Residential Real EstateWhat to Do If a Wildfire Strikes
As thousands of Colorado residents evacuated their homes last week in the
wake of a string of vicious wildfires, federal officials are warning
everyone in fire-prone areas to be prepared for what could be a fiery summer
in many regions throughout the country.
"Dry fuels, strong winds and low relative humidity across portions of the
Southwest, West Texas, the Rockies and southern California are expected to
enhance the wildfire hazard there," FEMA states as its short-term forecast.
Evacuations continued late last week as the largest wildfire in Colorado"s
history hovered outside Denver. The wind-whipped 87,000-acre blaze was
expanding to the northeast late Tuesday, coming within 35 miles of the city.
Considered an "extreme" fire, comparable to the infamous Yellowstone fire,
the inferno has charred 136 square miles, forced 6,000 to evacuate and
destroyed more than 500 structures, including 21 homes. And last week it was
still threatening 2,500 others.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency says that as an increasing
number of people make their homes in woodland settings, it is imperative
they know how to protect themselves and their houses against wildfires.
FEMA classifies danger zones as all wooded, brush, and grassy areas -
especially those in Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, the
Carolinas, Tennessee, California, Massachusetts, and the national forests of
the western United States, such as one of the Colorado blazes that began
June 8 in the Pike National Forest, destroying 22 homes.
Like regions across the country, Colorado is experiencing severe drought
conditions this year, resulting in extremely dry trees and brush - fuel for
wind-whipped blazes.
FEMA offers the following basic safety tips for those who live in areas
prone to wildfires:
Contact your local fire department for information on fire laws. Make sure
that fire vehicles can access your home and clearly mark your driveway
entrance and display your name and address.
Report any hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.
Teach children about fire safety.
Post fire emergency numbers.
Plan escape routes from your home.
Landscaping your home with fire safety in mind is also important. Select
materials and plants that help contain a fire rather than fuel it. It"s
important to create a 30-50 foot safety zone around your home and take
measures to reduce your exposure to flames and radiant heat. In addition, be
sure to:
Always rake leaves, dead limbs and any other flammable vegetation.
Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns and remove limbs within 15 feet
of the ground.
Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
Ask the power company to clear branches from powerlines.
Remove vines from the walls of your home.
Mow your lawn regularly.
Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home.
In addition, you"ll want to plan your water needs. Begin by identifying and
maintaining an adequate outside water source. Then, be sure you have a
garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home. Install
freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of your home.
Install additional outlets at least 50 feet from your home.
If a wildfire threatens the area, listen to a battery-operated radio for
reports and evacuation information. Back your car into the garage or park it
in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut the doors and roll up
the windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close the garage doors and
windows, but be sure to leave them unlocked. Disconnect your automatic
garage door opener.
If you have pets, confine them to one room. Make plans to care for them if
you"re forced to evacuate. Make plans to stay outside the threatened area.
If you"re ordered to evacuate, wear protective clothing, take a disaster
supplies kit, lock your home, tell someone when you left and where you"re
going, and choose a route away from fire hazards.
Finally, if you"re sure you have time before you evacuate, FEMA recommends
you:
Close your windows, doors, and vents.
Shut off gas and pilot lights.
Open the fireplace damper.
Move flammable furniture into the center of the home, away from windows
and sliding-glass doors.
Turn on a light in each room.
Turn off propane tanks.
Place combustible patio furniture inside.
Connect garden hose to outside taps.
Place lawn sprinklers on the roof; wet the roof.
Wet or remove shrubs within 15 feet of the home.
Gather fire tools.
For more information, visit http://www.fema.gov/library/wfie.pdf