I was all the way across town when it happened.

I got the ping on my phone.

The app’s familiar icon caught my eye as I checked my lock screen.

The app icon you hope you never see.

There is a fire brewing at your house.

Okay, so that’s not exactly what the notification said.

But it may has well have.

The app was linked to a device I installed in my house earlier in the year.

A device called Ting.

(Have you heard of it?)

It’s a small sensor that you plug into the wall, and it monitors your in-home wiring, plugged-in devices, and incoming power to detect potential electrical fire risks before they can become a threat to your home.

Put simply, it tells you when one of your circuits is overloaded.

So when I was across town and I got that notification, I knew I had to get home - fast.

I wish I could tell you I was calm.

But it’s hard to be calm when your house, your family, and your pets are in danger.

When I got home, I was relieved to find that my home hadn’t caught fire - yet.

The Ting team walked me through the hazard mitigation process so I could find where the problem was and use the circuit breaker to flip it off.

(Come to find out, it was an extra circuit that wasn’t being used - it had been tied up by some electrician or other long ago. It’s important to know these things about your home!)

Why am I telling you this?

Two reasons:

One, because when I find something that helps me keep my home or my family safer, I like to share that thing with other people.

And two, because the holiday season is upon us.

And that means extension cords.

Dry Christmas trees.

Holdover holiday lights from the 90s that get a little too hot.

As the weather gets colder, a lot of us remember to guard against water damage (the ole burst pipe!).

But not all of us remember that wintertime is also peak fire season.

Even if you’ve done everything right…

🔥 you’ve had your heating system checked

🔥 you’ve had your fireplace cleaned and your smoke detectors checked

🔥 you unplug your appliances or holiday lights before you go to bed and when you leave the house

…things still happen.

And that’s the last thing any of us need, ever - but especially during the holidays.

Devices like Ting can offer extra peace of mind. (You can check it out for yourself here. This isn’t an affiliate link; I just like the product.)

And the Umpire team has your back - even (and especially) if the unthinkable happens.

Questions about Ting or about other ways to prevent home fires this season?

Call or text me anytime. We're available 24/7, even during the holidays.

With care,

Stephen

PS The holidays have officially arrived at my house! What's your favorite way to celebrate this time of year?