Easy ways you can protect your home against wildfire

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — With a massive fire underway in Hardy and Grant counties , you may be wondering if your home is in danger or what you can do to protect it if a wildfire ever happens in your area.

Luckily, there are things you could do right now to reduce the overall fire risk for your home. The National Interagency Fire Center , United States Forest Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) all have several tips to keep your family and your property safer in the event of a wildfire.

Create a 30-foot “defensible” space around your home

Keep flammable objects or other fuel sources at least 30 from the perimeter of your home. This includes wood stockpiles, dried leaves, shrubs, tall grasses or propane tanks. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also recommends the removal of other fuel sources from underneath decks or porches that could catch fire.

The U.S. Forest Service also recommends moving flammable objects like lawnmowers, outdoor furniture or toys at least 30 feet away from your house during wildfire activity.

You can find a detailed breakdown of the Home Ignition Zone on the NFPA website that goes into specific details like safe tree spacing and a home ignition zone checklist.

Prepare the outside of your home

• Clear your gutters of leaves, pine needles or anything else flammable.
• Trim away tree branches or overhanging limbs that are within 10 feet of the flue opening of a stove or chimney.
• Remove branches of trees to a height of 15 feet to reduce the chance of them catching fire.
• Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any part of your house. FEMA also recommends buying an external sprinkler system with its own water and power source, or filling garbage cans with water if there is nearby wildfire activity.
• Keep your lawn watered and mowed; remove cut grass afterward as it can act as an additional fuel source.
• Have clear and visible street and house address signage to help responders find your home in case of an emergency.

Home improvement ideas for fire safety

If you want to take fire safety one step further, there are a few home improvement projects you can invest in to further fortify your home against fire:

• Install metal mesh in front of flue openings or under decks and porches to keep out embers.
• Replace your roof or siding with fire-resistant materials like tile, slate, metal or any Class A-rated material. Alternatively, the National Interagency Fire Center recommends treating wooden siding or roofing with fire-retardant chemicals.

Lastly, FEMA also recommends reviewing your insurance coverage. Create an itemized list of your belongings in the event of a house fire to help you with filing an insurance claim.

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