Here are some tips for preparing
your home and yard to survive a
wildfire. The information and
suggestions presented here range
from simple weekend tasks to
involved projects that may
require professional assistance.
Before starting on any activity,
make sure you are comfortable
with the required skill level.
If you are uncertain, contact a
professional engineer,
architect, or building
contractor.
First Things First
If you’re handy with a hammer
and saw, you can do much of the
work yourself. Work involving
your home’s structure may
require a building contractor,
or a registered design
professional such as an
architect or engineer. Before
making any structural changes to
your home, check with your local
building officials to be sure
what you’re doing complies with
local building codes.
Give Your Home a
Survivable Space Through
Smart Landscaping
Create a zone around your house
that will slow the wildfire down
and possibly direct it around
your home. To do this, you must
view your yard as a fuel source.
Fire will only burn if fuel is
present. Fuel can be your
landscaping, woodpiles, decks,
etc. To create your survivable
space, take the following steps
within 30 feet of your home, 50
feet if you live in a heavily
treed area or 100 feet if your
home is on a hillside.
If the wildfire gets
to the house,
another line of
defense is the type
of materials used on
your home’s
exterior. Use the
following guidelines
to best protect your
home:
Use only
non-combustible
roofing materials.
Box in the eaves,
fascias, soffits and
subfloors with fire
resistant materials
like treated wood,
reducing the vent
sizes.
Apply 1/4"
non-combustible
screening to all
vent or eave
openings.
Install spark
arresters in
chimneys.
Enclose the
undersides of
decks with
fire-resistant
materials.
Cover exterior
walls with fire
resistant
materials like
stucco, stone,
or brick. (Vinyl
siding can melt
and is not
recommended).
Use double paned
or tempered
glass for all
exterior
windows.
Install
noncombustible
street signs.
Make sure your
street address
is visible from
the street.
When a Wildfire
Threatens
Become familiar with your
community’s disaster
preparedness plans and
create a family plan.
Identify escape routes from
your home and neighborhood
and designate an emergency
meeting place for your
family to reunite if you
become separated.
Put together an emergency
kit that includes a
three-day supply of drinking
water and food you don’t
have to refrigerate or cook;
first aid supplies; a
portable NOAA weather radio;
a wrench and other basic
tools; a flashlight; work
gloves; emergency cooking
equipment; portable
lanterns; fresh batteries
for each piece of equipment;
clothing: blankets; baby
items; prescription
medications; extra car and
house keys; extra
eyeglasses; credit cards and
cash; important documents,
including insurance
policies.
A well prepared home has the
greatest chance of surviving
a wildfire.
For more information about
protecting your family and
home from wildfires, check
these sources:
Review your homeowner’s
insurance policy
periodically with your
insurance agent or company
representative to make sure
you have sufficient coverage
to rebuild your life and
home after a wildfire.
Report any property damage
to your insurance agent or
company representative
immediately after a natural
disaster and make temporary
repairs to prevent further
damage.
For information about filing
an insurance claim after a
natural disaster, contact
your insurance agent or
insurance company.
Source: Institute for
Business and Home Safety.
IBHS is a national nonprofit
initiative of the insurance
industry to reduce deaths,
injuries, property damage,
economic losses and human
suffering caused by natural
disasters.
