Editorial
Don’t leave your home vulnerable to wildfire
With the threat of wildfires across multiple states, the non-profit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® offers wildfire prevention tips for residents. You can protect your home and prepare your family for wildfires. Remember, embers can be blown more than a mile from the flames so it is critical to take action to make your home wildfire-resilient.
1. Have a fire disaster plan including at least two, pre-determined
evacuation routes, an NOAA Weather Radio and disaster kit for
your family
2. Follow any and all evacuation orders immediately
3. Identify an emergency water supply within 1,000 feet of your home
through one of the following:
• Community water/hydrant system, and/or
• Drafting site on a lake
• Cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors
• Swimming pool
4. Remove fuels that can lead flames to your home or that can
become ignited from windblown embers, including:
• Dead grass, leaves, etc. (fine fuels) and dead twigs, branches, etc.
(coarse fuels) within 30 feet of buildings.
• Dry leaf/pine litter from roofs, rain gutters, decks and walkways
• Dead and dry litter at the base of plants
• Tree branches (ladder fuels) within 6 – 10 feet of the ground
• Firewood within 30 feet of buildings
• Continuous beds of combustible vegetation (on the ground or in
tree tops) that can bring large flames within 100 feet of your home
5. Clean your gutters, eaves and roof to make sure they are clear
of debris.
6. Plant species that retain moisture and resist ignition including:
• Native, fire-resistant vegetation (check with local forestry agency)
• Fire prone trees and shrubs away from your home and far
enough apart, so they won’t ignite one another
• Make sure your street number is legible and clearly marked for
emergency responders
• Move any storage sheds including lawn mowers, grills, gas
cans and tanks away from your home
7. Before a threat, landscape with fire resistant, native plant species
that retain moisture and resist ignition.
8. Install metal screening that blocks embers from entering your
buildings, including:
• Noncombustible 1/8 inch on attic/crawl space vents, and
around low decks
• Noncombustible (metal, etc.) skirting around mobile homes
If threatened by wildfire, only remove dead leaves or vegetation when local garbage collection services will have time to pick up the debris. Do not burn vegetation without following local requirements. For more information on wildfire prevention visit flash.org or protect-your-home.org.
—Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a nationwide consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters.
