PREPARATION AHEAD OF FIRE: Do You Smell Smoke? We all need to be prepared ahead of the fire. The L.A. County Fire Dept. offers the following guidelines: back your car in the garage heading out with windows closed and keys in the ignition. close the garage door, leave it unlocked, disconnect automatic door opener in case of power failure. keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times and stay tuned to your local news station. move any combustible items and yard furniture away from the house or store it in the garage. cover the outside of windows, attic openings, eaves and vents with fire resistive material such as 1/2 inch or thicker plywood. Close window shutters and blinds if they are fire resistive. Remove all window curtains and coverings if they are flammable. attach garden hoses to spigots and place them so that they can reach all areas of your house and outbuildings. fill all sinks, bath tubs, trash cans, buckets, etc. with water. Keep small rugs, potato sacks, or large towels handy to dip into the water and extinguish spot fires place a ladder against the house on the opposite side of the approaching fire for access to the roof. close all windows and doors around your home to prevent sparks from blowing inside; close all doors within the house to slow fire spread inside. turn on lights in all rooms, on the porch and in the yard; your home will be more visible through the smoke or darkness. shut off butane/propane or natural gas valves. move furniture away from windows and sliding glass doors to keep them from igniting from radiant heat. if you have an emergency generator or portable gasoline powered pump that will supply water from a water source, mark its location and be ready to use it. 10/95