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…