You've probably been hearing a lot about fire-safety awareness with Fire Prevention Week recently upon us. Household fires tend to be more prevalent in the fall months. But people often zone out when they hear fire-safety info. That's a bad idea. Clark and his wife have a fire drill at home twice a year and discuss escape routes with their children. Perhaps the reason Clark is so focused on fire safety is that years ago his middle brother lived above an alcoholic couple who smoked and accidentally lit their apartment on fire. The woman locked herself in a bathroom during the blaze and passed out. Clark's brother went into the burning apartment, knocked down the bathroom door and dragged the unconscious woman out. Seeing the burned apartment building as a teenager left a big impression on Clark.

Clark and his family have their bedrooms on the second floor of their home, but because of the slope of their lot it's a three-story drop from their windows to the ground. So Clark and his wife bought a fancy exterior ladder system that's light enough for their 8-year-old daughter to lift and climb down. They've also instructed their daughter to rescue her toddler brother in the event that Clark and his wife can't do so. In fact, Clark is so conscious of fire safety that he looks at the back of his door at hotels to study the escape route. He knows that if there's a smoke-filled hallway, he won't be able to see the exit sign. Two simple ways to cut down on your risk of household fire are checking your smoke detector frequently and being aware of burning candles in your home.