A classmate of mine lost his home in the Los Angeles-area wildfires. My heart goes out to him and his family, as well as the thousands of other folks who suddenly found themselves homeless. It surprised me that the fires burned across regular suburban neighborhoods as well as the chapparal-covered hillsides where luxury homes nestle—and burn on a regular basis.
I watched a TV reporter interview a man who saved his own home in an Altadena neighborhood that mostly burned. Neither the interviewer nor the interviewee seemed to be aware of why that house didn’t burn. The man attributed it to his quick action with a garden hose. The journalist referenced the statues of Mary and Joseph in the front yard and spoke of divine intervention. Both of those things may have helped, but what I noticed was the house itself. It is the perfect example of how homeowners can implement Firewise® activities to protect their homes.
The attractive, stucco-and-brick house doesn’t use flammable building materials on exterior surfaces. The asphalt-shingled roof has no dead leaves or other combustible debris on top or in the gutters. No vegetation, wood mulch, or lumber decks abut the structure. It is surrounded by decorative brick and a cement walkway. The neatly-maintained yard shows no debris or crevices where embers can land. Landscaping consists of flowers, green grass, and broad-leafed trees and shrubs, avoiding flammables such as junipers. All of these elements contributed to making this home defensible.
In much of the US, fire seasons are becoming longer and more severe. Think about doing the “Firewise® Walk” around your own home now and periodically during the rest of the year. Follow up with specific actions to protect your house. It could turn out to be one of your best investments.
Many of these activities are not prohibitively expensive, and often can be done by the homeowner. Although there are no guarantees that a Firewise® home will survive, I think it’s worth the effort to improve the chances that it will. Experienced firefighters tell me they appreciate homeowners who think ahead, and Firewise® preparations make their often-heartbreaking jobs easier.
More information can be found on the Firewise® website and at Fire Adapted Communities.
#wildfire #Firewise #firesafety #loss
Image courtesy of Firewise USA®
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