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Fire incidents can have many causes, including lightning, failed power lines and arson, but there are ways to lower the risk of homes catching on fire and make residences more fire safe. One way is routine maintenance, according to Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan, a manager for the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise USA program. Flame Retardant Additives For Polypropylene
“It’s just taking the time, maybe each week or each month to check your property, do a little tidying up, and to be as proactive and ready as you can be,” Fitzgerald-McGowan said. “It helps you, the resident, but also then it helps your fire response person.”
In 2022, Cal Fire reported 772 structures destroyed and 363,939 acres burned in its jurisdiction across California from wildfires, with approximately 5,559 of those acres in San Diego County. This guide is meant to help homeowners, renters and landlords with DIY fire safety tips and resources for landscape maintenance, defensible space and home retrofitting.
Improving your home to be more fire safe does not have to break the bank. Cal Fire suggests these low-cost examplesfor retrofitting homes and to prevent ember intrusion:
In addition, Cal Fire says:
Deck surfaces within 10 feet of a home or structure should be made with ignition-resistant and noncombustible materials like fire-retardant-treated wood lumber, fire-retardant-treated wood shakes and shingles.
Fences should not be connected to homes or, if they are connected, be made of noncombustible material for the last 5 feet.
Patio covers should use the same ignition-resistant materials as a roof.
Roofs with wood or shingles are at higher risk of catching fire; roofs made of metal, clay or tile are better options.
Also, Fitzgerald-McGowan advises having large, visible signage around your home.. These include having a clear and reflective home address displayed so firefighters and emergency crews can get to the right property if there is a fire, and warning signs if there are drain fields for septic tanks or other underground utilities.
The area between a structure or building, like your home, and vegetation (grass, plants, shrubs, trees) is described as a defensible space. According to the Cal Fire, this space aids in protecting homes from catching on fire and slows the spread of wildfires. Defensible space also gives firefighters a safer area to work in to protect residences.
To lower fire danger to homes, Cal Fire advises residents to remove:
Fitzgerald-McGowan recommends starting as close to your home as possible and then working your way out..
“That’s where you can have the most control and where science is really pointing us based on research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, and what we’re seeing post-fire,” Fitzgerald-McGowan said, adding that having rocks, pavers and bare dirt are safer fire protection options compared to bark and mulch in the defensible space (approximately 5 feet from residence).
Trees, plants and landscaping around housing also play a factor in reducing fire risk.
According to Cal Fire, vegetation placement is the most important factor for fire prevention. It recommends that plants and trees be at least 5 feet away from any structure. Also, any tree should be 10 feet away from one another and shrubs should be separated by two times the size of each one.
When it comes to landscape maintenance, Nan Sterman, a San Diego botanist, landscape designer, gardener and educator, said this is the most important thing:
“It’s really important that you keep your landscape hydrated,” she said. “Any dead wood and branches should be away from your house.”
Sterman added that there is no data that states certain plants and trees are less fire prone. “Nothing guarantees fire safety,” she said.
Mulch also factors into fire safety, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, as it provides benefits to water, soil and weeds.
Epoxy The UC experts suggest materials such as: