Wildfire: Before the Fire

Although it is not possible to forecast wildfires in the same way other natural hazards like hurricanes can be forecast, that makes it all the more important to plan ahead. When extended dry spells or droughts occur in your area, take notice and remove any potential hazards, as these spells make vegetation, trees and grasses around your home more flammable.

As with most natural hazards, your best defense is prevention. If you live in a wildfire-prone area – especially a woodland setting such as a rural or remote mountain area – reduce your risk by designing and landscaping your home with wildfire safety in mind.

Select materials and plants that help contain fire, rather than fuel it. Use fire-resistant or non-combustible materials on your home's roof and exterior walls, or treat wood used in roofs, siding, decks or trim with fire-retardant chemicals approved by organizations such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

When choosing shrubs and trees for your yard, plant fire-resistant varieties – hardwood trees, for example, are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus and fir trees.

Practice wildfire safety

Though wildfires can start from natural causes such as a lightning strike, most wildfires are caused by people. Follow these tips to make sure you practice wildfire safety, especially if you live in a wildfire-prone area:

• Make sure fire and rescue vehicles can reach your home, including large vehicles and fire trucks. Clearly mark all driveway entrances and display your name and address outside your home.
• Report any hazardous conditions that could lead to a wildfire.
• If you have children or grandchildren, teach them about fire safety and keep matches out of their reach.
• Post fire emergency telephone numbers in a prominent place in your home.
• Plan multiple escape routes away from your home, by car and by foot.
• Talk with neighbors about wildfire safety and put together a plan on how you can work together with your neighbors in the event of a wildfire. Make a list of neighbors with any special skills (such as medical or technical) and plan how to help neighbors who are elderly or disabled. Also make plans for how to help children who are on their own if their parents can't get home.

Create a safety zone around your home

Building a 30- to 100-ft.-wide safety zone around your home will help reduce the risk of exposure to flames and radiant heat. If you live in a pine forest, it is strongly recommended that the safety zone around your home be at least 100 feet. If your home lies on a steep slope, such a safety zone may not be workable; contact your local forest management or fire department for more information.

• Regularly rake dead and fallen leaves, limbs and twigs. Clear away any and all flammable vegetation.
• Remove leaves and trash from underneath your home and/or other nearby structures.
• Clear a 15-ft.-wide space between tree crowns, and remove tree limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
• Remove any dead branches that hang over the roof of your home.
• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of any stovepipe or chimney outlet.
• If you see branches near electric power lines, contact your local power company for removal.
• Remove vines from the outside walls of your home.
• Mow your lawn regularly.
• Clear a 10-ft. area around propane tanks and barbecue grills. Place a screen over the grill, using one made from non-flammable material with mesh no coarser than 3/4-inch.
• Follow all local trash burning regulations, and regularly dispose of used newspapers and garbage at approved sites.
• To dispose of ashes from stoves, fireplaces or grills, place the ashes in a metal bucket and soak in water for 2 days. Bury the soaked, cold ashes in mineral soil.
• Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials only in approved safety cans. Place them in a safe location, away from the base of any building.
• Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear any combustible material within 20 feet of firewood, and use only approved wood-burning devices.

Prepare an emergency plan

Develop a family preparedness plan that includes a place to meet if family members are separated in an emergency, and a friend or relative outside your hometown to contact in the event you are separated.

• Prepare an emergency supply kit
• Review your homeowner's insurance policy and put together a list of your home's contents, and put both in a safe place.

Protect your home

• Regularly clean your home's roof and gutters.
• Inspect your chimney(s) at least twice a year and clean them at least once a year.
• Keep dampers in good working order and equip your chimney(s) with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association standards – for exact specifications, contact your local fire department.
• Use a 1/8-inch mesh screen under porches, decks, floors and your home itself. Also, add screening to your floors, roof and attic.
• Install dual-sensor smoke alarms on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Test the alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year.
• Teach all members of your family how to use a fire extinguisher and make sure they know where fire extinguishers are kept in your home.
• Place household items that can be used as fire tools in an easy-to-access place, including a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw, bucket and a shovel.
• Keep a ladder handy that is capable of reaching your roof.
• Consider installing protective shutters or heavy, fire-resistant drapes.
• Use only thick, tempered safety glass in large windows and sliding glass doors.
• Use tile, stucco, metal siding, brick, concrete block, rock or other fire-resistant materials for your roof.
• When building or renovating, install electrical lines underground if possible.

Plan your water needs

• Identify and maintain an outside water source such as a cistern, a small pond, well, swimming pool or fire hydrant.
• Keep handy a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of your home and other structures on your property.
• Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of your home, and on other structures on your property.
• Consider purchasing a portable gasoline-powered pump in case your home loses electrical power.