Is
Your Home Ready for a Fire?
San Bernardino County
Fire has a Ready! Set! Go! Personal Wildfire Action
Plan to
give you the tips and tools to successfully prepare for a wildfire. It will
give you guidance on retrofitting your home with fire-resistive features, and
show you how you can create the necessary defensible space around your home.
This plan will help you prepare your home, yourself, and your family so that
you can leave early, well ahead of a fast-approaching wildfire.
Get
Ready! Get Set! Now Go!
Contrary
to common belief, a wildfire does not have to burn everything in its path. In
fact, clearing property of debris and maintaining landscaping are important,
yet simple, first steps for residents. Following the points below, go around
your house; how likely do you think your home is to survive a wildfire?
•
Create a defensible area, firebreaks that divert flames around property, by
clearing weeds and dry grass at least 100 feet around your home. Property on
sloped areas should be cleared at least 100 feet as well, as wind-fed flames
can race up hills and mountainsides quickly.
•
Store flammable liquids in approved safety cans AWAY from occupied buildings.
•
Keep propane tanks clear of vegetation.
•
Keep all combustibles, such as firewood, lawn furniture, picnic tables, etc.,
away from structures.
•
Clean rain gutters regularly to avoid leaf and needle accumulation.
•
Clear vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath decks or other
wooden structures.
•
Remove tree limbs and vegetation that overhang the roof.
•
Remove all branches lower than 6 feet.
•
Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to
reduce fuel for fire.
•
Dispose of stove or fireplace ash and charcoal briquettes after soaking them in
a metal pail of
water for 24 hours.
•
Keep garden hose connected to faucet.
•
Review your home escape plan with your family & have a fire drill exercise.
•
Ensure address is clearly visible from the street.
Awareness Week May 2019
San Bernardino County
Fire
urges residents to be prepared for a wildfire and know what to do when asked to
evacuate. The READY! SET! GO! program provides important preparation
information. The goal of this program is to educate and engage residents in
reducing the risk in their communities, which will help save lives and
property.
To
learn more on how you can be prepared for a wildfire and create your own Ready!
Set! Go! plan, visit www.sbcfire.org/ReadySetGo.aspx
San
Bernardino County Fire wishes you a safe summer.