Recovering from a fire may be a physically and mentally exhausting process.
When fire strikes, life turns upside down. Usually the most difficult part is figuring out where to begin and who to contact.
Wildfires
The threat of wildfires is very real for people living near natural areas or recreational facilities in natural areas. Planning beforehand and knowing how to protect buildings in these areas may decrease devastation produced by a wildfire.
Planning beforehand and knowing how to protect buildings in these areas may decrease devastation produced by a wildfire. There are several safety precautions that you can follow to reduce the risk of loss by a fire. Protecting your home from fires is your responsibility. To reduce the risk, you must consider your home’s resistance to fire, your property’s topography and the type of vegetation nearby.
How to Prepare for a Forest Fire
Here you will find several suggestions that may be applied immediately. Others must be considered when building or remodeling. You must also contact your local fire department, forest office, emergency office or building department to learn about local fire laws, construction regulations and protection measured. Learning local building codes and undergrowth removal ordinances, for structures built near wooded areas.
Learn About Your Fire Risk Level
Learn about fire history in your area. Beware of current weather. A long drought period increases fire risk. Consider the possibility of having a professional inspect your property and provide recommendations to reduce the risk of fire. Determine your community’s fire response capacity. Verify that roads leading to your property are clearly marked. Are highways wide enough to allow fire trucks into your property? Is your house number visible from the edge of the road?
Teach and learn fire safety practices.
• Light fires away from trees or bushes.
• Always have a quick way to put a fire out completely.
• Install one smoke detector at each level of your house and near the sleeping areas.
• Never leave a fire or lit cigarette unattended.
• Completely avoid open flame especially during a drought period.
Always be ready for an emergency evacuation.
Evacuating may be the only way of protecting your family in a forest fire. Know where to go and take emergency supplies with you. You must have an evacuation plan with several alternative routes in case the roads are blocked by a forest fire.
Creating Safety Zones Around the House
Vegetation is fuel for fires, some trees and bushed are more flammable than others. To reduce the risk, you must modify or remove branches, trees and other vegetation near your house. More distance between your house and vegetation means more protection.
Create a 30 feet safety zone around the house
Keep the vegetation volume to a minimum in this zone. If you live o a hill, clean the area downwards. Fires spread more quickly when travelling upwards. If it is in a steep and high area it is more necessary to protect your home. Pools and patios may be a safety area and brick walls can act as thermal shields and deflect flames. You should do the following in this safety area:
• Remove climbing plants from the walls.
• Move bushes and other garden plants away from the sides of the house.
• Trim branches and bushes within 15 feet from the chimneys and stove piping.
• Remove tree branches within 15 feet from the ground.
• Leave 15 feet of space between tree crowns.
• Replace flammable vegetation, such as young pine, eucalyptus, junipers and fir trees and less flammable species. Get in touch with the local fire department or garden and request suggestions about appropriate vegetation use.
• Replace vegetation with live or dead branches from the ground to the highest level (these act as fuel for the approaching fire).
• Mow the lawn frequently, keeping the grass under 2 inches. Take care of the lawn and other vegetation near the home’s entrance.
• Clear the area from leaves, branches, dead tree limbs and fallen trees.
Create a second zone of at least 100 feet around the house.
This area should begin at about 30 feet from the house and extend to at least 100 feet. In this area, flammable vegetation should be replaced or reduced as much as possible. If you live in a hill, you may need to widen the area in several hundred feet to provide the desired safety level.
Clean all flammable liquids within 30 feet from any structure.
• If possible, install underground power lines.
• Ask the power company to clear any branches near the power lines.
• Avoid the use of bark and ground wood in garden decoration.
• Pile wood 1000 feet away and uphill from any structure.
• Store fuels or flammable materials in approved safety containers and keep them outside of the house.
• Keep the gas grill and propane tanks 15 feet away from any structure. Place a 1/4 inch mesh screen on the grill. Always use the grill cautiously, but refrain from using it during high risk periods.
