How To Protect Your Home From Wildfires
It’s that time of year again! Back to school, fall decor, and…wildfire season. 😒 As they spread throughout California, you probably wonder what you can do to help safeguard your home. Afterall, your home is likely one of your most important investments, as well as holds your priceless memories and your most important asset of all - your family.
While California wildfires may be in inevitable, there are plenty of steps you can take to protect your home & loved ones.
Brush Removal
One of the best things you can do to prevent fires near your home is to remove anything nearby that could provide kindling for a fire. However, with this type of clearing, more is not necessarily better. The California Chaparral Institute states that removing all trees & brush can actually create a "bowling alley" for embers. Without the interference of thinned, lightly irrigated vegetation, the house becomes the perfect ember catcher.
For this reason, it’s incredibly important to hire an experienced company such as Terry’s Tree Service. Their decades of experience ensure they will properly protect your home from fires. As part of our network of professionals, Terry’s Tree Service carries all the necessary licenses to perform routine and emergency tree removals on private and public property in the state of California, as well as carries additional service excellence recognitions and approvals. These approvals, specifically ISA certification and Diamond certification, mean that Terry’s is one of the best contractors in the tree care industry.
The (maybe not so) obvious - Do not store flammable items — firewood, trash, outdoor furniture, etc. — near this area. Store these items in a detached structure away from the home like a shed.
Reassess Your Deck
If you have a deck in your backyard, check to see if it’s made from flame-resistant materials. If not, upgrading your deck with fire resistant materials could easily be one of the smartest investments you make.
…And Your Fence
On a similar note, if you have a flammable wooden fence, consider rebuilding it with metal components or other non-flammable materials to help prevent wildfires from spreading to your home. There are many beautiful options that not only protect you, but upgrade the aesthetics of your home as well. Our Find A Pro page has some of the top fence and deck businesses in Northern California - you’re certain to find someone to build the fence of your dreams.
Fireproof Your Roof
Fire scientist Jack Cohen says, "A flammable roof will make the difference of your house being destroyed and not being destroyed, regardless of what else you do.” According to The Sierra Club, a roof constructed from nonflammable materials like asphalt shingles, metal, slate, or tile is your safest bet. While wood shingles are the most common flammable roof covering material, homeowners who don’t want the hassle of reroofing can simply treat their wooden roofs with fire retardant, or install a rooftop sprinkler system.
However, experts warn that such solutions may be inadequate—so you might want to consider changing materials altogether. “A nonflammable roof is easy to achieve,” says Michelle Steinberg, director of the National Fire Prevention Agency’s (NFPA) Wildfire Division. “If you get a typical asphalt shingle roof with a good installation, you really don’t have to worry too much.” To decide what your best bet is, we recommend consulting with a professional who can go over your options.
Other Steps to Take
Regularly Clean & Remove Debris from Gutters & Roofs - If you prefer to have someone else help you, there are plenty of qualified companies that will easily take care of this for you.
Review your Insurance Policy - Taking a few moments to make sure your policy covers you in the case of a wildfire can save you from years of trouble. In addition, taking the time to document all of your belongings can give you peace of mind and help with the insurance claims process if you should ever need it.
Talk to Your Neighbors - If you live in a community where houses are close to one another, what your neighbor does can be just as important as what you do. Working together and keeping each other informed benefits everyone. With thorough risk assessment and several lines of defense, neighborhoods can be safer!
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