King Kong was felled once again, but not by fighter planes or a ravishing blonde: This time it was fire that brought down the beast.

That is because on June 1, a massive fire ravaged the Universal Studios (GE) Hollywood back lot destroying a number of sets and cinematic memorabilia.The cause of the fire, which broke out around 4:45 a.m., is still under investigation but officials believe that low-water pressure played a large part in their inability to control the 100-foot flames more quickly. The LA Times (TRB) reported that, "firefighters resorted to pumping water from two man-made studio ponds. They also snaked hundreds of yards of hoses to street hydrants outside the park."

The delay in extinguishing the flames was cause for the destruction of a New York streetscape, the famous King Kong exhibit, the Back to the Future set, a video vault, and at least one full soundstage. The loss of the movie memorabilia may be an awakening for many homeowners: Fires can happen at anytime, and they can destroy your most cherished possessions and valuable documents, unless you take action.

It is important for homeowners to prepare for a disaster. While homeowners insurance will cover a home's structure and some of its contents. But the insurance company won’t be able to reproduce documents like a social security card or birth certificate. A fireproof box is a great way to keep the most important documents safe as well all in the same place.Fireboxes range in price and quality but home-appropriate versions can be found at stores such as Home Depot (HD) or Target (TGT). Erin Doland, editor-in-chief at Unclutter.com, a website devoted to organizing and cleaning, says a fireproof box should have a temperature UL rating of at least 350 for 60 minutes. This means that the inside of the fireproof box will not rise above 350 degrees during a fire reaching temperatures of 1,700 degrees lasting 60 minutes and, since paper burns at 451 degrees, the 350 degree rating is sufficient. Waterproofing the box is also a good idea. "You also want the fireproof box to be waterproof to protect from the gushing water emitted from firefighters’ hoses," she says.

When it comes to what to keep within the fireproof box, experts agree that your most important personal documents, especially those which cannot be replaced, should always be included. Doland also suggests keeping your current passport, birth certificate, social security card, property titles, insurance policies, bank and credit card account numbers, copies of life-supporting prescriptions, and spare keys to the car in the box.

In addition to the fireproof box, it may also be a good idea to keep copies of important documents at an off-site location, such as a safe-deposit box.

According to Debra Pankow, a family economics specialist, it is important to keep the records safe because having the records on hand after a fire will help you file insurance claims more efficiently. And, while many of the items can eventually be replaced, having a fire proof box at home will make things much easier after having dealt with a disaster that could potentially destroy everything in a home.



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