In 2015, 68,000 wildfires burned more than 10 million acres in the United States – more acreage than any other year on record, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Homes most susceptible to wildfires are found in areas referred to as the wildland-urban interface, a half-mile-wide zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development.
As with most disasters, the best defense against wildfire is preparation. You can make it harder for wildfire to spread by reducing the amount of combustible material near your home.
Create a defensible space
- Keep the areas closest to your home clear of shrubs and trees, if possible. Use concrete, rocks or other noncombustible materials for landscaping. If you do have plants close to your home, keep them pruned and as far away from the structure as you can.
- Clear roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid accumulation of flammable materials.
- Remove dead vegetation and keep grass short.
- Trim tree limbs so they are at least 10 feet from other trees, chimneys and decks. Remove branches that hang over the roof or garage. Trim branches that are less than six feet from the ground.
- Use fire-resistant plants strategically around your home to slow fires from reaching your primary structure, such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe.
- Keep all combustibles, such as firewood and picnic tables, away from structures.
Make your home fire resistant
- For maximum fire resistance, the roof and exterior structure of your home should be made of non-combustible or fire-resistant materials such as tile, slate, sheet iron, aluminum, brick or stone. Fences and decks can also be upgraded to fire-resistant materials.
- Install a chimney guard to keep sparks from landing on the roof. Cover all exterior vent openings with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch metal mesh to reduce the possibility of burning embers getting into or under your home.
- Consider replacing windows with double-pane, tempered glass windows, which are less likely to crack in high temperatures.
- Locate propane tanks away from buildings and flammable vegetation.
- Leave garden hoses connected to hose bibs.
- Clearly mark addresses at all roadway entrances and make sure they are easily visible from the street.
- Roads and driveways should be at least 16 feet wide to allow for access by fire trucks and other large equipment.
Make sure your home is properly covered in case of fire. For information about home insurance, call your AAA insurance agent or insurance customer service, or visit your local branch.
