Wildfires
The number of persons making their homes
in woodland settings, in remote mountain sites, and near forests has risen
dramatically in the past thirty years. The influx of homes, hunting cabins,
summer homes, ski resorts and in previously wild land
areas has added a new dimension of difficulty to fire protection. These areas often have inadequate access to
homes as well as limited water supplies to fight fires.
Causes of wildfires
Approximately four out of five
wildfires are started by people. Negligent acts such as smoking in forested
areas or not adequately extinguishing campfires cause many forest fires. Lightning also is the cause of many forest
fires.
Once a fire starts its behavior and
spread is affected by three factors: fuels, weather and topography. The fuels
are the grasses, brush, trees, dead vegetation and any home, outbuilding or
businesses located in the forest.
Firewood stacked outside a house, thick vegetation around the home, and
fire prone construction also adds to a fire’s intensity and ability to burn.
Weather can often determine the size
of a fire. Hot days, low-moisture, high winds and low humidity create ideal
conditions for wildfires. If all of
these conditions are present, small fires can turn into infernos. These conditions are very characteristic of
The topography of the land also
affects the way a fire will spread. Gullies and canyons channel winds and
therefore encourage fires to spread. Because heat rises, fires tend to burn up
a slope. Houses built in canyons or on slopes have the potential of being hard
hit by a wildfire. The topography can also hinder the ability to move trucks
and equipment in to fight fires.
How to protect your property from wildfire
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Design
and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Obtain local building codes and weed
abatement ordinances for structures built near wooded areas. There may be restrictions on the types of
materials or plants used in residential areas.
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Select
materials and plants that can help resist fire rather than fuel it. Use fire resistant or noncombustible material
like tile, stucco, metal siding, brick, concrete block or rock on the roof and
exterior structure of the dwelling.
Treat wood or combustible materials used in roofs, siding, decking, or
trim with fire-retardant chemicals that have been listed by the Underwriter’s
Laboratory (UL). Avoid using wooden
shakes and shingles for a roof. Use only
thick, tempered safety glass in large windows.
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Install
electrical lines underground, if possible.
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Create
a safety zone to separate your home from combustible plants and vegetation.
Maintain the greatest distance possible between your home and materials that
may burn in a wildfire. Within this
area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant
heat. Walls made of stone can act as heat shields and deflect flames. Swimming pools and patios can be a safety
zone.
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If
your home sits on a steep slope, standard protective measures may not
suffice. Fire moves quickly up steep
slopes. A larger safety zone may be
necessary. Contact your local fire
department or forestry office for additional information.
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Equip
chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of
National Fire Protection Association Code 211.
This will reduce the chance of burning cinder escaping through the
chimney, starting outdoor fires.
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Have a
fire extinguisher and get training from the fire department on how to use
it. Different extinguishers operate in
different ways. Unless you know how to
use you extinguisher you may not be
able to use it effectively. There is no
time to read directions during an emergency.
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Consider
installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes. The heat from a fire creates wind, which can
block hot cinders, sometimes large enough and with enough force to break
windows. Reduce the potential for these cinders to cause your home to burn.
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Keep a
ladder handy that will reach the roof.
You may need to get on the roof to wet it down or remove flammable
debris.
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Keep
household items handy that can be used as fire tools: a rake, ax, handsaw or
chain saw, bucket and shovel. You may need to fight small fires before emergency
responders arrive. Having this equipment
will make your efforts more effective.
Plants and Vegetation
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Plant
fire-resistant shrubs and trees in your safety zone and on the remainder of
your property. Fire-resistant plants are
less likely to catch and spread fire closer to your home. For example, hardwood trees are more
fire-resistant than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus, or fir trees.
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Rake
away leaves, dead limbs, and twigs.
Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures and dispose of them
properly. Clear all flammable
vegetation; this will help reduce the fuel load.
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Have a
professional tree service thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove
limbs within 6 to 10 feet of the ground.
This will help reduce the chance of fire spreading from tree to tree or
from ground to tree.
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Remove
all dead branches from all trees. Dead
branches are easily combustible.
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Keep
all tree and shrub limbs trimmed so they don’t come in contact with electrical
wires. Electrical wires can be easily
damaged or knocked loose by swaying branches.
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Keep
trees adjacent to buildings free of dead of dying wood and moss. Taller plants are more likely to spread fire.
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Prune
tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
What to do if wildfires threaten
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Listen
to local radio stations for emergency information. Follow the instructions of local officials.
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Back
your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of
escape. Shut doors and roll up
windows. Leave the key in the
ignition. Close garage windows and
doors, but leave them unlocked.
Disconnect your automatic garage door openers in case power goes out.
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Confine
your pets to one room. Make plans to
care for pets in case you must evacuate.
Pets may try to run if they feel threatened by fire. Keeping them inside in one room will allow
you to find them quickly if you need to leave.
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Arrange
temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the threatened area..
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I you
know you have time, take steps to reduce the chance of your home catching fire
or lessen the amount of damage from a nearby fire.
Inside your
home
o Shut
off gas at the meter.
o Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens.
o Close windows, vents, doors, Venetian
blinds or noncombustible window coverings, and heavy drapes. Remove flammable drapes and curtains.
o Move flammable furniture into the center of
the home away from windows and sliding-glass doors.
o Close all doors and windows inside your home to prevent draft.
o Place valuable that will not be damaged by
water in a pool or pond
Outside your
home
o If hoses and adequate water are available,
place sprinklers on roofs and turn on to wet the roof and anything that might
be damaged by fire.
o Seal attic and ground vents with precut
plywood or commercial seals.
o Remove combustible items from around the
house; lawn and poolside furniture, umbrellas, tarp covering, and firewood.
o Connect the garden hose to outside
taps. Wet shrubs and lawn within 15
feet of your home.
o Gather fire tools
o Be ready to evacuate all family members and
pets when the fire nears or when instructed to do so by local officials.
o If you are trapped, crouch in a pond or
river. You cannot outrun a fire. Cover your head and upper body with wet
clothing. If water is not around, look
for shelter in a cleared area or among a bed of rocks. Lie flat and cover your body with wet
clothing or soil. Breather the air close
to the ground through a wet cloth to avoid scorching lungs or inhaling
smoke. Wildfires move very fast and
create their own wind, helping them to move even faster.
What to do if evacuation is
necessary
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If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. You may have only minutes to act. Save yourself.
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Wear protective clothing; sturdy shoes, cotton or
woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief
to protect your face.
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Take your Disaster Supplies Kit. These items will
make your more comfortable when you are away from home.
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Lock your home.
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Tell someone outside of the wildfire area where you
are going.
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Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction
of fire and smoke. Staying as far away
as possible will provide you with the greatest safety.