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Christmas Fire Reminder -
Keeping Real Trees Hydrated
Anyone who's seen National
Lampoon's Christmas Vacation probably remembers
the scene where the Griswold Family's "perfect"
Christmas tree goes up in a puff of smoke when
their Uncle Lewis accidentally ignites it while
trying to light a cigar. It was a funny
scene in a funny movie, but one that can offer an
often overlooked lesson. Failing to keep a
real tree sufficiently watered can make them much
more flammable than one that's had some care taken
of it.
The National Fire Protection Association had
a recent post on their blog devoted
to reminding folks of the added danger of
letting your tree dry out. The dramatic
video features a side-by-side comparison of a
dried out tree catching fire versus a tree that's
been kept watered. Watch it
here.
The holiday season historically represents a
large uptick in home fire statistics, starting
around Thanksgiving, where cooking tends to get
left unattended more often, and concluding with
Christmas, where we unwittingly pack our homes
with trees that can dry out and flammable gifts
wrapped in flammable paper. Not to mention
the occasional overloading of electrical sockets
with Christmas lights.
The lesson, as always, is simple: be
careful. You've got a lot going on around
the holidays, it's easy to overlook something as
simple as keeping your tree watered.
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New Indiana Legislation
Effective January 1st
To our valued clients and friends in Indiana,
there's an important new law going into effect
January 1st, 2010 that you should be aware
of. It requires all alcoholic beverage
servers to complete a state-approved server
training no later than May 1st, 2010. For
new servers, they will be required to complete the
training course within 120 days of their start
date.
The Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission
has a brief overview of it on the front page of
their website, here. Official press
release here.
If you or your employees are among those
needing training a complete list of licensed
providers is available here. We recommend the
following training providers:
Indiana Licensed Beverage
Association
contact Lewis Coulter
Phone: 317-634-4384
Illinois Casualty
Company
contact Amanda Newman
Phone: 309-283-3241
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REMINDER: 2010 Illinois Fire Suppression
Mandate
The Illinois Fire Marshal
implemented code changes for establishments with
cooking equipment last year. We've done
mailers and promoted the change in several
newsletters now. The change goes into effect
January 1st, 2010.
If you haven't already, check out
the details of the change on our
website to see if you're
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Preventing Metal
Theft
Theft of metals such as Copper,
Brass and Aluminum have risen dramatically over
the past few years as thieves take advantage of
rising scrap metal prices. This includes air
conditioner coils, copper flashing, gutters and
downspouts, wiring and copper plumbing.
If thieves have been operating in your areas
or have stolen outdoor equipment, take
preventative action because thieves may return
again and again. Here are some tips to help
prevent theft:
--Deny thieves access to roof-mounted HVAC
equipment by removing exterior fixed ladders and
cutting back trees and shrubs.
--Enclose ground HVAC equipment in secured,
I.E., locked, metal cages. Anchor outdoor
units to concrete pads.
--Improve exterior lighting, especially in
high risk areas. Use motion sensors to turn
the lights on and inspect them regularly to make
sure they work.
--If possible, fence your property and secure
all gates when the facility is closed. Post
"No Trespassing" signs. This will help local
law enforcement determine if any suspicious
activity is taking place and keep thieves'
vehicles away from your equipment.
--Secure equipment, materials, scrap bins,
and vehicles inside your facilities.
--If you have an existing security system,
try to make sure all outdoor areas are covered if
possible. Ask your security firm for an
updated review of your system. It may be
possible to install a pressure switch in the
coolant line in your HVAC system and tie it into
your existing system. When thieves cut the
lines, the pressure switch is activated, setting
off the alarm.
--Consult with local law enforcement and ask
their advice in securing your property.
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Be sure to add our email address to your
contact book to ensure that you continue receiving
industry updates, informative articles and tasty
tidbits.
Sincerely,
Bret Dixon Insurance
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Holiday
Schedule
A quick reminder of our modified hours due to
the Holidays.
Thursday, 12-24
noon close
Friday, 12-25
closed for Christmas
Thursday, 12-31
noon close
Friday, 1-1-2010
closed for New Year's
All times are
Central
If you anticipate having a need to contact
us, please keep these days in mind, so that we can
give you the most prompt service possible.
Everyone have a safe and happy holiday
season, as well as a prosperous
2010!
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Regular Office
Hours
Monday - Thursday
8:30am - 5pm
Fridays
8:30am - 2pm
All times are Central
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| Don't Forget Our
Personal Lines in
2010! |
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We offer a full-line of personal lines
coverages for your
home, auto, boats, motorcycles, RVs, and
more. Give us a shot at your next renewal to
see how we compete.
Click
here for more information.
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