By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --We feel the impact every day. Warm temperatures and lack of rain continue to increased drought conditions. With greater evaporation, particularly during the summer and fall, this will and is exacerbating drought conditions resulting in an extremely high increase of wildfires. Fires are spreading at a phenomenal rate of spread. A deadly and disastrous rate that impacts us all!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Drowning incidents are dramatically on the rise locally and statewide. Parents whose children have drowned say the day of the tragedy started out just like any other day. No matter how the drowning happened or where it happened -- pool, spa, or any other body of water -- one thing was the same, the seconds that claimed their child's life slid by silently, without warning, it happens just like that and can never be brought back. Drowning is Preventable reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Each year more than 135,000 Americans die from stroke—or one person every four minutes—died from stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. May is Stroke Awareness Month reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 21, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--It surrounds us all.  At home, driving, work, in stores, school, the news, everywhere you go it’s there. It’s this thing called “stress.”  Like water, it find its way into every level and area in our life. Unfortunately it’s very unhealthy reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. It’s been reported to cause heart disease, ulcers, headaches, obesity, depression, anxiety, and accelerates aging to name a few. "It can exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of."

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Our state’s drought really is a state of emergency, says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. The state is now around 40 million, and growing.  What happens when America’s most populous state runs low on its most precious resource for the fourth year in a row?

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March 2, 2015 (San Diego)--It’s nice to finally write about rain! We have a few more storms in the forecast and we certainly need it. We all like singing in the rain but driving in it? It’s rather stressful even when it’s not raining says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.  Most people just don’t pay attention or exercise common sense much anymore. We have far too many distractions at our disposal. There are around 707,000 automobile crashes each year due to rain, resulting in approximately 3,300 deaths and 330,200 injuries.

By Sam DiGiovanna

February 16, 2015 (San Diego)--If your husband has chest pain you’d call 911. However, many women may not recognize signs of heart attacks themselves. Did you know that heart attack symptoms in women can be quite different from men's. Heart disease is often thought about as a man’s disease, but recent studies show that heart disease is actually the number one killer of women in America.  Yet acting quickly is vitally important.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

January 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - As you Coach and prepare Super Bowl festivities this weekend make sure to be a good sport and keep your ‘Safety’ front and center at all times says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 23, 2014 (San Diego)--Is there that hard to buy for someone special in your life? I don’t think anything could be more special than to say Happy Holidays by giving a gift of “life safety” says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 2, 2014 (San Diego)--The roads are slippery from much needed rain, which means you could slide more if you brake too quickly. Over time, engine oil and other substances build up on streets, and when rainwater gets added to the mix, a very slippery combination results. 

Always give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. There's also a chance that you could get water in your brakes, which will cause them to lose their stopping power. Never rush when it's raining heavily: accidents are even more likely when weather conditions are poor.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 10, 2014 (San Diego)--Cooler weather is upon us so why not put your best foot forward by keeping yourself free from accidents says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.  ‘Walk this Way’ and plan walk-able routes. Map out a well-lit route with sidewalks and crosswalks and little traffic. Let someone know when and where you are going. Walks are a great opportunity to educate kids about safety. Explain the different traffic signals, remind your kids to stop at the edge of driveways to watch for cars, and teach them never to cross streets without being in a crosswalk.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 21, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - There’s a lot to cover for Halloween Safety and rather be a Pumpkin Head, let go over a few safety reminders advises Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.  Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.  Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always walk and don't run from house to house.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 14, 2014 (Southern California)--“The Silverado Fire in Orange County should serve as a reminder of things to come with extreme fire danger reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. A weak high pressure system had driven temperatures up and humidity levels down which are indicators Fall is upon us. This fire grew from hundreds of acres to over a thousand in a very short amount of time. Fortunately we did not have the fierce Santa Ana winds driving this fire or we’d likely be working this fire to the ocean.”

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 29, 2014 (San Diego)--It appears the California Grape Crush came crashing in a bit early and un-expectantly for the Napa wine region. On the eve of the 2014 harvest, Napa and Napa Valley wineries were rocked by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake in the early hours of Sunday morning. The quake injured over 100 people, but fortunately claimed no lives says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Napa’s Resiliency is to be commended, however, a good reminder for all of us to be prepared… Coincidentally, September is National Wine Awareness Month and wine has become so vital to California, that it deserves a whole month.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 1, 2014 (San Diego's East County) July, August and right into Labor Day, we use our barbeques more than any other months.