Your Home and Wildfires

Our region has been hit hard by wildfires this month, many homes have been damaged or destroyed and worse, some have lost their lives. Our hearts go out to all those impacted. This type of tragedy affects us all, but there is life after a wildfire too, eventually residents can return to their homes to begin anew, or plan a new direction if needed.

Whether your home and family were impacted in Northern California, or not, I wanted to share some vital information which can help before and after a wildfire, in the hope you and yours can fare this type of devastation well and safely.

As our region is a high-risk area for wildfire, taking precautions before one occurs is the best first defense towards protecting your home and family. CalFire is perhaps the best State resource for the latest in information and resources to help residents stay safe, I strongly recommend checking out their website for useful tools and ideas.

A key way to protect your home is to focus on establishing a fire-safe boundary. This is best done by creating a defendable space around your property, plants and trees are best planted where they can’t come in direct contact with any buildings; your home, garden shed or patio area included.

Regular yard maintenance to keep dry or dead branches and plant debris clear is another way to defend your property. Be sure to check for high growing trees which may be too close to electrical wiring as well. When it’s time to prune trees near wires, it’s best to hire a professional who can do the work with experience and safety in mind.

If you are evacuated due to a wildfire, when you return home, even if there is no visible damage to your home, there are things you can do to ensure all is well. Watching the area for flare-ups, and checking your grounds for hotspots can help keep any further fires starting up. A good dowsing of your yard and garden with plenty of water can make a big difference.

It’s also a good idea to check your roof directly, looking for errant sparks or smoldering spots. Check inside your attic or crawl space below the roof as well, you want to be sure you home is free from fire danger inside and out. If you find any issues, call the fire department right away to help.

If your property was damaged by wildfire, soil erosion can be an issue, focusing on replanting with fire-safe landscaping can help limit erosion, and enhance your property’s fire protection. If your property was not affected by the latest wildfires, now is a great time to update your yard with fire-safe plants as a good preventive measure.

Wildfires are a risk here in Northern California, but with a bit of planning, the risk can be lessened. All the communities impacted by fire this month have our deepest condolences. If you are ready to invest in property, buy or sell a home, we at Haylen Group are here to help you with all your real estate needs! As your agent, we will strive to work together and give you the best support we can. Call Helen Chong at (408) 800-LIST or email at [email protected]. You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.