07/25/2024
With wildfire season upon us, I wanted to pass along some important tips to make sure you, your family and your belongings are safe in the event of a wildfire. Here are our top 10 tips to keep you safe and protected.
1. Create a defensible space around your home. That means removing any dead or dying weeds, leaves, cones, bark and shrubs planted under trees. Prune all your branches that overhang roofs, cut down smaller trees and remove any dead vegetation from your property. If you’re able, install about 5 feet of noncombustible material (gravel, pavers, brick, etc.) around your home’s foundation.
2. Maintain 6-inches of clearance from the ground to your siding. If you can, consider upgrading to noncombustible siding like concrete or brick.
3. Regularly clean debris from your roof and gutters.
4. Inspect and regularly prune and trim the trees on your property. Trim all branches so they’re no closer than 10 feet to your home.
5. Use a Class A roof covering. These offer the best protection for your home. Clay tiles, slate, fiberglass asphalt composition shingles and concrete are all good examples of Class A roofing.
6. Install noncombustible fencing like metal, stone or concrete.
7. Keep embers out of your eaves and vents. Cover them with 1/8th inch mesh and box in open eaves to create a soffit.
8. Protect your windows and use multi-pane, tempered glass windows. Always keep them closed when a wildfire is threatening your neighborhood.
9. Protect your deck. Use deck boards that comply with new construction requirements in wildfire-prone areas. Clear out any combustibles stored underneath the deck and create defensible space around it.
10. Keep flammable items away from your home. Things like firewood or propane tanks should be stored a minimum of 30 feet from your home’s foundation.
