For owners fearful about wildfire dangers, the most effective offense is an effective protection — defensible area, that’s.
“We’re talking about the removal of dry grass and tall grass, making sure that roofs are clear of debris, and there are no overhanging branches,” East County Hearth and Rescue Chief Steve Black mentioned. “A big thing for us is access, so take a look at the driveway. A lot of these driveways are very long so it’s whether we have the ability to get a fire engine down that driveway. Make sure that oversized vehicles have the ability to get to the property.”
Along with making certain engines, tanker vehicles and different outsized automobiles can navigate your driveway, it’s additionally essential to have your deal with clearly marked and visual, Clark County Hearth District 10 Chief Gordon Brooks mentioned.
Though Brooks recommends property house owners begin getting ready their houses for fireplace season earlier, he mentioned there’s nonetheless time to take motion to scale back dangers.
“Create a defensible space, basically an area immediately surrounding the building that’s free of vegetation, free of debris. Clean gutters and make sure you don’t have limbs that overhang your home. Make sure there are no flammable materials within 5 feet of your home, and clear out your landscaping within 30 feet of your home,” Brooks mentioned.
For extra info on find out how to shield your property and property, Black instructed the wildfire prevention web page on the county web site at clark.wa.gov/community-development/wildfire-prevention.
