Veteran fire‑safety adviser urges Las Vegas seniors to tighten home protections

David Ricketts, a Navy veteran and fire‑safety adviser with LV Fires LLC, told the Las Vegas Senior Citizens Advisory Board on Feb. 5 that simple household items and aging alarm systems put residents — particularly children and people 65 and older — at higher risk in home fires. "This is a free service that we provide to the community and to residents all throughout Las Vegas," Ricketts said, introducing the group’s home evaluation and education program.

Ricketts said countertop appliances such as coffee makers and air fryers are frequent ignition sources when left plugged in, and he pointed to recurring dryer‑vent and electrical problems as major contributors to household fires. "Most people die in a fire between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when we're sleeping," he said, urging families to develop escape plans and to keep bedroom doors closed at night to slow fire and smoke spread.

The presentation emphasized limitations of ionization smoke alarms, the common, low‑cost models found in many homes. Quoting a training video, Ricketts noted those alarms may not detect smoldering fires as effectively as optical (photoelectric) alarms. "Ionization smoke alarms are the smoke alarms that come with our house…a lot of people have no idea that these alarms may not go off in a real fire," he said.

He also addressed carbon monoxide (CO) alarm placement and sensitivity, saying manufacturers’ recommendations and testing levels vary. Ricketts cited an LV Fires alarm that registered at 26 parts per million in a recent test and contrasted that with some retail alarms that are set to trigger at higher levels. He recommended placing CO alarms lower than ceilings and said the company follows a middle‑position placement approach to balance differing guidance.

Ricketts described services LV Fires offers to seniors and other residents: no‑cost home evaluations (about 30–45 minutes for a typical three‑bedroom house), free giveaways including fire blankets and extinguishers, and equipment financing. "Financially, if people are financing our equipment, they can get it as low as, I think, $27 a month," he said. He directed residents to the LV Fires website for requests (lvfires.com) and said the company provides text‑message alerts for fire and CO incidents through its HomeSafe network.

Board members asked practical questions about what seniors should prioritize in an escape plan and about the affordability of equipment. Chair Deanna Rear Cameron thanked Ricketts and said she would invite him to upcoming community events for seniors. Linda Young, a neighborhood association member, said the presentation prompted immediate outreach plans: "Your information is just so critical, so important," she said.

The board heard anecdotal endorsements from members who had received LV Fires evaluations and implemented recommended changes. Ricketts told members LV Fires has given out "over 700 fire blankets" in the prior year and indicated the company tracks distribution and service outcomes.

Next steps noted during the meeting included offering group presentations to homeowners associations, churches and senior communities to reach multiple residents at once. Ricketts said group events generally require two to three weeks' scheduling lead time.