November doesn’t have to be a tragedy waiting to happen

November is shaping up to be a month many of us would just as soon forget.

Four major tragedies have struck local families in the past two weeks. None of the incidents are in any way related, but all are reminders, as if we needed any, to stay safe, take care of each other and cherish our time together.

The first tragedy came Nov. 3 when young Hayden Martin perished in a Meadow Lakes house fire. The next day a car crash in Big Lake killed Wasilla resident Edward Irish Sr. This past Saturday, West Valley Church of the Nazarene was dealt a major blow as longtime Wasilla pastor Paul Trissell and his wife, Pam, lost their lives when their SUV collided head-on with a semi on the Kenai Peninsula.

And now we have word that four people were found dead Tuesday when a Caswell-area home burned to the ground. Troopers say not all four of them died in the fire, but identified the dead as Vannaphone Soundara, 43, his wife, Azrealle C.D. Stewart, 23, Akson S.T. Soundara, 4, and Kayson J.L. Soundara, 1.

That some were dead before the fire began hints strongly of foul play. The couple was in divorce proceedings and Soundara had a history of violence against women in his past. But the facts are not yet in.

Since last Friday there has not been an edition of the Frontiersman that didn’t include a tragic death. Writing these stories is a task no one here relishes, just like reading them is something we know holds no joy for the public.

All of this tragedy needs to stop.

The cause of both fires is still under investigation. It’s hard after something like the fire in Meadow Lakes to start talking about fire safety. We don’t want to sound like we’re scolding anyone.

But this is chimney fire season and people are spending more time indoors. So now is the time to make sure your house is as safe as it can be. Get your furnace inspected. If you burn wood, have your chimney cleaned. Install smoke detectors in your home if you don’t have them. Make sure the batteries are still good if you do. Get a fire extinguisher if you don’t have one already. The Internet abounds with resources for preventing house fires and making your home easier to escape. Do some research. Invest some money. It could save your life.

As for the deaths on Alaska roads, Irish wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, though we don’t know for sure if that contributed to his death. Really, the common factors in both crashes were ice and snow.

Advice for driving on these roads has been dispensed multiple times in a thousand different venues and yet still bears repeating: If you have winter tires, get them on your car. Fasten your seat belt. Maintain your vigilance and watch out for other drivers. Leave a lot of room between your car and the one you’re following.

But above all, slow down.

As for domestic violence, statistics are hard to come by, but we have a hunch the first really cold couple of weeks might produce a spike. It’s not hard to imagine the stress of last-minute winter preparation tasks combining with the stress of being cooped up indoors with the family for the first time in months might get to people. Just remember, no matter how cold it is, it’s never too cold to walk off your ire.

Keep in mind that your family is something to cherish. We at the Frontiersman have all had nights where, having written about one day’s tragedy, we’ve gone home and spent some extra time with our spouses, given the kids an extra hug and tucked them into bed extra tight. We know no reporters, at least none with any experience, writing about police and emergency response who have not had similar evenings.

And that is our last piece of advice: Once your smoke detectors’ batteries are fresh and the tires on your cars are studded, take a minute and appreciate the people in your life.