Protecting Your Home During Fire Season and All Year Long

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

It’s been an active fire season in Arizona and across the country. While temperatures are starting to cool, there are still fire risks that homeowners should be aware of to keep their property safe. Recent rains have caused properties all around the Valley to experience a lot more over-growth this year. When the sweltering heat dried all those shrubs up, overgrowth can leave your Phoenix home or business property at risk. Here are a few ways you can protect your property from fire.

Eliminate brush and overgrowth from your property

Dead bushes, broken branches, dried weeds, leaves, and other dead plants serve as kindling and can quickly ignite under the right circumstances like an errant cigarette or other flammable objects. Eliminating them is the first thing you'll want to do to make your property safer. It is recommended that you create at least a five-foot barrier around the property that is free of any fire dangers like flammable items. Use rocks instead of grass or keep your grass short and healthy. Even healthy plants can dry up quickly under the right circumstances like a broken drip system that goes undetected until the plant expires. Play it safe and keep the brush clear.

Store firewood away from your home

Keep firewood and other lumber away from your house. As we get into the colder season, it’s tempting to stock up on firewood for cool outdoor firepits; it's best to keep the wood in a fire-resistant box or at least cover it with a tarp, keeping it a safe distance from the property at all times. Never pile up wood right up against your house; you’re just adding potential kindling to the fire! Fire remediation specialists often see this as a contributing factor to fire starting or spreading in a home. Keep it away and stay safe.

Keep your rain gutters clean

When gutters aren't cleaned regularly, they fill up with dead leaves and other potentially flammable materials which will easily spark, especially during the hot days or from a random spark from that outdoor firepit. Cleaning them regularly keeps them clean of any potentially flammable debris. Make it a habit to regularly check your rain gutters to ensure there’s no blockage or debris.

Check smoke detectors frequently

Smoke detectors are one of your home’s last lines of defense should a fire occur. Be sure to check the batteries and test the smoke detectors regularly. New smoke detectors on the market can even alert you on your phone to any fire dangers putting your property at risk so that you can take necessary precautions. A small fire or a smoldering item in your home can be prevented from turning into a full-fledged fire with fast action. Smoke detectors are critical to keeping your home safe.

The weather in Arizona has been more than a little unpredictable this year. While sizzling hot weather and monsoon lighting appear to be gone, don’t stop being diligent about fire safety in and around your home. Should you experience a fire, contact SERVPRO of Central Phoenix 24/7 at 602-386-4268. We’ll work with you to restore your home before the fire happened.