Page 6 • Living With Fire
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Home Survivability — Who Wins and Who Loses...
Why do some houses survive a wildfire, while others are destroyed? Evidence suggests that house survival during a wildfire is not a completely random phenomenon. Rather, survivability is determined by house construction materials and techniques, the characteristics of the vegetation surrounding the home, and routine maintenance done by the homeowner. There are many things that you, the homeowner, can do to ensure that your home is fire safe. Pre-fire actions completed by the resident, often determine the survivability of structures. The “winners” will be those people who implement and maintain pre-fire activities. The homeowner has the largest role in determining whether on not a structure burns in a wildfire.
HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS FIRE BEHAVIOR IN SAVING YOUR HOME DURING THE FIRE
AFTER THE FIRE
Embers created from torching trees and burning structures cause most homes to ignite. Most houses are burned by embers: Photos courtesy of CAL FIRE: www.fire.ca.gov
• igniting uncleared vegetation next to the house • igniting firewood next to the house BE • igniting combustible materials on decks•
EMBER AWARE!
• landing on shake roofs • igniting vegetation under decks • blowing into unscreened attic/crawl space vents
Chimneys: Screened with 1/8 inch wire mesh or approved spark arrestor.
Foundation & Attic Vents: Unscreened vents allow embers into the structure.
Windows: Install windows that are double-pane with at least one pane of tempered glass. Firewood: Not stored next to the house. Keep at least 30’ from house.
Roof: Class A/fire-resistant. Keep free of needles, leaves and branches.
Siding: In fire-prone areas use non-combustible siding, such as stucco, brick or cement board.
Eaves: Heat traps for hot air and gases. “Box in” to allow heat to escape.