Every year, over 100,000 forest fires burn across North America and research shows that this figure is rising. Recent wildfires in BC, Alberta and California have destroyed over 15,000 homes combined, not to mention cost hundreds of lives. Wildfires can travel up to 23 kph and consume everything in their path.
So, what can you do to protect your home and your loved ones?
- Have a get-away bag prepared: Chances are, if you’re evacuated from your home, you won’t get a lot of warning. So, pack a gym bag with essentials (prescription medicines, photocopies of important documents, etc.) and leave it close to your front door. If one family member is not home when disaster strikes, you’ll be able to take their stuff, too.
- Protect your data: Invest in an external hard drive and program your computer to back-up automatically so you can spend a bit more time grabbing irreplaceable items when you’re forced to leave.
- Look up, look way up: If you have overhead power lines on your property, make sure they are clear of vegetation and well away from the nearest tree. Trees fall not only in wildfires, but in wind storms as well.
- Create a zone of protection: If you can, ensure the area within 10 meters of your home is free of trees, flammable vegetation, and other combustibles.
- Don’t build camp fires when the weather’s been dry, and never smoke in fire hazard areas.
- Don’t throw a lit cigarette from your car. Dry grass can easily catch fire from a smoldering cigarette butt.
- Cut back vegetation around your home.
- Have an evacuation plan ready and make sure everyone in your family knows what to do in case of an emergency.
- Keep an emergency kit on hand. This should include non-perishable foods and a three-day (minimum) supply of drinking water for each family member. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
- Use fireproof materials in the construction of your home. These could include fire-resistant shingles, tempered glass windows, and a spark arrestor on your chimney. Taking these steps may even reduce your home insurance premium.
Source (https://www.squareoneinsurance.com/preparing-for-wildfires)