As the summer fire season begins, ensure your home and property are safe and working to protect you and your family in the event of a wildfire by creating a defensible space, limiting fuels, and planting fire-resistant plants.
Many people love to have beautiful landscaping, but sometimes it can grow larger and faster than we have time to manage. Sound familiar?
Managing our homes and properties is more than just for aesthetic purposes—it’s crucial for the safety of our families and community. In an emergency, every second counts. One very important way to fight against the threat of fire is to keep your yard and home well-maintained. This is especially important in rural areas where the wildfire threat is higher.
Keep It Lean, Clean, & Green for Safety
Learn how to best prepare your home with these fire-safe home maintenance tips:
- Limit Fire Fuels: Remove dead plants, branches, needles, leaves, or other flammables that can easily ignite and burn.
- Water Regularly: Keep all plants watered, mowed, and thinned.
- Create Fire Breaks: Use driveways, gravel paths, and green lawns as fuel breaks to stop the path of a fire.
- Choosing Outdoor Furniture: Keep burnable materials such as wooden outdoor furniture or play sets away from the house, or consider fire-resistant replacements.
- Choosing Vegetation: Choose plants with a high moisture content and trim bushes and trees regularly to avoid overgrowth.
- Clean Your Roof and Gutters: Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris, and pine needles that could catch embers. Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles.
- Tree Placement: Plant trees at an appropriate distance, and always ensure your trees are a safe distance from all electric utility infrastructure, including power lines.
Stay safe this summer!