Tips to protect your property in case of wildfire

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Wildfires are a peril that are rarely thought of in everyday life, or are considered only California catastrophes. But here in Montgomery County, particularly in the aptly-named The Woodlands, all it takes is a series of hot, dry days, mixed with an incident either natural or manmade, and suddenly life and property are in peril. It may be easy for some to forget the September 2011 ‘Riley Road Wildfire’ that scorched at least 12,500 acres and destroyed more than 100 homes in Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties that took ten days to contain before devastating many lives..

At the time of this writing, there are currently two active wildfires in Texas, one of them covering approximately 3,000 acres and only ten percent contained. Peter Duncanson, a disaster preparedness expert from ServiceMaster Restore, is sharing valuable steps residents can take to ready their homes, including:

• Ensure your roof is fire-resistant, as it is especially vulnerable to fire. The roof is often the most susceptible to fire. If you have a cedar shake roof, you should prioritize its replacement with a more fire-resistant material as soon as possible. Metal and tile are the most fire-resistant options, but any Class A roof will be sufficient.
• Ensure your deck is fire-resistant with thick materials and completely enclosed. Decks should be constructed with boards at least two inches wide or using fire-resistant materials. The less space between the deck and the ground, the better. Enclose any openings under the deck so embers cannot drift underneath.
• Clear a safety zone of at least 30 feet around the home, making it less likely for anything to catch a spark. The space around your home should be free of vegetation and other combustibles like wood piles or dried leaves for at least 30 feet. Then, clear a second zone up to 100 feet away from your home for added protection. In this zone, reduce or replace flammable vegetation with fire-resistant vegetation as much as possible.
• Replace single-pane windows for more heat protection. Fire can heat windows and ignite drapes and other materials inside. To help prevent this, you should replace single-pane windows with dual-pane or even triple-pane windows. Adding fire-resistant shutters can also help keep your interior protected.
• Create a wildfire preparedness plan and walk through it with your family. Make a family emergency plan that walks every family member through what they must do if a wildfire gets near your home. This plan should include possible escape routes, meeting points, and an emergency preparedness kit with all the essentials you'll need if you must evacuate. Practice your plan until everyone feels comfortable with what they should do if a wildfire is imminent.

With The Woodlands and the forested rural areas surrounding it still reeling from Hurricane Beryl and the resulting countless thousands of fallen limbs and dead leaves, the possibility of a fire breaking out – while remote – is still a real threat. By following these tips, you can help our local fire departments from having to overextend themselves should the need arise.