Although you can never fully protect your home from the destructive force of wildfires, there are multiple steps you can take to improve the protection surrounding your property and potentially save your home from complete destruction. Many of these strategies involve time, effort, and money, but they may just be the difference between having a home to return to and not.
Furthermore, once the smoke has settled and you are allowed to return back to your home, it is vital to remember that your vigilance and protective approach is still needed to recognize lingering dangers that may be hiding around your property. As part of your preparation plan, research the best air purifier for wildfire smoke to improve indoor conditions once the clean-up process begins.
Create a Safe Zone
One of the first steps you should take in your wildfire home protection plan is creating a safe zone around your property. This safe zone should significantly minimize, if not completely eliminate, the amount of ‘fuel’ your property will lend to wildfires. Items like trees, woodpiles, garden furniture, landscaping features, and other flammable items act as kindling to a roaring fire once it has started.
Your flexibility regarding your safe zone largely depends on your environment and the amount of open space around your home. Ideally, it should introduce native vegetation, with trees located at least 10 feet apart. Any dead or dying trees and shrubbery should be cleared, while the remaining foliage should be properly pruned and maintained.
Beyond this zone, flammable liquids can be stored in appropriate and safe containers, while woodpiles should be stored at a safe distance away from your home structure. You should also avoid having a wooden fence directly connected to your house, instead opting for a cement wall or metal palisade fencing.
People in heavily wooded areas should create their safe zone roughly 50 feet from their homes, while those in less wooded areas can extend as far as 30-40 feet.
Heavy-Duty Windows
When window glass is exposed to extreme heat, it can easily shatter, allowing fire to enter your home and ignite curtains and other furniture located close to the window. Unless the glass is tempered, which makes it stronger and more durable, even double-paned windows can shatter from the heat emitted from a burning garden shed 30 feet away.
Replace all existing window and sliding door glass with dual- or multi-paned tempered glass. If your budget allows, go one step further and install metal fire-resistant shutters that will offer additional protection if closed before the fire arrives.
Fire-Resistant Roof
One of your home’s best defenses against destructive wildfires is its roof. Sparks and other burning debris can be easily lifted and carried by gusting winds up to a half-mile from its original location, often landing on your roof. Selecting roof shingles and other roofing materials that are fire resistant, made from Class A non-flammable materials like clay or asphalt, will help mitigate the risk of fire spreading should these embers reach your property.
Roofs with many valleys and grooves can easily collect pine needles, leaves, and other foliage, which can be ignited by flying embers. Proper roof and gutter maintenance is crucial to prevent these airborne firestarters from causing more destruction.
Consider a Water Source
While it will not help you fireproof your home, having a reliable water source on your property is a great tool for protecting it from advancing flames. For example, if you have a pool, firefighters can use gas-powered fire hoses to fight fires.
If installing a pool is out of your budget, or you lack the necessary space to accommodate one, rain barrels and cisterns can provide the same level of support. It can be somewhat of an investment, but it is worth considering if you live in a heavily wooded or fire-prone area.
Post-Fire Home Inspection
Once authorities have told you it is safe to return to your home, you may be tempted to dig in straight away and start the clean-up process. But there are a number of hidden dangers potentially lurking around your property that need to be addressed first.
Before turning on anything electric, have a professional electrician check your household wiring for fire damage or broken wires. Avoid any damaged or fallen power lines outside and immediately report them to your local authorities.
Once your electrics have been approved for use, consider using a portable air purifier throughout your home to remove smoke and other toxic pollutants that may be lingering in the air. This will help create a healthier working environment while you clean up the remaining mess.
In the days following the fire, maintain a fire watch, as even the smallest sparks can ignite and cause a fire to begin again on your property. While cleaning your home and garden, ensure you wear protective glasses, resistant gloves, a ventilation mask, and long pants and sleeves, preferably made from cotton, to keep your body well protected.
Any food, beverages, and medicine that were exposed to heat, soot, or smoke should be discarded immediately, as their safety has likely been compromised. Continue to boil the water from your faucets until emergency services notify you that it is safe for consumption.
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