On Friday night in LaGrange, a local person lost their life in a house fire on Cherry Street. The details of that fire are still under investigation, as is the victim’s identification until information is received from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.

Once that information is available, we’ll report it promptly, alerting the community as to what happened.

As of now, we know very little, which is understandable as authorities work through the details of what happened.

Regardless of those details, this fatal fire serves as a reminder of the importance of talking over a fire plan with your family.

It only takes a few minutes, but it could be vitally important if a fire ever does erupt in your home.

Get everyone together for a couple of minutes and talk through all possible exits and escape routes in your home.

The National Fire Protection Agency recommends making a floor plan for children in the home, detailing all the different ways for them to get out of the house.

It’s important to install smoke alarms in every room in the house, and the NFPA recommends installing alarms in each sleeping room.

A closed door also can help slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

It’s also important to create an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home, so that everyone can meet after they’ve escaped a fire.

There were an average of 128 fire deaths in Georgia each year from 2012-2016, according to the NFPA. Everyone always thinks it can’t happen to them, but it can.

Be prepared, just in case, by making a plan.