Take a look at your lawn weekly to see if it needs trimming. Look for brown tips on blades of grass as an indicator of an unhealthy plant. Rake up and dispose of leaves, brush, tumbleweeds, and other dead plant matter as it enters your property. Do not allow it to sit or accumulate.
Fire resistant storage can be purchased from an outdoor specialty store, as well as online or at most home improvement stores.
Be sure to have the stump removed, as well. All of the dead wood needs to be cleared from your property. If you live in an area where brush grows wild, remove dead scrub from your property regularly. Look around your property at least once a month and clear out any new brush that may have come in.
If you have the resources, you may consider having a deck or porch constructed around your home using fire-resistant materials. Xeriscape the area around your house using rocks, sand, and gravel as decorative features and low-moisture plants such as succulents and cacti. [4] X Research source
Contact a local roofing contractor to find out more about fire resistant roofing. Let them know, “I would like more information on making my roof safer to protect from potential wildfires. ” Opt for a tiled or steel roof if possible.
Temperature resistant window coverings can easily be found at home goods stores, as well as from specialty window treatment retailers in person and online. Pair heat resistant fabric with non-combustible shutters for the best results. The shutter close quickly from the outside, and can help lighten the burden of the fabric.
Ember resistant vents are available through most home improvement stores. Depending upon your area, you may be able to find one readily or you may have to have the store order one for you.
Important items often include computers or hard drives with personal work or data stored on them, identification documents like passports and birth certificates, deeds, titles, and ownership paperwork, valuable art or collections, and anything of personal value like family photo albums. Remember that this list should also include children, pets, and any other living thing that will not be able to successfully evacuate itself from your home. Consider your spatial limitations. If you must evacuate, you will likely do so in your own vehicle and in a restricted time period. Realistically think about how much can fit in there along with the people evacuating, and how much you can load in the five to ten minutes you will have.
Invest in an external hard drive to backup your computer, and keep the hard drive with the rest of your valuables. Likewise, consider making copies of family photos or other items of personal significance and storing them with your other valuables.
Such safes can be purchased online or through speciality retailers. In some areas, department stores and big box stores may also carry them.
Never assume that a fire has been reported unless you see emergency services on site. Always report a wildfire.
If you have a chance to evacuate when the wildlife gets serious, evacuate straight away. If you cannot evacuate you must stay at your home and strongly defend it with whatever resources you have, such as hoses and extinguishers.
Put you and other people first before objects or animals. Many people get seriously injured from putting their belongings first. If you have the time, save what you can. But if not you will need to think about the safety of others in your household.
Have a local radio or TV station tuned to a news report at all times to track the progress of the fire.
