Protecting Your Property from Flames This Fire Season

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Valley firefighters are preparing for an active brush fire season this year after all the heavy winter rain we had. Even if your home is in the “suburbs” chances are there are still areas around your neighborhood and home with shrubbery and other potentially flammable items. SERVPRO of Central Phoenix all too often sees the devastation of losing a home or place of business to fire damage when they could have been prevented. We’ve come up a few ways you can protect your property from becoming a disaster.

Look at your surroundings well before fire season starts

Washes and alleyways all around the Valley are seeing a lot more over-growth this year. When the sweltering heat dries all those shrubs up, these washes and alleyways now act as corridors that can carry a fire blocks away, leaving your Phoenix home or business property at risk. Dead pine needles, leaves, and other dead plants serve as kindling, like when you're attempting to start a fire. Eliminating them is the first thing you'll want to do. It is recommended that you create at least a five-foot barrier around the property that is free of any fire dangers. Use rocks instead of grass or keep your grass short and healthy.

Store firewood away from your home

Keep firewood and other lumber away from the building structure. 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. While it might seem unlikely that it could catch fire, errant cigarette ash, firework or other fire source is all it takes for firewood to ignite, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Keep your gutters clean

When rain gutters aren't cleaned regularly, they fill up with dead leaves and pine needles which will easily spark especially during the sweltering summer days. Depending on how open they are, creatures can build a nest, which can be highly flammable, in these gutters. Cleaning them regularly keeps them clean of any flammable debris, and prevents the need for fire remediation down the road!

Check all smoke detectors regularly

Be sure to check on 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. Too often, firefighters tell of homes that were ablaze without warning because smoke detectors weren’t functioning. Stay safe and test those detectors!

While there’s no guarantee that your home won’t experience a fire disaster at some point, following these simple tips can help protect your home and keep you safe. If you do experience fire damage of any kind, reach out to SERVPRO of Central Phoenix at 602-386-4268 to get the help you need, 24/7.