With the Sand Fire currently still burning, a prevalent topic on our mind is, “What can I do to protect my home in the future?” We’ve compiled a list on a few tips to help protect and further aid emergency workers in the event of a Wildfire in Santa Clarita.
Clear Debris From Around Your Home
The first and one of the most important steps is to clear combustible debris from around your home. This includes obvious things like dry grass, brush, stacks of firewood, bushes and trees, especially 15 feet from the chimney – and some not so obvious things like a wood fence and even a wooden deck. A defensible space should stretch out at least 30 feet from a house. The more clear the area, the better the chance a fire crew will stay to protect your home.
Maintain Landscaping
Proper care of landscaping can help prevent them from becoming flammable.
- Plant trees a safe distance apart
- Maintain irrigation to prevent drying
- Remove dead debris from roof and yard
- Cut/ Prune Trees Regularly
- Use fire resistant landscaping when possible
Secure Your Home’s Eaves and Vent Openings
Eaves and Vent Openings are the perfect opportunity for embers to enter your home. Make sure they are properly screened, and keep gutters clear of dead debris. Although this is a small detail, it can greatly reduce embers from entering your home and starting a blaze internally.
Proper Roofing
Roofs are often the most vulnerable part of a house in a fire, so it goes without saying that wood shingles are out of the question – even in urban areas such as Santa Clarita. Class A roofs are the standard, including many asphalt shingle types, but tile and steel are the best options. Same goes for siding—a shingle or wood wall offers very poor fire resistance while fiber cement or stucco stands up well. A low or non-flammable underlayment dramatically improves the fire resistance.
These simple steps can greatly reduce the hazards associated with wildfires. If you have any questions, or are interested in relocating, you can contact us here, or give us a call at 661-373-2374.
