Wildland Safety
- Make a preplan.
- Build or re-roof your home with fire resistive roofing materials.
- Clear pine needles, leaves or other debris from your roof and gutters.
- Remove any dead branches overhanging your roof.
- Remove any tree branches within 10 feet of your chimney.
- Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a non flammable screen of ½ inch or smaller mesh.
- Build or re-model your home with fire resistive materials, such as brick or stucco.
- Enclose the underside of balconies or ground decks with fire resistive materials.
- Limit the number of windows that face large areas of vegetation. Install double or triple pane windows to reduce the potential of breakage in a fire.
- When a brush fire threatens, place a lawn sprinkler or garden hose on the roof. Do not turn the water on until you see flying embers falling on the roof.
- When a brush fire threatens place all ladders against the street side of your home, so anyone who stops to help can see them.
- Create a “defensible space” by removing all dry grass, brush, and dead leaves at least 100 feet from you home. Use ornamental landscaping plants that are fire resistant.
- Trees taller that 18 feet can be pruned to keep the ground fires from spreading to the tree tops by pruning the lower branches within 6 feet of the ground
- Stack firewood and scrap wood piles at least 30 feet away from structures. Clear flammable vegetation that is within 10 feet of these wood piles.
- Locate LPG tanks (butane and Propane) away from any combustibles.
- Turn off gas at the meter or turn off the LPG tank before you evacuate.
- Defensible space must be regularly maintained to be effective.
- Clearly mark all emergency water sources and maintain easy firefighter access to these water sources.
- If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during power failure.
- You should know at least two exit routes from you neighborhood in case of emergency evacuation.
- Make sure that any road leading up to your house allows two-way traffic, is not too steep and does not have curves too sharp to accommodate large emergency vehicles.
- Driveways and bridges must be strong enough to carry heavy emergency vehicles, including bulldozers carried on large trucks.
- Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have turnaround areas that are wide enough for emergency vehicles.
- Your house address and street name should be printed in numbers and letters that are at least four inches tall, on a contrasting color background. They should be visible from all directions of travel from at least 150 feet.
- Be sure that your street name and house number are not duplicated elsewhere in the county.
- If your house is set back from your street or road, post your address at the entrance of your driveway.
- Store at least a three-day supply of drinking water. Store food that does not require refrigeration and generally does not need cooking, Be sure to include food and water for your pets.
- Store first aid supplies, portable radio, flashlight, emergency cooking equipment, portable lanterns and batteries.
- Prepare a list of valuables to take with you in case of evacuation. If possible, store these valuables together to save time.
- Prepare a list of valuables to take with you in case of evacuation
- Pre-plan an escape route from your home and neighborhood. Designate an emergency meeting place for the reunion of your family members in separate vehicles and establish a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.
- Practice your home escape plan regularly.
- Nail plywood covers over windows and vents when a brush fire threatens you home.
- Move any lawn furniture indoors and keep combustible furniture away from the windows.
- Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard so firefighters can find your home.
- Park your car in the garage headed out for a quick get-away if needed.
- Leave keys in the ignition.
- Close all house doors, windows and garage door but leave them unlocked.
- Remove light weight curtains and close heavy drapes and blinds before leaving the home.
- If you lack a garage space, park vehicles in the direction of escape.
- Don’t forget the family pets.
- Close all windows so that airborne sparks and embers cannot enter and ignite the upholstery of the vehicle.
Safety Preparedness
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