Summer is here, and for most people this means it’s time for parties, vacations, and trips. Everyone has their own to enjoy summer. While the season is great for relaxing, one aspect of this time of year can be incredibly stressful. As the temperatures rise in California, wildfires become more prominent across the state.
Wildfires are incredibly dangerous, and become more threatening in warm, dry, and windy conditions. During the summer, California dries out under the intense heat, thereby increasing the risks of wildfires. All it takes is one small spark to ignite a massive blaze that can burn through everything in its path.
Just looking at how bad last year’s wildfires were, it is easy to see how important it is for a person to be prepared for wildfires. This is especially true during the summer months.
Prepping A Home For Wildfires
A person can prepare for in a number of ways from prepping their home for a fire, and preparing their family on how to respond to a potential danger. Both ways are very important, and preparing in both areas can make a huge difference. Preparation can mean the difference between life and death.
When it comes to defending a house, homeowners should create defendable space between their home and the rest of the yard. This means creating ten feet of clearance between a home and any vegetation. It also means removing dead vegetation, leaves and branches, from the yard. Dead plant material is more flammable than living plants, and can pose a higher risk of catching fire. Dead leaves should also be removed from rain gutters and out from under porches.
Keep lawns maintained and watered as dry grass can be incredibly flammable. Mow lawns in the morning when they are damp with dew. This makes it less likely that a spark from the mower could start a fire.
Place metal netting over ducts, eaves, and under patios to prevent embers and dry debris from getting inside. Replace missing or broken roof tiles regularly to prevent embers from reaching the wooden roofing beneath the tiles.
Keeping The Family Prepared
When it comes to prepping the family for emergencies, a lot of it falls to storing emergency supplies, creating a plan, and practicing the plan. Experts recommend having at least two emergency exit plans for every room in a building. Every person in a family should know these plans, as well as where to meet in the event of separation. Practicing these plans regularly can help a person memorize, which means they will be less likely to panic and forget them in the event of an emergency.
Emergency supplies should be stored in a safe, yet easily, accessible area that every family knows about. When it comes to wildfire prep, an emergency kit should contain any current medications needed by each family member, including pets. Important documents, such as birth certificates, deeds, and insurance paperwork, should be kept in a safe, fireproof area. Fireproof safes are great, but they are not perfect. The safe itself may not burn, but sometimes the papers inside can still ignite if temperatures get hot enough.
Stay Safe & Prepared This Summer
In the event of a wildfire, always follow the advice of emergency personnel. They know best. If told to evacuate by firefighters or police officers, people should listen. If they don’t, they could become trapped in their home. This is bad for two reasons:
- No one wants to be trapped anywhere near a wildfire. Emergency crews may attempt a rescue, but there is no guarantee they will get there in time.
- Emergency personnel will need to be diverted from fighting the blaze to attempt to rescue the trapped individual(s). That means less people fighting the fire, which is bad for everyone.
Wildfires are incredibly dangerous, and can be very scary when they approach a person’s home. Unfortunately, they are just a part of life in California during the summer and fall. Luckily, there are steps a person can take to help protect their homes and ensure the safety of their families.
What are some of the ways that you have prepared your home for wildfires?
Let us know in the comments down below.