2 minute read
Fireproofing and Power Outages
www.NorthgateLivingCA.com @NorthgateLivingCA #NorthgateLivingCA
By Gordon Reese, Gordon Reese Design Build, Resident since 2013
As a resident of our Northgate neighborhood, I experienced the recent 40-hour power outage firsthand. With it came a sense of dread, discomfort, and overwhelming uncertainty towards my home and my family’s safety. If there’s anything the last few years have shown us, it’s that our new normal is a ferocious fire season—one that now affects us all more than we could have even imagined years ago.
Now seems as good a time as any to start fireproofing your home.
Fireproofing the Exterior
When your exterior space catches fire, your interior is instantly in danger. You can do a lot of natural fireproofing to your outdoor area.
Check the plants near and around your foundation. If you have highly flammable plants within fifty feet of your home, consider moving or replanting them a little further from your actual house. If you can’t uproot them, at least trim them so they’re a little neater. Coniferous trees produce a sap that is highly flammable, so keeping their branches trimmed and off the ground is another great way to avoid adding natural fuel to the fire.
Invest in Fire Resistant Plants
If you want plants near your house or foundation, invest in fire resistant plants. Some common examples would be Yucca, Lavender, and live Oak.
Install Iron, Brick, or Concrete Fences
White wooden picket fences do look beautiful and picturesque, but they catch fire very easily. Consider putting up a brick, concrete, or iron fence instead. Alternatively install a protective barrier made of metal or stone material between your wooden fence and your actual house.
Protect your windows
Your windows are perhaps the weakest link in fireproofing your home. The heat of the fire alone can shatter the glass inwards, long before the flames even physically reach the window. If you have the resources for it, replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing and tempered glass. Also look into investing in other features that can add an extra layer of protection for the window itself, like fold-down panels or shutters.
Invest in special equipment
Fireproofing your home can also entail installing a fire alarm built into your home security system or a sprinkler system on the roof. A backup generator or battery-powered lights would also be solid investments, as fires can affect your power supply. Homes are intrinsically meant to keep us—and our families—safe. Don’t hesitate to contact your design build professional for ideas and strategies to provide a safer home for you and your family.
