As summer approaches the Thomas Designs team has been taking the time to get their homes prepared for fire season. Since 1972, California’s annual burned area has increased more than fivefold. Over the past five decades, these summertime forest fires have increased in size by roughly 800 percent. (MEYER) As overwhelming as that information feels, we wanted to put together a general checklist of things you can do to protect your home, family, and community during fire season. Home Care- Contact your local planning or zoning office to see if your area is at high risk for wildfires or if you are not sure if these items apply to you. - Routinely clear dead leaves during the spring and summer from gutters, roofs, and porches. - Routinely remove dead vegetation within a 10 foot radius of your home. - Prune trees so the branches are 6-10 feet away from the ground. - Install exterior mesh on all exterior vents. This can keep embers out of your home. Family Plan- Have a grab bag of essentials packed in a closet for each person and pet in the home. - Have a wireless or crank powered radio so you can stay up to date on news. - Plan on a safe location where you can meet up with your loved ones if people are unable to contact each other. - Develop an emergency evacuation plan for both your home and neighborhood and put it into practice. Community Plan- Reach out to your neighbors to make connections and share contact information. - Develop an emergency evacuation plan for both your home and neighborhood and put it into practice. What To Do During an Active Wildfire but Have Not Been Asked To Evacuate- Keep emergency grab bags packed in the car.
- Move all outside furnishings inside your home or garage as soon as possible including all houseplants and door mats. - Fill the pool, hot tub, trash cans, tubs, any open vessel with water. Fire Fighters have been known to need to pump water from these places to put out rooftop fires. -Leave ASAP to a no risk area even before you are advised to evacuate. Once the evacuation orders are released, everyone will be trying to do the same. We are passionate about educating and advocating for community safety during all times of the year but especially during fire season. These tips are also applicable during other emergencies as well.
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