Remove rubble under balconies and sheds.
Any balcony or shed with space underneath is exposed to fire approach. Elevated spaces immediately accumulate fire, especially when used for storage or heavily vegetated. Clear leaves, garbage and other fuel materials, place them far away and not under balconies and sheds. Extend the shed to ½ an inch from the ground. Include wood piling with nonflammable material, such as concrete, brick, stone, stucco or metal. Use patio furniture and nonflammable covers. If you are planning for a solarium, use nonflammable and fire resistant materials. If possible, build a ground structure with no space underneath.
Include eaves
As sheds and balconies, eaves trap the heat. Include eaves to reduce danger.
Cover open spaces with wire mesh.
Any attic vent, window and other type of opening may allow garbage and ember in the house and cause a fire. Cover all openings with a ¼ in., corrosion resistant wire mesh. If you are designing the windows, place them in the vertical wall and not under the eaves.
Install mesh screens to block embers at the chimney and stove piping. Chimneys can be a hazard when embers fly out through the top. To prevent this, install a wire mesh screen or arrestor in every chimney, vent and stove piping for ember protection. Use knit wire mesh screens with 1/2 in openings. Ask your fire department about exact specifications. If you are building a chimney, use nonflammable materials and make sure that the top of the chimney is at least two feet higher that any obstruction within 10 feet of the chimney. Keep the chimney clean.
Use fire resistant lagging.
Use fire resistant materials in your home’s lagging, such as stucco, metal, brick, cement tiles, concrete and rock. You can treat wood with fire resistant, UL approved lagging, but treatment and protection are not permanent.
Choose safety crystals for windows and sliding doors.
Windows allow heat radiation through, which might ignite flammable materials inside. The larger the glass panel is, the more vulnerable it will be to fire. Double or triple panels at the windows and fire retardant curtains help to reduce fire risks. You can also install nonflammable awnings to protect the windows.
Prepare water storage; develop an external water supply such as a small pond or a pool.
Other safety measures to consider when building or remodeling.
• Choose locations wisely; steep locations increase the risk of forest fire exposure.
• Use fire resistant construction materials while remodeling, building or changing a structure.
• Avoid designs that include wooden decks and patios.
• Use nonflammable materials for the roof.
• The roof is especially vulnerable in a forest fire. Garbage and embers can travel great distances, land on your roof and start a new fire. Avoid flammable materials in roofs, such as wood and shingles. The most fire resistant materials are fiber glass, metallic, clay and concrete tiles. Clear the area from leaves and garbage.
