Anyone else terrified they’ll be the reason why their apartment complex burns down? Just me?
But seriously, for the thousands of us Austinites in apartment complexes, practicing good safety habits is paramount to living in a shared space. I got the chance this month to ask Austin Wildfire Division Chief Carrie Stewart how to stay safe as a renter.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Fires in Austin?
“Our number one cause of fires overall is from unattended cooking – people that start something on the stove and forget about it, walk away from it.”
What Is the Best Way To Stay Fire Safe in Your Apartment Complex?
“Making sure that your smoke detectors work, making sure that you have two ways out of every room and also making sure that you don’t leave cooking unattended, especially in an apartment complex where it can negatively affect a lot of other people in addition to your own apartment.”
What’s Your Essential Austin Rule?
“Avoid the traffic. That is my rule. I want to avoid the traffic. It’s kind of hard to do some days.”
