Protecting your home from wildfires in Las Vegas

The Risk of Wildfire Damage

Summer is the time of year known for wildfire damage. Wildfires move quickly and for those not prepared residences can be destroyed in the blink of an eye. There are several things you can do to prevent wildfires from spreading to your property and home, and if you live in an area prone to wildfires or recently affected by drought do not procrastinate taking precautions to protect your property.

Tips to Protect your Home from Wildfires in Las Vegas

ERX professional advise creating a defensible space around your home. We are sure you have seen photos or video footage of destruction caused by wildfires. It is amazing how some houses go unscathed, while others are utterly destroyed. While this may be a matter of terrain or weather, if a home has defensible space surrounding it, it has a fighting chance against an approaching wildfire.

Does Your Home Have a Defensible Area?

To create a defensible area you must thin vegetation and remove any flammable materials. Flammable materials include dry grass, leaves, or pine needles. Be sure to clean out your gutters, and remove pine needles or leaves from your roof and deck areas. Trim or remove large trees near your house or other buildings, and prune any branches of large trees to create six to 10 feet of clearance between the tree and the ground.

By working to create a defensible area around your home you reduce the risk of a fire spreading to your home. It may mean the difference between a home untouched and one destroyed.

Your Building Materials Matter

Evaluate the building materials of your home. Areas such as your roof, deck, fences and siding stand a better chance if they are built with fire-resistant materials. Fire-rated shingles are made of materials including asphalt, metal, slate, clay or concrete. Other fire-resistant materials such as brick, plaster, stucco and fiber-cement are fire-resistant materials for the exterior walls of your home.

Consider Emergency Access

Create an easy access point should emergency responders need to protect your home. Coordinate with others in your neighborhood or area to make sure your streets are clearly market and homes have visible numbers. Your driveway should be easily accessible—in width and with enough height clearance—to allow responders access.

Create an Wildfire Emergency Action Plan

Once you have done all you can to make your home fire-resistant, you should also consider an emergency action plan. Your plan should include actions for your pets or livestock. Be sure everyone knows where to meet in case of evacuation. If you intend to protect your home, have tools including a shovel, rake, axe or chainsaw available to clear growth and to create a natural barrier. Never stay if your life is at risk—while it is devastating to lose your home and all it’s contents, your life is more important.

If your home or business is in an area at risk or wildfires in Las Vegas, Nevada be prepared in advance by locating important documents such as your insurance policy and include a complete inventory of your property and it’s contents. Secure these items in a fire-resistant safe or in a safety deposit box at a bank. If your home is lost or damaged, knowing where these documents are will help drastically speed up the insurance claim process and will help you to get back to your life as soon as possible after a fire disaster.

You may also want to put together an emergency kit that includes first aid supplies, basic tools, a flashlight, clothing, blankets, prescription medications, extra car and house keys and credit cards and cash.

If your home is destroyed and you choose to rebuild, ERX in Las Vegas can help you reconstruct the physical damages while taking into consideration the emotional toll such an event creates in your life.

If you would like assistance, your local fire department if often willing to offer suggestions and answer any questions you have about protecting your property. There are also numerous resources available online from various government agencies. Don’t procrastinate your fire emergency preparation—the more proactive you are now the better you will be prepared in an emergency. Continue to follow the blog at www.ERXlasvegas.com for more tips to protect your home from water and fire damage.