Heres what you gotta know about both last-minute and long-term protection from wildfires.
Last-minute preparation before evacuation
First of all, if youre instructed to evacuate immediately,evacuateimmediately.
Of course you want to protect your home, but its not worth putting anyones life in danger.
Inside the house
Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.
Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.
Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.
Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.
Shut off the air conditioning.
or place them in your pool.
Turn off propane tanks.
Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters.
Fill water buckets and place them around the house.
Dont leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure.
Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.
Put your
emergency supply kit
in your vehicle.
Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed.
Carry your car keys with you.
Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation.
Dont wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.
CAL FIRE has adetailed set of instructionsfor how to create and maintain defensible space.
Remove vegetation or other combustible materials that are within five feet of windows and glass doors.
When it is time to replace your roof, replace it with fire-resistant Class A roof material.
Block any spaces between your roof covering and sheathing (bird stops).
But do not use fiberglass or plastic mesh as they can melt or burn.
Cover all vent openings with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch noncombustible corrosion resistant metal mesh screens.
But do not use fiberglass or plastic mesh as they can melt or burn.
Caulk and plug gaps greater than 1/16-inch around exposed rafters and blocking to prevent ember intrusion.
Inspect exterior siding for dry rot, gaps, cracks and warping.
Install weather stripping to gaps greater than 1/16-inch in garage doors to prevent ember intrusion.
The stripping must be compliant with local regulations.
(Otherwise check with your home states regulations.)
And while no plants are fireproof, some do a better job at protecting your home than others.
Here are sometips from CAL FIRE:
Create fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks and roadways.
Use rock, mulch, flower beds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks.
There are no fire-proof plants.
Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.
Choose fire-retardant plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe.
Select fire-resistant shrubs such as hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples.
