"Fireproof safes are not as expensive as you may think, and what they save you can be far more precious than money. Here in Southern California summer is approaching and with it comes fire season. Brush fires rage out of control at the end of the summer to the beginning of fall as the bush and landscape dries out. As our populations tend to live closer to these areas, the houses and your possessions become vulnerable to fire and water damage as the fire department tries to save your home and valuables. Now is the time to think about protecting your valuables against fire, smoke and water damage. Not when that fire is coming over the hill toward your home. A good safe to look at is a fire and burglary safe. Smoke damage is as bad sometimes as fire or water damage. Smoke is basically fuel that didn't burn, it is made visible by the presence of small particles of carbon and other material. A fire gives off light, the gas carbon dioxide, heat and water vapor. These gases and small particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in diameter is contained in smoke. Particulate matter contains gases, soot, droplets of wood tar (if the fire orginates from wood), and ash. So even if your possessions don't burn up in a fire, you may have smoke damage. So as you can see, you need to think about not only fire, but smoke and water damage also.  Safes that we carry like the Stealth, Cannon, AMSEC and Liberty gun safes offer a heat-activated seal which expands and seals the space in between the door and safe to protect the contents from damage from heat and smoke.    "