Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Preparing your house for wildfire

As fire season screams upon us a month before normal I thought I would share as someone who has been on call for forest fires for nearly a decade how to help prepare your home in the event this may happen. It really takes prior planning and being proactive more than anything. I am assuming your home is already built so here are some things you can do.

1. Keep grass well trimmed and shrubbery away from home.
2. that means grass in your field as well which may be close to your home, fire lines cut are often 12' wide, you want to keep at least that much as a buffer zone.
3. Old outbuildings must go, modern homes are actually fairly fire resistant, but obviously only to a point,  as that old barn catches fire the heat and flames often blow on a house causing it to start fire.
4. No wood pile against your house.
5. If you are in an area where there is already a fire, get your things packed and be prepared to leave in a moments notice, make sure you have all your important papers and belongings, but in the end remember NOTHING is more important than your life and well being.
6. Do not try to be a hero, if a fire gets to close take the authorities advice and evacuate.

 

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