Florida Home Safety Tip
How to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Few homeowners prepare for a wildfire or take steps to reduce wildfire risk unless one is threatening their home. However according to Allstate the fires raging in Colorado Utah and New Mexico along with the dry drought-like conditions across the country should have every homeowner taking steps to reduce wildfire risk.
Allstate recommends homeowners reduce wildfire hazards by taking a few simple steps that can make a big difference if a wildfire threatens your community.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) homeowners should remove potential fuel sources and create a defensible zone around a home which will dramatically reduce wildfire hazards. This may help slow flames or help direct the flames away from your home during a wildfire. Allstate and IBHS also recommend homeowners do the following within 30 feet of most houses to reduce wildfire risk:
Eliminate fuel sources like dry landscaping woodpiles and decks.
Prune trees and shrubs.
Trim taller trees so lowest branch is no less than six feet from the ground.
Remove dead leaves and branches from the yard.
Clear branches from around the roof and chimney.
Mow lawn regularly and dispose cuttings and debris promptly.
Clear roof gutters and eaves of debris.
Maintain your irrigation system.
Move firewood and storage tanks at least 50 feet away from the home.
Store flammable liquids properly.
Source: The Allstate Corporation
Allstate recommends homeowners reduce wildfire hazards by taking a few simple steps that can make a big difference if a wildfire threatens your community.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) homeowners should remove potential fuel sources and create a defensible zone around a home which will dramatically reduce wildfire hazards. This may help slow flames or help direct the flames away from your home during a wildfire. Allstate and IBHS also recommend homeowners do the following within 30 feet of most houses to reduce wildfire risk:
Eliminate fuel sources like dry landscaping woodpiles and decks.
Prune trees and shrubs.
Trim taller trees so lowest branch is no less than six feet from the ground.
Remove dead leaves and branches from the yard.
Clear branches from around the roof and chimney.
Mow lawn regularly and dispose cuttings and debris promptly.
Clear roof gutters and eaves of debris.
Maintain your irrigation system.
Move firewood and storage tanks at least 50 feet away from the home.
Store flammable liquids properly.
Source: The Allstate Corporation
