is 3 years old.

She’s of medium size, weighs 66 pounds and has a short brown brindle coat. She has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 10, ID No. 35679.

Labrador Retriever mix

This male Labrador Retriever mix is 2 years old.

He has a short yellow coat, weighs nearly 64 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 35691.

Shepherd mix

This male shepherd mix is 1 year old.

He has a short tan and white coat, weighs 70 pounds and has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 33a, ID No. 35702.

Please note: Dogs listed at the county shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It’s time once again to put the clocks forward one hour.

Daylight saving time begins early on the morning of Sunday, March 10.

As the time change arrives, Cal Fire said it’s a good time to remember to change the batteries in smoke alarms.

While a 2010 study by the National Fire Protection Association found that 96 percent of all homes have at least one smoke alarm, nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

To help reduce the number of home fire fatalities, Cal Fire is reminding all Californians to make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.

“Smoke alarms give you and your family an early warning when there is a fire so you can quickly get outside,” said State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover, Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal. “Smoke alarms save lives, but they must be in good working order and must be tested.”

Smoke alarms should be installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

While most smoke alarms come with 10-year batteries, Cal Fire recommends that you test your smoke alarm monthly to ensure it’s in good working order. Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years.

Families should also practice with their children what to do when there is a fire. Every family should set down and create an escape plan with an outside meeting place.

If the alarm goes off crawl low to the ground under the smoke and exit the home quickly. A neighbor’s yard or a sidewalk mailbox are common meeting places to ensure that everyone gets out safely. Families should practice home fire drills regularly.

Working smoke alarms increase the chance of surviving a home fire by 50 percent. A smoke alarm is a small price to help keep you and your family safe.

For more information on smoke alarms, please visit Cal Fire’s Web site at www.fire.ca.gov .