We had more
than our fill of rain the last few months but now… IT IS HOT. Some days are hot
and humid, some days are hot and dry and sometimes we are blessed to have a
little of all three. I’m not sure what part of that is a blessing but I’m sure
it is. Anyway, what we should be concerned with now are random wildfires
popping up, especially with July 4th weekend.
If you are
partaking in firework popping, make sure you are able to pop them in the area
you are at. One thing for sure, if your county is under a burn ban then that is
a for sure NO to popping fireworks. Texas A&M Forest Service’s posted a map of the most up to date counties that are under an outdoor burn
ban. See the picture below. If the county you live in is colored in red, that
county has established a burn ban = no popping fireworks.
 |
| Outdoor Burn Bans as of July 1, 2016 |
Anyone heard
of Firewise Landscaping in Texas? This is a great concept! It’s a layout
on how to prep the area between your home and outside items they could cause a
fire. What to know how to keep your home
“Firewise”? I learned a great deal from the information on the Texas A&M Forest Service site on how to do so. They broke it down in to Zones 1, 2, and
3.
ZONE 1:
Within 30 feet of your home and its
attachments you should:
1.
Keep your lawn mowed and your trees pruned 6-10
feet from the ground.
2.
Water regularly (but follow the rules if there
are water restrictions in your area).
3.
Make a ‘fire-free’ area within 5 feet around
your home with non-flammable landscaping materials. (for more information on
non-flammable landscaping materials, check out the full articleat Texas A&M Forest Service).
4.
If the life in your plants is no more, get rid
of it, especially from under a deck and within 10 feet of your home. That also
goes for any dry leaves or pine needles in and around your yard, roof and rain
gutters.
ZONE 2:
Within 30 – 100 feet of your home and
its attachments you should:
1.
Like in Zone 1, keep your trees pruned 6-10 feet
from the ground.
2.
Concrete and gravel will help keep fire away
from your home. Driveways, grave walkways are your friend.
3.
Leave 20 feet between individual trees and 30
between bundles of trees.
ZONE 3:
Within 100 - 200 feet of your home and
its attachments you should:
1.
Remove any leaves, pine cones, wood debris to prevent
a quick spread in case there was a fire.
2.
Thin out your trees as much as possible so that
they don’t touch other tree. In case of a fire, they suggest trimming them with
10 feet between the trees so that in case of a fire, with the branches of other
trees are not touching.
What about
your home itself? Fire has a mind of its own and can spread sparks and embers
at will. What are ways to be proactive for your home? It’s a good thing the
Texas A&M Forest Service’s site had that information as well. Thank
goodness for the internet.
1.
Fire resistant! If it comes in fire resistant,
that’s what you want to go with: Roof, gutters, exterior walls (metal, brick,
stone siding, etc…).
2.
Windows – Double- paned or tempered- glasses
windows in metal framing with fiberglass or metal screens. This was a great tip
as well – when buying your drapes and shutters look for fire resistant to help act
like a wall to block fire from spreading into your home.
3.
It’s always important to clean your vents,
making sure they are debris free.
For more
information on tips to take for making your home as fire resistant as possible,
check out Texas A&M Forest Service’s brochure on Fire Resistance Materials.
In a
previous blog about floods, we talked about how a flood can happen ANYWHERE at
ANYTIME, even if you live in a “non flood” zone. Mother Nature can change any
zone at any moment. Wildfires are the same. I’m sure there are areas that are more
prone to them than others but they too can happen anywhere. Be proactive and
take precautions to prevent your home from being a victim of Mother Nature in
general.
Sources:
Texas A&M Forest Service
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