The windows are one of the most problematic parts of the home when it comes to wildfires. They break due to the different temperatures either side of the glass, and once the cracks start to form, the glass bursts. Breaking windows will lead to fires getting worse. You’re adding more oxygen to help fuel the fire. It’s important to protect the windows and prepare them for the chance of wildfires in the area. Consider Thermo-pane Windows If you’re looking for ways to keep your utility bills down, you’ll likely look into thermo-pane windows. These are great options for wildfire management, too. The glass has an extra layer of protection, which is harder to crack than the basic glass, offering a
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Fire mitigation in Gilpin county. (719)400-9104. Prepare Home for Wildfires: Roofing The roof is one of the most important parts of the home to get right in wildfire-prone areas. The roof brings the greatest chance of fire as the canopy fires will drop down onto them. It’s important to get a Class A fire rating as much as possible, but you don’t need to worry about losing the aesthetics of the home. Reduce the Complexity of the Roof The first thing to consider when building a new home or replacing the roof is complexity. The more complex a roof is, the higher the chance there is for it to cause fire problems. Needles, leaves, and other debris will get into
Not all homes have a connection to the municipality water system. Your home, if it’s rural enough, could run on a well. There are still a lot of homes that use well water instead of city water. There are issues when it comes to fires. When getting the water for a fire, the well pump needs to constantly run. This can lead to draining the well and burning out the motor on the pump. It’s a costly repair. Even without a fire, you can run the risk of damaging the pump. In a fire, you have the issue of the electricity being cut, which means you need to look out for other ways to manage the fire. Avoid Too Much
When the electricity goes out, you’ll need a fire cistern or you may need to use the swimming pool or hot tub. To make any of these options work, you need a water pumping system. This is especially important if your water source is going to be from a well or river away from the home. What Will a Water Pumping System Do? The water pumping system makes it possible to bring a high volume of water with high pressure, helping to tackle a fire immediately. You want to get a pump that will discharge 15-30 gallons of water per minute. Yes, that is going to use up that 80-gallon hot water tank very quickly. You don’t need more than
If you don’t have a fire bunker yet, you’ll want to consider one. These are important in the event of wildfires, especially if your home is remote. There was once a time people were given evacuation plans, but the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009 that killed 164 people led to some questions about evacuation plans. Is it better to have something similar to a bomb shelter but for fires? Evacuation Isn’t Always Possible Depending on the area and severity of the fire, evacuation isn’t always possible. In fact, it can end up being more dangerous. Having a bunker instead could be a safer option while waiting for fire crews to get out to you. Of course, there are fears that
There are a few extra additions to your home you won’t necessarily think about. These can all help during a fire and afterward. It’s time to consider an internal sprinkler system to help put out the fires, then you’ll want something to protect important documents during the event. Internal Sprinkler Systems Can Reduce the Spread Businesses and hotels will use internal sprinkler systems. When there is a fire, the systems automatically turn on to help put the fire out. Most houses aren’t built with these, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add them to your home. There are some new rules coming in for new builds in Boulder County, with homes that are more than 4,500 sq ft needing them
Fire mitigation and gutters. Contact Colorado mastication for scrub oak removal, brush clearing and tree removal. The material of gutters isn’t the only problem when it comes to wildfires. This part of the home collects a lot of debris as well as water, leading to fuel for the fires to spread. It’s important to make sure the materials are just right, but there are also maintenance steps you’ll need to take. Adding Gutters to the Home It could be worth replacing your gutters if you’re just moving into a property or you realize you haven’t replaced them in a while. If you’re building a new home, you’ll need to think about the material of the gutters anyway. You’ll usually find
When preparing your home for wildfires,do not forget to think about fences and other structures that you have on your property. You can do anything you want to make sure the structural aspect of your house is safe from fires, but it’s going to do nothing if you don’t make the rest of your property is safe. Enclosed spaces and fences are major problem areas if you don’t take care of them. Managing Enclosed Spaces Enclosed spaces include the likes of storage under the deck or patio, sheds, or other out-of-sight storage spaces around the home. It’s easy to forget all about them because they are out of sight, but you need to ensure there isn’t a buildup of flammable
You may already have a hose to water your garden. If you don’t, it’s something to think about. This isn’t just to keep the garden looking beautiful, but to also manage fires that are outside of the home. Commonly, you’ll find 50ft hoses outside. You want to get a 100ft hose attached to everything spigot around the home. It’s worth having everything already connected as having to connect will waste valuable time. You also want the hoses around the house as a 200ft run with a hose is hard. Even firefighters train for that job! What Size of Hose Do You Need? You’ll want to look for hoses that are 3/4in in diameter. Brass fastenings are going to be the
While you will do what you can to make your home safe in a structural sense and you’ll have a fire evacuation plan, you’ll also need to be ready to put out fires. Some fires start small and can be suppressed quickly, as long as you have the right tools. Fire extinguishers are a must. Have Multiple Fire Extinguishers Around the House Getting one isn’t going to be enough. Sure, it’s great for the kitchen, you need something for upstairs and even in the basement. You’ll want at least one on each level. You’ll also want them in each vehicle you have and an extra one in the garage. The more the better, but you don’t want all the same