Preparing your property for wildfire season

The phrase “spread like wildfire” has become less of an analogy and more of a reality all over the U.S., especially in the West. What’s sweeping the area isn’t just fire, it’s a reminder of Mother Nature’s true force. With summer and wildfire season upon us, below are some tips to help homeowners physically protect their memory-filled homes ahead of wildfire season.

 

1. Maintain a defensible space around your home

Remove any shrubs planted under your trees, prune all branches that overhang your roof, cut down thin trees, and remove all dead vegetation from your property. If you can, move trailers, RVs and storage sheds from the property. If you can’t, build a defensible space around them. For an added layer of protection, place about five feet of noncombustible materials such as gravel, brick, or concrete adjacent to your home’s foundation.

2. Reduce your siding risks

Maintain a 6-inch ground-to-siding clearance, and consider noncombustible siding such as concrete or brick, when it’s time to replace or upgrade.

3. Clean debris from your roof and gutters

Regularly remove debris such as leaves and twigs from your roof and gutters since debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers.

4. Inspect and trim trees 

Trim trees on a regular basis to remove dead branches. ReadyForWildfire.org recommends keeping branches 10 feet away from your home and from other trees.

5. Use a Class-A roof covering

Class-A fire rated roofing products offer the best protection for homes. Common Class-A roof coverings include: clay tiles, slate, asphalt glass fiber composition shingles, and concrete tiles.

6. Choose the right kind of fencing

Burning fencing can generate embers and cause direct flame contact to your home. Use noncombustible fencing such as metal, stone, and concrete.

7. Keep embers out of eaves and vents

Use 1/8-inch mesh to cover vents, and box-in open eaves to create a soffited eave.

8. Protect your windows

Use multi-pane, tempered glass windows, and close them when a wildfire threatens.

9. Reduce deck risks

At a minimum, use deck boards that comply with California requirements for new construction in wildfire-prone areas. Remove combustibles under your deck and maintain effective defensible space around the deck’s perimeter. Keep in mind decayed wood is more combustible so regularly check your deck for rotten boards and replace them.

10. Store flammables away

Highly flammable objects such as firewood and propane tanks should be regularly stored a minimum of 30 feet away from your home.

Wildfires are complex, but that doesn’t mean defense preparation should be, too. Hopefully these tips will help in making the complex a little simpler…even when we’re up against Mother Nature.

Sean Marler is a financial representative with COUNTRY Financial in Minden, Nevada. He can be reached at sean.marler@countryfinancial.com or (775) 782-8363.