Protecting Your Property From Wildfires
Posted July 24, 2017 in Protect Property from Wildfires
Gallant Risk & Insurance, Inc. insurance brokers are here to answer your questions about how to protect your property from wildfires or other disasters. To contact us, call (951) 368-0700 or complete our online contact form today.
Check Your Insurance Policies
If you live in an area that is vulnerable to wildfire, make sure your property insurance policies offer protection. Homeowners insurance typically covers wildfires. Depending on your insurance policy, your vehicle may or may not be covered. Make sure that your insurance policies are protecting you, and if they are not, consider spending the money to better insure your property.
Create a Defense Zone
Your yard serves as a defense zone to protect your house from wildfires. This zone should be organized to slow down or even redirect a fire away from your home. Certain states have regulations about this zone; most require at least a 30-foot clearance area. It is essential that you keep your yard maintained by clearing away debris or pine needles, removing dead or dying plants, mowing regularly, and keeping all tree branches trimmed and shrubs pruned to prevent them from transferring fire to your house. Keep your sprinkler system in good condition, and put at least 10 feet between trees, firewood, fuel and storage tanks, etc. Wood fences should not come into direct contact with the house. Remember that fire requires fuel to burn, so minimizing fuel will lower the fire hazard. The clearer the area, the better your odds of successfully preventing the loss of your property.
Protecting the Exterior of Your Property
You can protect your home or business by using noncombustible and fire-resistant materials on the building’s exterior. Use noncombustible roofing materials like tile or steel. Enclose all eaves, subfloors, decks, etc. with fire-resistant materials. Keep gutters clear of all debris that could catch fire and spread to the eaves. Fit each of your vents with a quarter-inch, noncombustible screen. Stucco, stone, and brick are fire resistant and make an excellent material for exterior walls. Avoid wood or vinyl siding. Consider replacing all exterior windows with double-paned or tempered glass. Noncombustible shutters on the outside can protect your windows from the heat and flames of a wildfire.
Protecting Your Vehicle
You should also take measures to protect your vehicle against wildfires. Not only is this a valuable possession, but it is also an important escape mechanism in the event of an emergency. Keep a 30-foot radius free of brush and flammable materials around your car, and don’t park your vehicle under any overhanging tree branches. Keep oil and all other flammable liquids in a separate location that is far away from your home and vehicle.
Have a Plan
Most importantly, have a game plan. Create an escape plan for your home and office, and practice it so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an unexpected wildfire. Familiarize yourself with your community’s disaster preparedness measures. Keep an emergency kit readily available and make sure it has a flashlight, weather radio, basic tools and gloves, batteries, clothing, blankets, medications, cash and credit cards, food and water, and important documents. You may also want to keep a second emergency kit in your vehicle in case you are not able to retrieve the one from your home or business. Come up with an emergency meeting place for your family in case family members are separated. Know your nearest water sources, and keep hoses readily available around your house.