Be Aware! Are Conditions Favorable for a Wildfire?
Red Flag Warnings. Wildfire can happen during any month of the year, in any corner of the county when conditions are right. The National Weather Service will issue a Red Flag warning when there’s an increased risk of fire danger because of the following conditions:
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Warm Temperatures
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Low Humidity
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High Winds
Catastrophic fire is most likely to occur when these conditions converge
Junk Your Junipers
Remove This Combustible Plant From Around Your Home
Junipers are highly combustible plants due to their volatile oils, dense growth, and retention of dead plant material. Having juniper bushes near your home increases the likelihood it will be impacted by wildfire.
The trapped needles and debris beneath make these plants highly susceptible to ember ignition. This is not the ideal plant to have in close proximity to your home!
If You Sense Danger,
Get Moving
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Don’t wait for an evacuation order to leave. If you feel unsafe or concerned, get out.
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Take a little extra time to pack and prepare if that feels smart.
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Consider spending a few spare moments helping a less independent neighbor.
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When you leave early, you’re helping eliminate gridlock in case an evacuation notice is given.
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If it turns out to be a false alarm, you can return later to a home that’s safe and secure.
BE PREPARED
One of the easiest ways to improve outcomes during a catastrophic wildfire is to prepare for an event in case it does happen;
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Store documents in the cloud or off-site on an external drive
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Keep your homeowner’s insurance policy up to date.
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Create a family evacuation plan
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Can you help a neighbor? Are there teens or adults who don’t drive? Can you be their ride?
HOW TO PREPARE
FOR A WILDFIRE
Fences are Fuses
Combustible fencing often contributes to home loss during a wildfire
Once the fence catches fire:
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Radiant heat from the burning fence cause the house siding to ignite or windows to fail bringing flame in direct contact with the home.
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The burning fence generates embers and larger fire-brands that get blown against the home and lead to ignition.
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The fence acts as a fuse, drawing fire into direct contact with the home.
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Fencing – Fire Resistant Fence Alternatives. Read More
Vents For Devense
Properly Screening Vents to Prevent Ember Incursion
During a wildfire event, embers are sucked into the home via vents and other gaps or holes. If not properly mitigated, vent openings can serve as access points for embers and flames, which can lead to home ignition.
Screening these vents using 1/8″ metal screening, or replacing them with wildfire resilient vents is a crucial element of wildfire mitigation best practices.
NOTE: Some vents exhaust the home’s furnace or radon system and should not be modified. If in doubt consult a professional.
Ready, Set, Mow!
Managing Grass on Private Land
Healthy native grasses help with fire mitigation in our open spaces by preventing drier and more bulky weeds from taking hold.
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Tall grass, particularly when dry, will carry fire causing it to spread rapidly.
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Burning tall grass will create more embers than short grass because there is more biomass per square foot.
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In the short-grass buffer zone around buildings, fire should creep under stronger wind conditions or go out entirely if wind isn’t fanning the flames.
The First Five Feet
Create a Noncombustible Zone Around Your Home
The first 5 feet around the structures on your property are critical to the survival of your home and outbuildings during a wildfire.
More homes ignite due to impinging embers than to any other causes. Embers can travel a mile or more ahead of a wildfire, igniting combustible materials, especially fine fuels like pine needles, dry leaves, wood mulch, and dry grass.
When those materials are in direct contact with your home or other buildings, this quickly leads to structure ignition.
What To Avoid
If your area is under a Red Flag or High Wind warning, or under Stage 1 or Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, the following activities should be avoided;
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Campfires, Burning, & Fireworks
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Charcoal grills should not be left unattended until coals are cold
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Use of machinery that could cause sparks outdoors including items like lawn mowers, welding equipment, or heavy equipment. Cars and motorcycles should not be parked on tall or dry grass.
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Tossing flaming or lit materials including cigarettes or ashes onto the ground.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE!
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE HOME ASSESSMENT NOW OR JUST ASK US A QUESTION