How To Remove Flammable Yard Debris During Fire Season
You’ve seen wildfires on the news, but you haven’t felt the heat. Wildfires are a huge problem in the United States. In 2020 alone, there were 58,950 recorded fires that burned millions of acres of land!
Don’t sit on your laurels because you haven’t had to fight fires yet. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure after all.
We put together a quick guide to teach you how to remove flammable yard debris during fire season, Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to protect your family and property from a conflagration.
What Kinds Of Debris Are Flammable?
When you mow your lawn, what do you do with the clippings? If you leave them on the ground, it’s good for your soil. But, an accumulation of dry grass clippings is great fuel for a fire.
Watch out for any dead and dried plant matter like:
- leaves
- dead plants
- branches/twigs on the ground
- dried grasses/weeds
- Dead or dying trees
Take care of these fire hazards as soon as you can to discourage any fires from encroaching on your property.
Setting Up Fire Prevention Zones
After tons of research, scientists came up with some recommendations for preparing your yard for a potential fire. It idea is to think about fireproofing your yard in three distinct zones.
Zone 0
If you have a raised deck or crawlspace under your home, this zone contains that and anything up to 5 feet from your house or other outbuildings. Try to keep this a plant-free zone and use hardscape like gravel.
Zone 1
This zone should contain neat and clean areas extending 30 feet from your home in all directions. You want to have as little potential fuel for a fire in this zone. Make sure all plant matter is well trimmed and green.
Zone 2
From 30 to 100 feet from your home, try to reduce fuel sources like overgrown grass and make sure to put space between the grass and shrubs. Also, add some space between the shrubs themselves to help prevent the fire from jumping to the next plant.
Yard Storage Tips For Preventing Fires
Chances are, if you have a sizeable yard, you’ll have a few tools and gadgets for yard work. When storing things that use gasoline like a backpack leaf blower, chainsaws, or tanks for storing gas/oil, make sure to keep these at least 10 feet away from soil or vegetation.
Don’t Mess With Fire Or You’ll Get Burned
No matter what home insurance you have, rebuilding your life after a fire destroys your home is stressful and expensive. It’s worth investing a little time and money into fireproofing your property.
Keep these tips in mind to keep your yard free of anything that might catch on fire during fire season. Make sure you’re ready at all times because wildfires can spark without warning.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned how to remove flammable yard debris. For more helpful articles about home tips, finances, and more check out the rest of our blog today!
