By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 27, 2018 (San Diego) -- This Memorial Day weekend, let’s all take part by being responsible for ourselves and others. Here are a few safety tips:

April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 23, 2018 (San Diego) --The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that road rage “involves a criminal act of violence, whereas aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights.”

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March 1, 2018 (San Diego) -- More cold weather is in store this week and nothing beats a nice fire in the fireplace. Fires may keep us warm.  However, there are hazards that need to be addressed.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

It’s the Super Bowl and you’re the quarterback!

February 1, 2018 (San Diego) --  Whether you’re calling the shots at your home field or at a party somewhere else make sure to be a good sport and keep your “Safety” front and center at all times.

Your “Running Back” is in the kitchen. Help avoid a “False Start” with unhealthy foods. Everyone wants to keep their “Tight End” looking tight, so add healthy snacks to your menu instead of high-fat foods. You may want to consider that “Quarterback Sneak” and replace those buffalo wings and nachos with veggies and hummus or whole wheat pita chips. Let’s avoid that “Wide Receiver” if possible.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

January 8, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - "I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty stressful driving even when it’s not raining," says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.  Throw a mix of forecasted rain in this week and it makes it worse.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 27, 2017 (San Diego) -- New Year’s Eve is a night to have fun and celebrate the coming year. However, safety is a must when participating in New Year’s day festivities and parties.

Make sure you have a plan and follow these safety tips that will help ensure that you’re safe and sound when the clock strikes midnight, ringing in the New Year.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 27, 2017 (San Diego) -- The next best thing after Thanksgiving is the day after when we start preparing for Christmas. This week, we’ll start from the outside and work our way in.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 23, 2017 (San Diego) -- We are currently under severe fire conditions.  Homeowners living in and near the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) are advised to do the following:

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 3, 2017 (San Diego) -- Have you ever wondered how firefighters determine which homes to defend and which ones we don’t during a wildfire?

As firefighters, we lay out our plans for the tactical operations before a brush fire by pre-planning our districts. During a brush fire, it’s imperative that we make quick but well-thought-out decisions that reflect life safety issues for both responders and citizens first, followed by property conservation.

Grant Yourself Immunity

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 14, 2017 (San Diego) -- Every week it seems there’s some new virus, disease, airborne, food contamination in which we have to exercise caution around or get an immunization.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could get an immunization against the 405 freeway and stop that spread of toxic traffic! How about from rude and obnoxious people? I guess we can never rid ourselves of those.  However, vaccine-preventable diseases can be prevented if we take the time and get our immunization shots.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 2, 2017 (San Diego) -- More people lose their LIVES in floods than in any other weather-related event. Eighty percent of flood deaths occur in vehicles, and most happen when drivers make a single, fatal mistake - trying to navigate through floodwaters.

Watch for the following signs:

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 17, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - I've Got My Eye On You!

Our sight is something many of us take for granted. Imagine not having it?

Let’s look at some facts on eye injuries. More than 40 percent of eye injuries are caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than a third (34.2 percent) of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 5, 2017 (San Diego) -- June is the month that is declared as National Safety Month by the National Safety Council (NSC).

The NSC and thousands of organizations across the country work to raise awareness to keep each other safe. Observed annually in June, National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) -- Did you know that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health condition? Did you know one in 25 adults in the country lives with a serious mental illness?

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- There’s Gold in Them Thar Hills!  It’s also along the freeways, in open fields and vacant lots in your neighborhood. That lush green vegetation and pretty wildflowers from recent winter storms is now turning golden in color and soon to become dark brown, brittle and extremely dry.  Fire season is already here and getting extremely dangerous quickly. We’ve already seen quite a few fast moving grass/brush fires throughout Southern California.