The 2018 wildfires in the western United States charred millions of acres, killed dozens and reduced entire towns to ashes. As devastating as last year was, federal officials predict that 2019 will be worse. Peak risks occur in August and September but veteran forecasters warn of significant fire activity into October. Businesses and homeowners can prepare now to reduce risk of wildfires and reduce the risk of damage to property if a wildfire occurs. Smart preparation follows a three-step process: Prepare & Practice, Prevent and Defend.
Prepare & Practice:
Gather important documents – titles, insurance documentation, birth certificates and the like – and create a visual and written record of belongings. Store these documents in a safe deposit box or a fireproof box if keeping them at home. Develop and share an emergency plan to protect against fire and guide evacuation if necessary. Finally, practice fire drills with employees or family.
Prevent:
Nine of 10 wildfires are started by people, usually out of carelessness. To avoid sparking a wildfire in your area, extinguish all smoking materials completely before discarding. Avoid backyard burning if possible – whether it’s yard waste or a conversational fire pit – and take particular care during windy weather. Never leave any fire unattended and completely extinguish all embers by dousing with water and stirring ashes until cold.
Defend:
Experts talk about creating a “defensible space” around property, which provides room for firefighters to control and extinguish fires. To build that space, remove flammable items like dry underbrush and dead branches from property and trim any tree limbs near structures that are lower than 15 feet from the ground. Stash outdoor furniture inside when not in use and select non-flammable landscaping such as gravel instead of mulch. Store remaining fuel sources properly: stack wood at least 100 feet away from buildings.
Modify structures to reduce flammability, choosing tile, slate or asphalt shingles. If building new, explore flame-resistant designs and materials such as Insulated Concrete Forms, which reportedly resist fire for up to four hours. Test sprinklers and smoke alarms regularly and station fire fighting equipment such as shovels, buckets and hoses in easily accessible areas.
Finally, it behooves businesses and homeowners across the United States to prepare thoroughly for fire season. Though wildfires in western states burn more acreage, wildfires actually are more numerous in the eastern and central states – as 36 homeowners in Tallahassee learned last June.