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Be Prepared, not scared!
Posted by Sherwin Ross on
Be Prepared, Not Scared
ace_fire_preparedness Recent studies found wind-driven embers hit a house and drop to the ground at the wall, which is where they set fire to anything combustible. Houses that survived the Paradise Fire - one of the deadliest in California history - had one thing in common: no combustibles close to the house. Even a few feet of stone around the foundation made a big difference.
Homes within urban areas with piped services and fire hydrants and nearby fire stations are better protected, but many of us live in suburbs in what fire officials and insurers call WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE (WUI). The following tips are for folks who are not downtown:
🔥Keep combustibles away from your home (firewood, wood sheds, fences) 🔥Mulch around your house is like spreading boxes of matches up against your home 🔥Keep dry leaves away, especially under decks. 🔥Dry grass may burn faster than a person can run, so consider drought-resistant landscaping rather than a lawn 🔥Clean leaves out of gutters cause they can catch embers 🔥Consider stone patios instead of ground-level decks 🔥Remove/prune trees that are too close, and clear dead branches 🔥In high-risk areas consider a non-ventilated roof because fire often enters soffits and torches the attic.
🔥Advocate for steel roofing and non-combustible cladding close to grade.
🔥Think twice before you build a wood deck or shed against a rural home.
Be prepared; not scared!