| Your house could be vulnerable to a wildfire because of its design,
construction and location. If you are preparing to build, buy or remodel
a house, you should know what to look for in a Fire Safe house. A few
modifications to your construction plans can reduce the chance of your
house catching fire, or resist further damage if it does catch fire.
Don't let your house become another fuel for a wildfire.
If you are building a new house, locate it at least 30 feet from the
boundary of your lot. This will allow you to design your landscape with
at least 30 feet of defensible space around the house. Avoid
ridge tops, canyons and areas between high points on a ridge. These are
extremely hazardous locations for houses and firefighters because they
become natural chimneys, increasing the intensity of the fire.
Building
Materials
Exterior construction materials such as brick and stucco resist fire
much better than wood. If you have a wood exterior, it is especially
important that you follow the Fire Safe practices outlined in this
booklet. Generally, thicker siding materials are more fire resistant.
Enclose the undersides of balconies and decks on slopes with fire
resistive materials. If not enclosed, these areas can trap flames and
burning embers that can ignite your home.
Your Roof
Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your house because it can
easily catch fire from the wind-blown sparks of a wildfire. Therefore,
the single most important step you can take to create a Fire Safe house
is to build or re-roof with fire resistive or noncombustible materials.
There are three classifications of fire resistive roofs: Class A
offers the best protection; Class C is the minimum level required by
law. Contact your local fire department for specific roofing guidelines
in your area.
Other Building
Concerns
Roof eaves extending beyond exterior walls are also susceptible to flame
exposure, and should be limited in length, boxed or enclosed with fire
resistive materials. Openings such as attic or ridge vents can allow
easy entry of flaming embers and sparks. Cover all vents with a
non-flammable 1/4-inch mesh screen.
Every chimney and stovepipe must be covered by a non-flammable screen
with a mesh no larger than 1/2 inch.
Limit the size and number of window in your home that face large
areas of vegetation. Even from a distance of 30 feet away, the heat from
a wildfire may be enough to ignite the furnishings inside your house.
Installing dual-paned windows and sliding glass doors can reduce the
potential of breakage from wind-blown debris and reduce the amount of
heat transmitted from the fire to the interior of your home.
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Mt. Shasta Vista
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