As wildfires continue to rip across Southern California, the Orange County Fire Authority is reminding people of how important it is to have a plan. September is National Preparedness Month, a perfect time to assess how you can help prevent disasters or what to do if they occur.
California has more than two million households at extreme risk from wildfires, making it the most wildfire-prone state in the nation. Here are a few things to remember as we move through the Golden State’s peak fire season.
Protect Your Home
Homes survive wildfires because of vegetation management. Regardless of your budget, there are things you can do to make your home less vulnerable. Fire officials suggest removing dead or dying plants, pruning or thinning trees and shrubs, and replacing fire-prone plants with fire-resistant and drought-tolerant plants.
Remove Fuel Sources
Areas at the edge of the wilderness are the most vulnerable to wildfires. They’re known as Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Most homes in WUI areas ignite due to external sources. In order to protect your home and reduce potential threats, you should remove anything within 30 feet of your home that could be used as a fuel source. Those items include construction materials, vehicles, or boats. Depending on the intensity of the fire, embers can be carried more than a mile ahead, which can put homes located blocks away in danger.
Prepare Ahead of Time
Creating defensible space means controlling, trimming, or removing vegetation within 100 feet of your home to slow or stop the spread of wildfires. Fire officials recommend installing or retrofitting your home with fire-resistant construction materials that will reduce the threat from embers, flames, and radiant heat.
Get a Home Assessment
A home assessment is a consultation with an OCFA representative who will examine the outside of your home and surrounding property. They can explain specific steps you can take to reduce the risk of wildfire damage or destruction.
JOIN THE ALISO VIEJO CHAMBER
We hope that you will join us as we work together to serve our community. This is a perfect opportunity to become a member of the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce. Please check out the benefits and perks of membership.