SDG&E is encouraging customers to “call 811 before they dig” to avoid damaging buried natural gas and electric lines when pursuing projects in their yard, such as putting up a new wall or fence, planting or re-working landscaping, putting in a swimming pool, or other yard renovations.

“During the warmer months, many homeowners begin projects which require digging on their property,” said J. Bret Lane, vice president of gas transmission and distribution for SDG&E. “Since gas and some electric lines are located underground and out of sight, we urge homeowners to make a quick phone call to Underground Service Alert to have utilities marked for free. This will help them avoid unnecessary and costly damage, possible injury or service interruption.”

1. Turn off holiday lights before going to sleep or leaving the house unattended. An appliance timer can help manage holiday lights.
2. When stringing lights outside, use a dry, wooden or fiberglass ladder and be sure to stay away from overhead power lines.
3. Use only strings of outdoor lights, spotlights, sockets and extension cords approved by the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL). Ensure they are not frayed or damaged.
4. Before putting up lights, check wires, plugs and sockets for wear or damage. If damaged, either repair or discard them.
5. Use more than one circuit to avoid overloading household wiring. This generally means no more than three light strings connected together.
6. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, make sure that GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) protection is provided for outlets at outdoor receptacles and test the GFCI monthly to make sure it is working properly. If GFCI receptacles are not available, portable GFCI equipment may be used. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that more than two-thirds of the 300 annual electrocutions nationwide could be prevented with the use of GFCI protection.
7. Do not use candles near flammable materials or where they can be knocked over or reached by small children or family pets.
8. Do not hang lights on a metallic tree. The danger of shock is great. Instead of hanging lights, use a spotlight to illuminate metallic trees.
9. There should be a smoke detector on every level of the house and outside each sleeping area. It also is important to have detectors installed properly and tested to ensure they are in working condition.
10. If using a live Christmas tree, make sure to check the water level in the tree stand on a daily basis. If the tree appears to be losing a large amount of needles, or if the needles become brittle, do not turn on any electrical lights used for decorations. The heat from the lights may cause a fire.
11. Avoid stringing any outdoor lighting or electrical cords where the water from irrigation or sprinklers may be present. Water and electricity do not mix and can cause serious injury or even death in these conditions.
12. As a precaution, all homes should have at least one class ABC extinguisher, placed in an easily accessible area. An extinguisher with an ABC classification puts out all three types of fires: combustible-liquid fires; fires from burning wood, paper and cloth; and electrical fires. It is important to check the pressure in the extinguisher at least every month and refill or replace if it’s low. Know how to properly use the extinguisher.

The utility box that killed Izaya Baiz-Hickey last week carries more than 7,000 volts of electricity, so security is supposed to be tight. But city officials say not only was that box left unlocked; there didn’t appear to be a lock on it at all.

Family members of Izaya are still trying to understand why they lost him. While playing outside with friends after Thanksgiving dinner last week, authorities say he climbed into the utility box — buzzing with 7,200 volts of electricity — and was electrocuted immediately.

“Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to come out and check and make sure there are locks on these things,” said Izaya’s grandmother Melodie Hale.

Mishawaka’s utility department owns the utility box and hundreds of others. Monday morning, city officials met to talk about what happened while police continue their investigation.

“We expect that soon we’ll have a final report but until we do it’s somewhat speculative on our part to determine what really took place,” said Jim Schrader of Mishawaka Utilities.

But the head of Mishawaka Utilities says this much is clear.

“It is our procedure to have doors on these cabinets locked; can’t explain why it wasn’t,” Schrader said.

City officials say not only was that box unlocked Thursday night, there wasn’t a lock on it, and they still don’t know where it is.

Schrader says city utility workers are the only people with access to the boxes and know all too well the dangers of leaving them open.

Four days after the accident, authorities still aren’t sure why the box was unlocked.

But they promise — for the family of Izaya Baiz-Hickey — answers will come soon.