Clark County Credit Union partnered with the Southern Nevada Burn Foundation in October for Fire Prevention Month, providing information and a donation to support children who are burn survivors by sending them to special camps during the summer months.
“This month we’re celebrating Fire Prevention Month, and we’re excited to share fire prevention tips for the whole community to help keep their family and home safe in Southern Nevada,” said Shannon Hiller, Chief Marketing Officer of Clark County Credit Union. “We decided to partner with the Southern Nevada Burn Foundation because one of our core member groups is firefighters and other first responders. This is a way for us to focus on what’s important to them, which is fire prevention, and helping keep our community safe, which should really be everybody’s focus.”
Southern Nevada Burn Foundation is comprised of firefighters with representation from all the departments here in the valley, as well as Creech Air Force Base, Nellis Air Force Base, the Test Site and Boulder City. The central departments include Clark County as well as the cities of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

“We’re so excited to give them a donation of $2,500 and kickstart a partnership that we hope lasts a long time, helping people in Southern Nevada who have been affected by fires,” explained Hiller.
The Southern Nevada Burn Foundation helps local children attend burn camps by raising money and providing support, although it does not host its own camp. The foundation partners with other organizations to send kids to programs, like Camp Beyond the Scars.
This month is significant, as prevention is the first step in protecting against fires.

“We help people who have lost their homes to fires, whether their home was completely destroyed or severely damaged,” explained Capt. Erlantz Muguira, spokesperson for the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation. “But most of all, we serve burn survivors here in the valley. We see firsthand the lasting impact fires have on people’s lives. When a family loses a home, it can take months, sometimes years, to rebuild. But for burn survivors, the road is often much longer. Recovery can take years and even decades. They may need to relearn how to walk, how to hold a pencil, or even how to use a utensil. Burn survivors face the toughest challenges moving forward.”
Muguira, a newly promoted captain with the Clark County Fire Department, has seen a lot of electrical fires in his 12 years with the department.
“Electrical fires often start where we least expect them, at overloaded outlets,” Muguira said. “Following the one outlet, one plug rule helps stop overheating and failure. Make a habit of unplugging devices when they’re not needed.”
Other tips include setting a reminder when cooking to check the food. Never leave pots or candles unattended. When using space heaters, be mindful of what’s around that space. Don’t leave chargers unattended and use an approved surge protector that will pop if overloaded.
The support of the Clark County Credit Union means so much to the Southern Nevada Burn Foundation.
“We are not a nationwide foundation, so to have a local credit union partner with us is huge,” Muguira said.

Clark County Credit Union also has a special firefighter debit card, designed by local retired firefighter Allan Albaitis. Best of all, anyone who is a member of Clark County Credit Union can get one to show their support for firefighters. For more info, visit ccculv.org.