It’s Wildfire Preparedness Week, and the City of Carlsbad is sharing tips to help residents protect their homes and families. Carlsbad is known for abundant natural open space, and when nature is your neighbor, it’s essential to take precautions against wildfire.
Be ember aware
Flying embers can travel miles in high winds during a wildfire. Below are tips to protect the most susceptible areas of your home from ignition by embers.
Roof and gutters: Keep your gutters and rooftops free of debris. Clean regularly.
Tree branches: Remove branches within 10 feet of your roof’s edge and chimney openings
Dead, dying, or dry vegetation: Keep plants at least five feet away from your home. Use noncombustible groundcover, like gravel, in this area.
Combustible items: Relocate anything that can burn at lease five feet away from your home. This includes trash cans.
Grass and ground cover: Keep grasses and ground cover under four-inches in height.
Patio furniture: If wildfire is threatening, put combustible patio furniture inside or move it at least 30 feet away from the house.
Venting and spark arrestors: Install spark arrestors on chimneys. Cover all vents with 1/8 inch, corrosion-resistant wire mesh or install vents designed to resist ember entry.
Windows: Install dual-pane windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage in a fire.
Fencing: Keep the base of fences free of debris. Choose fencing made with non-combustible material to prevent fire from extending to your home.
Garage door: Close garage doors if a wildfire is threatening.
Create defensible space
Creating defensible space around your home will help protect your property and provide a safety zone for firefighters to work if a fire threatens your home. Defensible space is the area around a structure where flammable foliage and materials that can spread fire have been cleared, reduced or replaced. This space acts as a barrier between a structure and an advancing fire and its embers.
More information
Be Ember Aware flier
Protect Your Home from Wildfire webpage
Contact
City of Carlsbad Fire Department
442-336-2665
firepreventionpublic@carlsbadca.gov
