Fire Extinguisher : 101

Wildfire Prevention Tips: Protect your Home and Property

Every year, countless wildfires take lives and leave people homeless. Before we can actually be safe from wildfires, we need to better educate ourselves on the various causes and safety measures. Awareness will help us establish wildfire prevention in the future.

What causes wildfires?
Wildfires are a natural phenomenon of the environment – nature’s way of eliminating dead vegetation. Although the weather plays an important part, seventy-five percent of wildfires are caused by people being careless. Many people might guess that smoking and lightning are the most common causes of wildfires; however, both are in the minority. Most wildfires are caused by people burning debris, vehicle exhaust, sparks from trains and heavy equipment, camping, smoking, arson and lightning..

Causes of wildfires will vary depending on where you live, the season, the climate, the vegetation, the topography, and the weather. To better understand the causal factors is a step towards prevention.

Fire-resistant materials
Homeowners living in rural areas should consider using fire-resistant materials in their homes. The roof is a home’s largest surface area potentially exposed to airborne sparks called firebrands, which pose the greatest threat. Should a wildfire near your home, the roof of your house should be kept continuously wet to prevent firebrands from causing damage or harm.

The most fire-resistant roofing materials include metal, tile and fiberglass. Asphalt shingles and tarpaper roofs also have some fire resistant properties; however, because they are made of oil-based products, a significant level of heat can cause them to ignite. As you can probably guess, wood offers the least protection; a small spark can set fire to dry, sun-baked wooden shingles.

Although the roof is the most likely target of a wildfire, walls and windows can also play a determining role in the spread of fire. Walls should be built with fire-resistant materials such as stone, brick or metal. Wood and vinyl offer the least protection. Windows allow radiant heat to pass through them and can, at times, set fire to curtains. Large windows break more easily than small ones as they radiate more heat. Multi-pane windows give better protection from radiant heat than single-pane ones.

Firefighters
Homeowners who live outside of major urban areas may be living in peaceful seclusion, but are also at a disadvantage with regard to fires. Because there are fewer firefighters in rural areas, country folk should be well-informed on wildfire prevention, and on how to protect their homes from fire risks and hazards. In order to rest assured, contact your local fire department – they would much rather help you prevent a fire than have to rush over to extinguish one.

In the event of an emergency, firefighters need to get to your home quickly and safely. Clearly mark the entrance to your property with a sign indicating the house number, road name, and any other necessary details. It’s important to ensure that the sign can be read from the main road; keep trees and bushes cut back so the sign remains visible.

Other factors of wildfires
Weather is the most important factor influencing the behavior of wildfires. Topography (land features such as lakes, rivers, swamps, hills) also plays a crucial role in how wildfires spread. For example, fires spread faster uphill because of heat radiation and convection. The steepness or slope of a hill also affects the speed of the spread: the greater the slope, the faster the spread. Vegetation can act as fuel during a fire. Clear any vegetation growing near your house, especially dry vegetation as it would intensify and speed up a fire’s spread. Do not have trees too close to your home in order to minimize fire hazards.

The essentials
Wildfire prevention has the same essential requisitions as all other fires: be informed and prepared. Install smoke detectors or alarms, test them monthly and replace the batteries regularly. Be sure to have functional fire extinguishers on every floor of your home, especially in the kitchen and garage. Know how to use a fire extinguisher.

Of course, the best defense is a good offense. You and your family should know how to react in the event of a fire emergency. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with your family regularly. The escape route should have at least two ground-floor exits.

Prevent!
While nature causes many wildfires, the majority are caused by humans. Wildfire prevention is of the utmost importance if we wish to save our environment, our homes, and our lives. For more information on reducing the risk of wildfires, log on to: www.firewise.org.

Written by John Manley
Having experienced 2 house fires, John Manley now devotes some of his spare time educating people about the importance of having fire extinguishers, CO and fire alarms, and proper escape plans though the website: Fire Extinguisher: 101 - www.fire-extinguisher101.com.