Protecting Your Home During Fire Season

The weather is already heating up in Southern California, signaling a potentially busy wildfire season. According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures and low humidity are the perfect storm for wildfires. 

Is your home protected? Even if you’re seemingly far away from a fire, blowing embers are one of the most significant risks because they are carried by wind and can land on homes nowhere near the fire. Now is the time to make sure that you have taken the proper precautions. Here’s a look at how to protect your home during fire season.

Review Your Roof

Investing in a new roof is costly, but so too is the cost of replacing your home should it catch fire. Did you know that your roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of your home if a fire breaks out? Consider replacing your shingle or wood roof with Class A fire-rated materials like composite, steel, or tile.

Cover-Up

Inspect your vents and cover up any that are open, including your chimney. This can help prevent blowing embers from entering your home. You should also cover up rain gutters and downspouts to prevent leaves from accumulating in tight spaces around your home.

Look At Landscaping

Did you know that ideally, you should not have any vegetation within five feet of your property? It creates an easy fuel source when a fire breaks out, and the last thing you want is burning plants and vegetation butted up against your property. If you must have plants near the home, make sure they are well-pruned and have a high moisture content.

Maintenance Matters

There are several home maintenance projects that, when performed regularly, can really help protect your home in the event of a fire. You should clean out your rain gutters regularly and remove any dead plants and leaves from your property. Be sure to trim any trees that are near your home frequently. 

Also, maintaining working fire extinguishers in your home is prudent. You should have at least one inside or two if your garage is detached. Check them once or twice per year to make sure they have not expired, and replace them if they have.

Is Your Address Visible?

In the event of a fire, you want to make sure that emergency personnel can find you and reach you expeditiously. Be sure that your address is clearly visible from the street. This will make it much easier for emergency vehicles to locate your house and help you.

Melody Smith & Associates is a longtime leading broker associate in South Orange County, known for super service, and is in the top 1% of 1% of agents in the country. Please contact us for all of your real estate needs.
949-401-7033