Fire protection for your house and safety for your family can be
increased if your follow some key guidelines before drought conditions
bring the threat of wildland fires to your area.
Keep grass well watered, with grass and weeds mowed to no more than two inches in height.
Avoid
planting shrubs and trees that catch fire easily, such as juniper,
yaupon holly, pine, evergreen, eucalyptus, and fir trees.
Instead, plant hardwoods, crepe myrtle, red yucca, forsythia, China
rose and Texas sage.
Romove any tree limbs located within ten feet of your chimney and roof.
Choose fire resistant materials and protective roofing. Stone, brick and metal provide more protection than wood.
Cover
all exterior vents, attics and eaves with metal mesh screens.
Mesh size should be no larger than six millimeters or 1/4 inch to stop
debris from collecting. This also helps keep sparks out.
Install multi-pane windows, tempered safety glass or fireproof shutters to protect large windows from radiant heat.
Have chimneys, wood stoves and home heating systems inspected and cleaned annually by certified specialist.
Insulate chimneys and place spark arresters on top. Chimneys should be three feet above the roof.
