Search Results for: Fires

By Lorie Lewis Ham

With more electric vehicles becoming available, the use of lithium-ion batteries is growing. According to an article on Energy.gov, lithium-ion batteries power the lives of millions of people each day. Not only in laptops and cell phones but also in hybrids and electric cars. They can also be used in scooters and electric bikes. This technology is growing in popularity due to its lightweight, high-energy density, and ability to recharge.

Much of the world’s transportation is gradually moving to modes of transportation that are powered by these batteries. A 2023 article on IEA.gov states that the demand for these batteries increased by about 65% in 2022, primarily due to the growth in electric passenger car sales, with new registrations increasing by 55% in 2022 compared to 2021. A Clemson University article states that from 2010 through 2022 shared e-bikes and e-scooters – those owned by rental companies – accounted for more than half a billion trips in U.S. cities. Privately owned e-bikes add to that total. In 2021, more than 880,000 e-bikes were sold in the U.S.

But are there any concerns about these batteries? According to a recent BBC article, lithium batteries are very difficult to recycle and require huge amounts of water and energy to produce. Emerging alternatives could be cheaper and greener. Another potential concern is fires. The same article on Clemson University’s website, also states that battery fires are a major concern in large cities where electric vehicles are popular. Fire departments in New York City and San Francisco report handling more than 660 fires involving lithium-ion batteries since 2019. In New York City, these fires caused 12 deaths and more than 260 injuries from 2021 through early 2023.

However, battery-powered vehicles account for a small share of car fires, according to an article on Vox, but controlling EV fires is difficult. Typically, an EV fire burns at roughly 5000 degrees Fahrenheit, while a gasoline-powered vehicle on fire burns at 1500 F. It takes about 2000 gallons of water to extinguish a burning gasoline-powered vehicle; putting out an EV fire can take 10 times more according to an article in the Boston Globe.

But just like all types of fires, there are things we can do to help prevent them. A 2024 Consumer Reports article shares several tips on helping prevent such fires with e-bikes and scooters, and the same advice applies to any device powered by a lithium-ion battery, whether it’s a scooter, skateboard, phone, tablet, or robotic vacuum cleaner. These tips are from the New York Fire Department and include (you can find the rest of the 12 recommendations in the original article):

1. Buy an electric bike, or any other lithium-ion powered device, that is certified by a qualified testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratory.

2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
3. Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the item.
4. Do not leave the items unattended while they are charging, and don’t leave them charging overnight.
5. If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, a change in shape or color, leaking, or odd noises, stop using it immediately.

If you are concerned about whether a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery, whether in your car, bike, or other device, is covered by your existing insurance, Mennonite Insurance Services is happy to answer any of your questions at (559) 638-2327. It is always best to be prepared!

By Lorie Ham

We all made it through Thanksgiving, but there’s still a lot of holiday cooking ahead for many of us. Holiday dinners, brunches, parties, etc. Cooking safely is important any time of the year, but it seems like we do a lot more cooking over the holidays, and we may be more frantic and distracted. So what are some things we can do to be safer in the kitchen during the holiday season?

The Red Cross has a great list of ten holiday cooking safety tips. These include making sure you have a working fire alarm, not wearing loose clothing while you cook because it could catch on fire, and never leaving your cooking unattended. They also state that it is important to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergencies. Good Housekeeping has some recommendations for your home fire extinguisher needs.

John Hopkins has a similar list of safety tips. One thing you will find on most lists, and that is a good thing to remember all year long, is don’t leave anything flammable on the stovetop! It is also important to make sure the floor around your cooking area is clear of things you could trip over as you move about—and that includes not having your pets and small children underfoot. John Hopkins also includes other tips about kid safety in the kitchen, how to treat a burn, and what to do if there is a cooking fire.

Speaking of cooking fires, According to Consumer Reports, fires related to cooking increase over the holidays. An article on CED Technologies.com states that Thanksgiving has three times the daily average of cooking-related fires. While Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, it is followed closely by Christmas Day, the day before Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas Eve.

Donna Bucciarelli, a Beaumont Health System nurse and trauma prevention coordinator, also has some simple safety tips for the kitchen, such as keeping boiling pots on backburners and all pot and pan handles turned toward the back of the stove so no one accidentally runs into them. The article also states that safety precautions should extend to the dining room table, especially at gatherings where young children are present who could grab onto tablecloths and pull glassware and heavy dishes onto themselves.

It is also important to practice food safety during the holidays. While that is important all year long, once again, it is easy to get stressed and distracted during the holidays and let something slip. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of ways to prevent food poisoning while doing your holiday cooking and eating. These include keeping food separate, making certain everything is cooked thoroughly, thaw your meats properly, and being sure to do a lot of handwashing. The article also states that it is important to keep your food out of the “danger zone.” The danger zone is between 40°F and 140°F where germs can grow rapidly. After food is prepared, keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Refrigerate or freeze perishable food like meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, eggs, cut fruit, cooked rice, and leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F, such as in a hot car). The temperature in your refrigerator should be set at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F or below.

If you have some tips you have found helpful this time of year, please share them on the Mennonite Insurance Facebook page. If you would like to be prepared just in case something does happen, despite your best efforts, and would like to check up on your home insurance coverage before the holidays, please give Mennonite Insurance a call at (559) 638-2327.

By Lorie Ham

It is finally beginning to get cold outside. The heater is running for the first time this season, and morning coffee is now as much for warmth as caffeine, so it’s time to start thinking about whether your home is ready once it REALLY gets cold out there. Even if you live in parts of the country that don’t see extreme cold, it is still best to prepare for the worst.

One of the first things to think about is getting your heater or furnace serviced to make sure it is working correctly—the last thing you want is to be unable to keep your home and family warm. Some people will also need to check chimneys and fireplaces (some areas discourage using these due to poor air quality). It is also a good idea to ensure your trees are in good shape. You don’t want them to break from heavy snow or be blown over by heavy winds. If a limb has the potential of landing on your home or even your fence, you could be dealing with a lot of damage.

Consumer Reports has a list of ten tips to get your house ready for winter. They not only include getting your heating system serviced, but also protecting indoor pipes and outdoor water sources from freezing, insulating your attic or crawl space, and getting storm windows.

On a similar list on Chubb.com, they recommend checking for under-door drafts and sealing around your windows because more heat than you might realize can escape that way. They also recommend installing a programmable thermostat and keeping your temperature no lower than 65 degrees to help prevent some freezing issues. Smart thermostats can wirelessly alert you to unusually low temperatures in your home as well.

An article on the Insurance Information Institute’s website has some other great tips that include moving combustible items away from fireplaces, space heaters, and wood stoves. It is also a good time to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, as not only do residential fires increase in the winter, but also carbon monoxide poisoning.

Another great tip, especially if you are in an area where you see storms strong enough to cut your power, might be to purchase a backup generator. Chubb suggests a dual-use one for natural gas and liquid propane. Not only will it maintain your heating systems and help prevent freezing pipes, but it can also keep your food cold and your Wi-Fi connected.

Whatever type of winter weather may be coming your way this season, make sure you are prepared. Follow the tips above that apply to your area of the country to help prevent any unwanted emergencies, that way you can focus your time and energy on enjoying the fun parts of this time of year! It is also a good time to check on your insurance coverage so you can be certain that if an unwanted incident does happen, you are prepared to deal with it. Mennonite Insurance would be happy to answer all of your questions by phone or email: (559) 638-2327 [email protected].

By Lorie Ham

Hope Now is an organization in Fresno, California that does great work helping gang members start a new life. While it is good to feature worthy charities all year long, Christmas time feels like an especially perfect time to be inspired by the work of others and to do more ourselves to help those in need. I recently chatted with their executive director Vanna In to learn more. Vanna has held this position since March of 2021, but his connection to Hope Now goes back much further than that. Their mission statement is: “Two steps and you’re up. A job and caring relationships lifts a gang member from the streets and into transformation, belonging and generosity.”

Q: Can you tell us exactly what Hope Now is?

Vanna: Hope Now is about Jesus Christ and a job. We work specifically with young men that have an arrest record, dropped out of high school, or used to be part of a gang. Hope Now is about community outreach, job training, job placement, and discipleship. 

Q: How did you come to work at Hope Now?

Vanna: I first came to Hope Now as a client from 2001-2003. I came on staff as a vocational placement counselor from 2003-2011. I applied for the position, which was open to everyone in the nation starting in December of 2020. 

Q: Can you tell us a little about your background?

Vanna: I was a former gang member that got caught up in the early to mid-‘90s for a drive-by shooting. I gave my heart to Christ in the county jail in March 1994. I changed my plea from “not guilty” to “no contest”, essentially admitting my guilt. I was released after eight years in the California Youth Authority and ICE. 

Q: When and how did Hope Now first come to be?

Vanna: Hope Now was birthed out of the Los Angeles riots in the early ‘90s. People were not setting fires to the neighborhoods in Beverly Hills but in their own neighborhoods in Inglewood, Compton, and South-Central Los Angeles. A pastor who felt called to work with gang members quit his position at a church and started Hope Now For Youth. That was almost 30 years ago. 29 years later, we’re still going strong, and our hope is to continue to live out the vision that God has for this ministry: helping young men’s family tree be changed through Jesus Christ and a job. 

Q: Can you tell us more about what Hope Now does?

Vanna: Aside from training and placing men in jobs, we walk with them through all the trappings of life. We help them to navigate Biblical manhood and model to them what it means to follow God and to lead their families. We help them with the basics: obtain their birth certificate so that they can obtain their ID card and social security card, which are all requirements to get a job. We help them obtain their driver’s license and they can use our vehicles if they do not have familial support for that. 

Q: That’s awesome! Do the gang members come to you or do you reach out to them?

Vanna: Both. We engage in community outreach and a lot of the guys also come to us by way of referrals from those that have completed the program or those that are currently still in the program.

Q: What is the best thing about working there?

Vanna: It is a privilege to serve those that have walked in our shoes. We know the struggles because all seven staff members are former gang members, and some of us were former rivals in our past life. We have instant credibility with the guys that we walk alongside because we can say with integrity that “I know what you’re going through.” We have that lived experience and we were able to overcome our traumatic past and push through and show what it means to be a part of society. 

Q: What is the hardest part?

Vanna: It is most hard when the guys lose their job or split up in their relationships but the most painful is when they lose their lives. In close to 30 years, a lot of guys have lost their life prematurely through gun violence or other random incidents. 

Q: That is sad. Why do you feel that Hope Now is important?

Vanna: Hope Now is important because we are willing and have worked with those that society has cast off. These are individuals that have no hope and when someone has no hope and cares not for his own life, why would he care for your life or mine? Hope Now is an organization that literally deals with life and death situations. Having a job and living a life that is legal and paying the bills is crucial for guys staying off the streets. 

Q: Future goals of Hope Now?

Vanna: Aside from growing in staff, we hope to grow our carpet cleaning business and our food trailer. We just started both companies this year and we look forward to both growing simultaneously.

Q: How many gang members does Hope Now help per year?

Vanna: Hope Now serves close to 150 gang members per year. 20-40 may graduate in a calendar year and 50 may get a job. 

Q: How can someone get help?

Vanna: Our office number (559) 237-7215 is always available to those that call. They can just drop in anytime and have someone hear them out. Guys are constantly calling and dropping in. 

Q: What kind of needs do you have? How can we in the community help?

Vanna: We need prayer, new monthly donors, jobs, and volunteers. We look forward to opportunities to present at service clubs, foundations, Bible study groups, etc. 

Q: Where can you be found online and where are you located?

Vanna: Website hopenowforyouth.org, Facebook page Hope Now For Youth. Instagram Hope Now For Youth. 2305 Stanislaus Street, Fresno, CA 93721.

Q: Is there anything you would like to add?

Vanna: Hope Now is grateful for those that have supported us throughout the years. We want to say thank you to our past and present supporters and look forward to connecting with our future donors. 

Please consider this holiday season, and all year long, helping Hope Now with the wonderful work they do!