Don’t let Your Home go Up in Smoke

The seasons make the Foothills a wonderful place to live. Unfortunately fire season is one of them.

Since fire requires fuel to burn, it is important that you take precautions by reducing that fuel supply around your home and out buildings.

Not all fires move along the ground. Forest fires, like the recent one in Foresthill, travel from treetop to treetop.

Trees near your home may be beautiful and provide shade but if they are too close they can act as a matchstick and burn your house down.

The following tips can help prevent your home from burning down.

Use as much non-combustible or fire retardant building material as possible in new construction. Incorporate sprinkler systems even when they are not required by building code.

Replace wood shake roofs with composition, tile, slate, concrete or other materials that do not burn.

Clear all dry vegetation and low limbs within 100 feet of all structures. Do not use a mower once the vegetation has dried out! If the mower blade strikes a rock and creates a spark it can cause a wildfire. Instead use a weed eater with a nylon string. Even then it is important to keep a hose, shovel and other fire fighting equipment nearby.

Avoid outdoor fires of any kind. Fireworks and sparklers can start a fire. In my opinion it isn’t worth the risk. If you are barbequing, don’t do it under the eaves, awnings, and trees or against wood rails on decks. Clear the entire area surrounding your barbeque before you ignite.

Avoid stacking firewood near any structures. Keep the woodpile as far away from your home as possible.

Keep electrical systems in good repair. Don’t use undersized or damaged extension cords.

Don’t store oily rags, solvents, paints and other flammables in or near structures. Intense heat may cause spontaneous combustion. A friend of mine’s entire material world went up in smoke. After refinishing her out door furniture she left the bucket of rags and paint thinner she was using at the edge of her deck. The only thing left standing was the chimney.

Keep fire extinguishers handy in the home, barbeque and shop areas. Be sure that the extinguishers are rated for their intended use.

Electrical service is usually lost during fires. If you have a well it would be wise to have an alternate back up power system such as a generator in place.

Water sources, such as swimming pools, ponds and streams are great for firefighting. A gas powered high-pressure water pump can save your property. Practice using the pump before you need it. You don’t want to be reading the manual as your house burns down.

Be informed! Get fire prevention information from your local fire department or online. Be aware of the fire dangers!

Have a plan. Discuss the fire safe plan with your family. Go over your plan on a regular basis. Have periodic fire drills that include alternate escape routes. Some plans include putting together a small bag with everything that’s needed in the event of an evacuation. Have a list of the personal items that you want to save but don’t risk your life trying to gather up things in an emergency. Don’t forget to plan for your pets.

I recently read that when disasters occur such as fire, most people freeze. The ones that make it through are usually the ones who had a plan. They practiced so their responses were automatic. That is why there are fire drills.

Taking precautions and having a plan is a matter of good home $$s and Sense.