3 Things to Do to Protect Your Home From a Wildfire

Wildfires are a concern all over the country, but some areas in the Western part of the United States have more wildfires than others. If you live in an area that has a high wildfire risk, you can do some things to protect your home and minimize the risk of damage to the house if a fire moves through your area.

1. Prepare the Exterior of the Home

Proper preparation against a wildfire starts with your home’s exterior.

Remove Flammables

The first thing you should do is walk around the outside of your home and look for flammable items that are near the home. This includes woodpiles, leaves, and pine needles. Any fuel or flammable object should be no closer than 30 feet from the house but the further you get it away, the better. You do not want to add a combustion source that could act as a bridge to the house, allowing the fire to cross it.

Close Gaps and Openings                                                                                                                                                          

Cover crawl spaces and other openings into the house with fine steel mesh. Staple the mesh over the openings so it is secure and will help reduce the possibility of sparks and embers getting under or into the home.

Wet Down the Roof and Exterior

Wet down the exterior of the home with water, including the roof, before the fire is close enough to cause damage to the home. If you are at risk from the fire, evacuate the area, but if you can safely stay and protect your property, keep the outside of the house as wet as you can.

2. Clear Around the Property

Heavily wooded property that has a lot of fuel can benefit from clearing for about 100 feet around the house. That doesn't mean that you need to cut all the trees and remove everything — this just means removing the overgrown or dead foliage around the property. Keep everything cut back so that you have a barrier or break between the foliage on the property and the house.

The more material you have to burn, the more likely the fire is to make its way to the house or other buildings on the property. If you clear the property and maintain it through the year, it will be much easier to keep up with, and you will not have to rush if a fire is in the area.

3. Set Up Sprinklers Around the Home

If you have the ability to set up some sprinklers around your home, keeping the area for about 60 feet around the house wet can help to stop the fire from advancing. If you have a well, this is a good option, but if you are on public water supply, you need to check with the firefighters working the fire before running sprinklers.

While one sprinkler will not be a big problem, if everyone in a small area runs sprinklers, this could lower the pressure in the water system and make it harder for firefighters to fight the fire. If you have power and the well operates properly, the sprinkler system may keep the fire away. Remember, this will only keep the ground wet.

If your home sustains damage from a fire, Utah Disaster Restoration Services can help clean up and repair the damage. We specialize in fire, water, and mold damage remediation and repair and can help. Give us a call today to discuss your situation, and we will set a time to come inspect the property and give you a quote. We look forward to speaking with you and solving all your fire damage needs.