Deputy Fire Chief offers wildfire safety tips for homes

Is your home ready to withstand a wildfire?

The Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps held a forum on July 14 to discuss how to harden your home in preparation for a wildfire. The speaker was Deputy Fire Chief Jon Canavan, who outlined on several ways one can update their home to keep it safe during a fire.

“Everyone should take the necessary steps to prepare for emergency disasters at work and at home,” said Canavan.

One of the biggest ways someone can harden their home against fire damage is by creating defensible space for 100 feet around the home, said Canavan. This means clearing out flammable materials, including dead or dying plants, overhanging tree branches, mowing long grass and moving flammable objects, like wood piles and deck furniture, away from the home.

One the biggest threats to a home during a fire is stray embers blown in by the wind, said Canavan. These embers can enter the home through windows, chimneys, roof overhangs and openings covered with mesh that is large enough to let embers pass through.

One big fire threat that not many people think about is a wooden fence touching the home, said Canavan. These fences can catch fire when embers land on the top crossbeam and eventually catch the home itself on fire.

Canavan recommended replacing the part of the fence connecting with the home with non-combustible materials, as well as making sure trees are clear from the roof and debris is removed, as well as making sure all opening on or near the roof are safely sealed with a fine mesh.

Another danger one might not think about, Canavan said, is glass windows. He recounted a story about how a home caught fire after a branch broke through an upstairs window and allowed embers in.

Canavan recommended using tempered glass for windows and doors, which is stronger and less likely to break and allow embers in during a fire.

Bart Tuttle, a member of PNEC, also spoke at the forum about construction materials and upgrades one can do to harden their home. Tuttle recommended caulking and painting over with latex paint under eaves and in other areas outside the home where embers might be able to get in and replacing poly-carbonate skylights, which can become sticky over time and catch embers. Tuttle recommended replacing them with fire-rated tempered glass skylights, which can be installed yourself, or by hiring a contractor.

Tuttle also recommended against vinyl windows and fences, which can melt in the heat of a fire and allow embers to enter the home. Instead, Tuttle said aluminum-framed windows should be installed for safety.

The fireplace flue should also be closed, Tuttle said. “Ember penetration of the home is often the biggest culprit for homes burning,” he said. “Maintenance of your home is hugely important.”

In addition to hardening one’s home, families should also develop an evacuation plan, including important items they will need to grab, a meeting place if they get separated and a list of contacts.