We’ve talked about the proper precautions and preparations to take while debris burning, so let’s take a look at how to prepare your home for wildfires. For today we will go over some simple steps, if you want to go more in-depth, please refer to our series on the Home Ignition Zone please click here for the first installment.
Keep flammable objects at least 30 feet away from the house,
especially lawnmowers (or similar equipment), gas and oil cans (this includes
propane tanks), and wood piles. If you have toys and lawn furniture near the
house, move them 30 feet away during times of wildfire activity.
Next, take the time to clean roofs, gutters, decks, and
patios clear of leaf litter, pine needles, or any other flammable debris. Remember
we have a spring AND fall fire season here in Pennsylvania, so on top of spring
cleaning keep those fresh falling leaves caught up with.
I love a good flower bed as much as the next person, but here
are some tips to make them a little more safe. Keep the vegetation a minimum of
5 feet from your home, and in that space use nonflammable material such as rocks
(pick a pretty color, we won’t judge). Keep any dead vegetation and litter
cleaned out of your flower beds and landscaped areas.
Next, look up and around, and remove any branches from trees or
shrubs that overhang within 10 feet of your house, roof, or chimney.
Keep lawns watered and mowed. If you don’t water your lawn
due to water conservation or no need to, make sure you keep debris cleared
within 30 feet of your home.
Now, to prevent crown fires and torching, trim branches off of trees up to 10 feet high. This eliminates ladder fuels that would allow fires
to reach treetops.
Install 1/8-inch metal screens over vents and under decks to
prevent embers from getting in, it would be beneficial to install them over
gutters as well.
You can also Go to Firewise.org or LivingWithFire.info to
learn more about how to prepare your home for wildfire.
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