Returning to "Before the Fire"

2/1/2019 (Permalink)

No matter where the fire starts, if your home is nearby, it can be affected by the soot or smoke.

A fire can occur anywhere, at any time-in fact, in 2014, wildfire occurrences alone were recorded in all 50 states. What is a wildfire? It is an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. A wildfire can destroy homes, businesses, agriculture, and damage natural resources while threatening the safety of the public and the firefighters who protect our forests and communities.  Wildfires can occur at any time throughout the year, but the potential is always higher during periods with little or no rainfall, which make brush, grass, and trees dry and burn more easily. They also can be started off a smaller fire in a home or out in the open. High winds can also contribute to spreading the fire.

If you live or work in an area that has the potential to be affected by fire, consider the following safety tips to help prevent it from spreading:

Wildfire Safety Tips

• Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. Remove dead  vegetation from under your deck and within 10  feet  of the  house.  This  prevents  embers from igniting your home.
• Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches. Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to  prevent debris from accumulating.
• Ensure flammable materials (firewood stacks, propane tanks, dry vegetation) are more than 30 feet from your home or business's foundation and outbuildings.
• Wildfire can spread to tree tops. If you have trees on your property, prune so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.
• Keep your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.

SERVPRO^® of The Andovers is here to return your home to pre loss condition. When in doubt, call us at 978-475-1199