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We found ourselves nodding in agreement as we read a story about how Washington state has mandated that its workers use plain language in public documents.

Arizona leaders should follow Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire's lead and get public workers to stop using acronyms, jargon and legalese in documents meant for the public.

Such a move would have made the November ballot easier to read. Unless one was thoroughly educated about the propositions, it was sometimes hard to tell what one was voting for based on the ballot language.

Judging from an Associated Press story in Sunday's Star, Gregoire's "plain talk" campaign is making Washington a more understanding state; that is, more people know exactly what the government is saying.

Washington state is benefiting financially, too. The AP found that one rewritten letter tripled revenues from the "use tax," a sales tax on products bought out of state.

Tucsonans involved in government, business and the military can say "talking" instead of "dialoguing," "meeting" instead of "interfacing," and "working" instead of "facilitating." And leave out the jargon, such as the word "stakeholders."

As Washington state has figured out, keeping language simple and straightforward keeps everyone informed and involved.

Now that chilly mornings are here for a while, it's time for families in our community to take steps to prevent fire deaths.

Fires can kill year-round, but, as the Star's Enric Volante reported Sunday, they are more common around the holidays as more people use space heaters and candles, and string Christmas lights around the house.

Volante reported that last year 20 children in Arizona died from fire or burns, after none died the previous year. The Tucson Fire Department has not recorded any child deaths in recent years.

The Arizona Fire and Burn Educators Association, a nonprofit group, offers a checklist to help make a home safe. You can find the checklist and other fire-safety information at www.afbea.org.

Don't let a fire ruin the holidays.