District 5 City Councilman Brian Maienschein and San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation members partnered with nonprofit groups, including the Home Depot Foundation, to help residents better prepare their homes to survive wildfires. The fire-prevention workshop was held Tuesday, July 15 at a Home Depot on Genesee Avenue in University City.
According to Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), a fire consists of three components: heat, oxygen and fuel. Although residents can’t control the heat or oxygen that feeds a fire, Chapman-Henderson said her mission is to help at-risk homeowners control a fire’s third need “” fuel.
“With wildfires, it’s probably the most manageable from an economic standpoint,” Chapman-Henderson said, explaining that homeowners’ building materials and plants can fuel a fire. “It’s about the foliage.”
After the Witch Creek fires, FLASH members returned to the scene, studying the fire’s effects to find safer materials and plants to help homeowners rebuild.
Chapman-Henderson then showed a video from San Diego’s Witch Creek fires pointing out differences that building materials and foliage make during a wildfire. The scenes showed two homeowners, RJ and Elena. RJ’s deck was in flames when he received a reverse 911 call, but Elena’s home was standing alone among the rubble and debris of her neighbors’ houses after the fire tore through their Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.
“Vegetation underneath wooden decks becomes kindling,” said Julian Fire Chief Kevin Dubler, explaining the difference between RJ’s and Elena’s outcomes. “She cleared all the debris away.”
San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, Maienschein and Chapman-Henderson attributed Elena’s good fortune to her forethought. She changed out her wood-shingle roof to fire-safe asphalt shingles and created a defensible buffer zone around her home.
“When we analyze effects, it’s about the fuel,” Chapman-Henderson said. “Any plant that’s highly resinous, like pine, is bad. Plants with a high water content are good.”
Dubler said Julian does not allow wood shingles of any kind, requires dual-pane windows and asks residents to get rid of flammable vegetation around their homes.
Fire season started early this year, Jarman said. At its peak, 1,700 fires were out of control in Northern California, she said.
“We need your help to fireproof your home so it’s as safe as possible,” Jarman said.
Jarman offered tips for homeowners to prepare for wildfires, including readiness to evacuate and supplies for 72 hours. According to Jarman, officials are using the hurricane evacuation model for fire preparedness.
FLASH has partnered with the insurance industry, testing materials for consumers. For information about wildfire safety, building materials, or types of foliage to plant, go to www.flash.org.