Protecting Your Home from a Wildland Fire

Transcription

1 Purple K Dry Chemical (B, C) A dry chemical called potassium bicarbonate. It is non-conductive and non-corrosive. Clean up requires vacuuming, sweeping or flushing with water. Extinguishers with potassium bicarbonate are usually used in military facilities, oil companies, vehicles, etc. Water (A) The most common agent is water; however, it cannot be used for class B or C fires because it is conductive. Water-based fire extinguishers are usually used in stockrooms, schools, offices, etc. Wet Chemical fire extinguishers (K) The potassium acetate based agent discharges as a fine mist which forms a soapy foam that suppresses any vapors and steam or the risk of fire reflash as it extinguishes the fire. Class K fire extinguishers can usually be found in commercial cooking areas such as restaurants and cafeterias. Protecting Your Home from a Wildland Fire Fuel Source Class of Fire Type of Extinguisher (Extinguishing Agent) Ordinary combustibles (e.g. trash, wood, paper, cloth) A Water; chemical foam; dry chemical* Flammable liquids (e.g. oils, grease, tar, gasoline, paints, thinners) B Carbon dioxide (CO2); halon**; dry chemical; aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) Electricity (e.g. live electrical equipment) C CO2; halon; dry chemical Combustible metals (e.g. magnesium, titanium) Combustible Cooking (e.g. cooking oils; animal fats, vegetable fats) D K Dry powder (suitable for the specific combustible metal involved) Wet chemical (Potassium acetate based) Silver Reef Highlands Homeowners Association 14

2 Table of Contents Protecting Your Home from a Wildland Fire.1 Forest Fires in the News...1 Forest Fire Statistics....1 Causes of Wildfires...1 Campfires..2 Arson....2 Fireworks...3 Yard Waste Burning...3 Smoking..3 Vehicles...3 Accidents or equipment failure..4 Other casual factors...4 Preventing Wildfires..4 Comply with all local laws and regulations....4 Check the weather Only use easily controlled locations for burning.5 Do not burn anything unusual or combustible.5 Preparation for Battle.5 When to Evacuate..7 Evacuation of the Vulnerable...7 Evacuation of Pets....8 Create a wildfire Action Plan....9 Wildfire action plan checklist... 9 Home Evacuation Checklist Assemble an emergency supply kit About Fire extinguishers How Fire Extinguishers Work Water Extinguishers Dry Chemical Extinguishers Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extinguishers When selecting the appropriate type of fire extinguisher, it is important to think about extinguishing agents. Each class of fire is best fought by a specific extinguishing agent. You will find a color-coded box on your fire extinguisher identifying which classes of fire it can be used for, and the type of fire extinguishing agent it contains. The following is a list of commonly used fire extinguishing systems and their corresponding classes of fire. The classes are indicated in parentheses such as (A, B, C): Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical (A, B, C) A dry chemical agent called mono ammonium phosphate. The chemical is nonconductive and can be mildly corrosive if moisture is present. In order to avoid corrosion, it is necessary to scrub and thoroughly cleanup the contacted area once the fire is out. A dry chemical fire extinguisher is usually used in schools, general offices, hospitals, homes, etc. Regular Dry Chemical (B, C) A dry chemical agent called sodium bicarbonate. It is non-toxic, non-conductive and non-corrosive. It is easy to cleanup, requiring only vacuuming, sweeping or flushing with water. Extinguishers with sodium bicarbonate are usually used in residential kitchens, laboratories, garages, etc. Carbon Dioxide (B, C) Carbon dioxide removes oxygen to stop a fire but has limited range. It is environmentally friendly and leaves no residue, so cleanup is unnecessary. Extinguishers with carbon dioxide are usually used in contamination-sensitive places such as computer rooms, labs, food storage areas, processing plants, etc. Halotron (A, B, C) A vaporizing liquid that is ozone friendly and leaves no residue. Because it requires no cleanup, fire extinguishers with halotron are ideal for computer rooms, telecommunication areas, theaters, etc. Foam (A, B) Foam floats on flammable liquids to tame the fire and helps prevent reflashes. To cleanup the affected area, it must be washed away and left to evaporate. Fire extinguishers with foam are usually used in garages, homes, vehicles, workshops, etc. i 13

3 About Fire extinguishers Flames need fuel, oxygen and heat in order to burn. Fire extinguishers are designed to remove one of these elements by applying an agent that either cools the burning fuel, or removes or displaces the surrounding oxygen. Fire extinguishers contain either water or a smothering material, such as CO2. By pulling out the safety pin and depressing the lever at the top of the cylinder, the fire extinguishing material is released under high amounts of pressure. How Fire Extinguishers Work At the top of the cylinder, there is a smaller cylindrical container filled with compressed gas. A release valve acts as a locking mechanism and prevents this gas from escaping. When you pull the safety pin and squeeze the lever, the lever pushes on an actuating rod that presses the valve down to open a passage to the nozzle. The compressed gas is released, applying a downward pressure on the fire-extinguishing material, and pushing it out the nozzle under tremendous force. Although the temptation is to aim the extinguishing material at the flames, the proper way is to aim it directly at the fuel. Water Extinguishers Water extinguishers are filled with regular tap water and typically pressurized with air. The most common way to remove heat is to spray water on the fire; however, depending on the type of fire, this approach is not always the best option. Dry Chemical Extinguishers Dry chemical extinguishers are filled with foam or powder, usually potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and pressurized with nitrogen. Baking soda is effective because it decomposes at 158 degrees Fahrenheit and releases carbon dioxide, which smothers oxygen once it decomposes. Dry chemical extinguishers interrupt the chemical reaction of the fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of powder or foam, thereby separating the fuel from the surrounding oxygen. Protecting Your Home from a Wildland Fire Every year many families unnecessarily lose their homes and possessions to wildland fire. These losses can be minimized if homeowners take the time to become aware of safety measures to help protect their homes and complete some effective actions. Forest Fires in the News Last year, severe wildfires spread all over southern Utah and California. The destructive wildfires that raced across California in 2017 caused historic levels of death and destruction. Nearly 9,000 wildfires tore through the state, burning 1.2 million acres of land, destroying more than 10,800 structures and killing at least 46 people. Forest Fire Statistics The United States Forest Service continuously studies wildfires across the United States and their most recent study of fires over the last 10 years demonstrated how dangerous and frequent wildfires are. Every year more than 75,000 wildfires reported in the US These fires burn an average of over 7,000,000 acres a year Every state is at risk of forest fires 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans Wildfires destroy an average of almost 2,500 buildings every year Causes of Wildfires In general, wildfires are regarded as a natural phenomenon of the environment nature s way of eliminating dead vegetation and although weather conditions play an important role in the event, seventy-five percent of wildfires are caused by people being careless. Many assume that lightning and smoking are the most common causes of wildfires but both are in the minority of sources. Most wildfires are caused by individuals burning debris, vehicle exhaust, sparks from trains and heavy equipment, campfires, and yes, smoking and lightning, as well as arson. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Extinguishers CO2 extinguishers contain carbon dioxide, a non-flammable gas. They are so highly pressurized that it is not uncommon for bits of dry ice to shoot out. Since CO2 is heavier than oxygen and very cold, it displaces or removes oxygen from the surrounding area and cools the fuel

4 Causes of Wildfires Campfires Arson Improperly doused or misplaced fires are one of the leading causes of wildfires. Before starting a fire, make sure you check your area s wildfire alert system to make sure conditions are safe for an open flame. Do not make excessively large fires as these can quickly get out of control (3 ft. wide is the max). Campfires should be surrounded by rocks or stones and be located a minimum of 10 ft away from any potential combustibles. Make sure to only burn firewood and nothing else. Also, keep a shovel and supply of water to quickly put out the fire should the situation arise. Completely extinguish a fire with sufficient dousing and covering with dirt before leaving the campsite. This is the act of setting fire to a property, piece of land or anything with the intention of causing damage. A person who does this is called and arsonist. Arson specialists believe that many fires are started by arsonists, and may account for about 30% of all wildfire cases. Assemble an emergency supply kit Put together your emergency supply kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate. Plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time. Each person should have a readily accessible emergency supply kit. Backpacks work great for storing these items (except food and water) and are quick to grab. Storing food and water in a tub or chest on wheels will make it easier to transport. Keep it light enough to be able to lift it into your car. :: Emergency supply kit checklist :: Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person. Map marked with at least two evacuation routes Prescriptions or special medications Change of clothing Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses An extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler s checks First aid kit Flashlight Battery-powered radio and extra batteries Sanitation supplies Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.) Don t forget pet food and water! Easily carried valuables :: Items to take if time allows :: Family photos and other irreplaceable items Personal computer information on hard drives and disks Chargers for cell phones, laptops, etc. Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night

5 Home Evacuation Checklist When an evacuation is anticipated, follow these checklists (if time allows) to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire. :: Inside the House :: Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked. Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters. Remove lightweight curtains. Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows & doors. Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights. Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions. Shut off the air conditioning. :: Outside :: Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool. Turn off propane tanks. Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures. Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house. Don t leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure. Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night. Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle. Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you. Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof. Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals. Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened. Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave. Fireworks Every year inappropriately used fireworks cause wildfires. Before using any type of firework, make sure they are legal to use since fireworks laws vary greatly by state and county. It is important to note that it is illegal to use fireworks in forested areas. Only use fireworks on flat surfaces and in areas without any dry grass or trees. Make sure to keep a bucket of water to extinguish all fireworks thoroughly after they are used. Yard Waste Burning Burning yard waste is a common practice throughout the country for removing unwanted yard trimmings or leaves and is often an easier solution than bagging and hauling the waste off to the landfill. The danger with burning yard waste comes from winds, which can easily blow burning yard waste and embers far away and easily ignite combustible vegetation. Before burning any yard waste, it is important to check with your local municipality since many have regulations regarding yard waste. It is best to burn in small batches since they are much easier to control if something should happen. Make sure to never burn in high wind or leave a pile unattended. Smoking Vehicles To prevent cigarettes from starting wildfires, always dispose of them in places where they cannot be a source of ignition. Placing a cigarette in a cup of water after use is a great way to prevent them from causing fires. Ashtrays work well too, but make sure they are contained and that the still-lit butt cannot blow towards a potential source of ignition. Never simply discard a cigarette on the ground or throw it out a car window. Regardless of what type of vehicles you use, it is important to be mindful of the role it can play in starting wildfires. Never park any vehicle on dry vegetation; the heat from the exhaust can cause it to ignite. Also, make sure any off-road vehicle you use has a working spark arrester as improper ones can cause dry vegetation ignitions

6 Accidents or equipment failure Car crashes, gas balloons, lawn mowers and many other equipment have been known to start fires when they go wrong. These are accidental but if not detected quickly, can cause massive problems. This is why fire fighters always move to an accident scene in anticipation of a fire break. Other causal factors Climate :: With global warming bringing about uncommon high temperatures and abnormal dryness, we are experiencing unusual environmental phenomena. Are there not more tornadoes, hurricanes, mudslides and floods than in the past? Topography :: Land features such as lakes, rivers, swamps, hills and valleys can either accelerate or slow down wildfires. A blaze spreads faster uphill because of heat radiation and convection. The steepness of a hill also affects the speed of the spread: the greater the slope, the faster the spread. Vegetation :: Plants or shrubs near your house, especially dry vegetation, can intensify and speed up a fire s progress. Season & weather :: Summer temperatures often break heat records, resulting in dry forests that present ideal conditions for wildfires. Geographical location :: Some regions are more vulnerable to forest fires. Preventing Wildfires Every year wildfires destroy thousands of homes and businesses all over the United States. This is why it is so important to be aware of the potential for wildfires and to always take steps to prevent a fire from spreading. Before starting any type of fire, it is important to do a couple of things: 1. Comply with all local laws and regulations. Many municipalities have laws governing burning of all kinds including time of day, time of year, and what substances can be burned. Create a wildfire Action Plan Your Wildfire Action Plan must be prepared, and familiar to all members of your household well in advance of a wildfire. Use the checklist below to help create your plan. Each plan will be different, depending on a variety of issues, needs, and situations. Wildfire action plan checklist Create an evacuation plan that includes: A designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. This is critical to determine who has safely evacuated from the affected area. Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency. Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock. A Family Communication Plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in case of separation. (It is easier to call or message one person and let them contact others than to try and call everyone when phone, cell, and internet systems can be overloaded or limited during a disaster.) Be Prepared: Have fire extinguishers on hand and train your family how to use them (check expiration dates regularly). Ensure that your family knows where your gas, electric, and water main shut-off controls are located and how to safely shut them down in an emergency. Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit for each person, as recommended by the American Red Cross. (See next section for details.) Maintain a list of emergency contact numbers posted near your phone and in your emergency supply kit. Keep an extra Emergency Supply Kit in your car in case you cannot get to your home because of fire or other emergency. Have a portable radio or scanner so you can stay updated on the fire. Tell your neighbors about Ready, Set, Go! and your Wildfire Action Plan

7 The need for caregivers and special vehicles moving into the area to help with evacuation may further complicate evacuation or emergency vehicle access or place additional people at risk without the proper education or training in what to do during a wildfire. Transportation plan. Many special needs populations are easily upset and stressed by sudden and frightening changes. Plans should ensure that a caregiver or trusted family member is able to stay with them at all times during an evacuation. Preplan safe sites for these individuals for short and potential long term stays. Evacuation of Pets Preparedness planning for pet s life safety includes: Plan to take animals and do not turn them loose. Make sure dogs and cats wear properly fitted collars with identification, vaccination, microchip and license tags. A pet evacuation plan should include routes, transportation needs and host sites. Share this plan with trusted neighbors. Exchange veterinary information with neighbors and file a permission slip with the veterinarian authorizing emergency care for animals. Make sure all vehicles and pet carriers needed for evacuation are serviced and ready to be used. Assemble a pet to-go bag with a supply of food, non-spill food and water bowls, cat litter and box and a restraint (chain, leash or harness). Additional items to include are newspaper and paper towels, plastic bags, permanent marker, bleach/disinfectant solution and water buckets. Evacuation shelters rarely accept pets; plan ahead to make sure pets will have a safe place to take refuge before a disaster strikes. If there is a no-pet policy, ask if this can be waived in the event of an emergency. Information for local shelters is available at For the potential for long-term stays, compile a list of boarding facilities. 2. Check the weather. It is never a good idea to engage in any type of burning if there are high winds. Wind can act as both an accelerant and can spread the fire. In addition, check your states most current fire danger rating system, which will explain any areas susceptibility to fires and any extra precautions that may be necessary. The Wildland Fire Assessment System provides a frequently updated map that shows the current fire danger rating for each state. 3. Only use easily controlled locations for burning. Make sure all campfires occur in fully surrounded fire pits and limit the size of all fires. No matter how something is being burned, it is important to do it in a controlled area. Fires can quickly get out of control, so it is necessary to have it in an area that will provide some containment so it can be extinguished if needed. 4. Do not burn anything unusual or combustible. It is common for people to throw garbage or other things into campfires, but these foreign materials can occasionally react violently to fires and lead to a quickly spreading fire. Only burn organic materials such as wood, leaves, or yard waste. Cardboard and paper items are usually acceptable to burn, but make sure it is safe before doing so. Preparation for Battle There are viable steps you can consider to protect your property against wildfires. Take safeguarding measures beforehand do not wait to be surprised. When the blaze is raging, you cannot get close enough to work on the situation, and panic typically sets in. To take prior action against a wildfire gives you the upper hand. Install smoke detectors or alarms in your house and test their function monthly. Replace the batteries regularly. Mount a functional fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, more importantly in the kitchen and garage, and know how to use it. Water your property occasionally so as to reduce the aridity, thereby reducing the chances for ignition. Decrease the sun s heat on your lawn by creating shade. Create a defensible space. In order for fire to burn, it needs fuel, so build a safe perimeter around your house by eliminating combustible materials (width should be between 30 to 200 feet from the house). The wider the clearing and the fewer combustible debris, the greater the chance of protecting your home from a 08 05

8 sweeping wildfire. Rake your property often to remove twigs, leaves, and dead plants. Homeowners with houses surrounded by thick vegetation should clear as much as 100 feet, and those with houses on slopes should clear as much as 200 feet. Design a tactical landscape by incorporating fire resistant plants in your yard. Not only will they cut down on the amount of mowing you have to do (for those who hate yard work) but they will also slow down a fire s progress. By establishing a greenbelt of plants around your property, you introduce a fire barrier. Space your greenery as to create gaps because it makes it more difficult for a blaze to travel. Plant shrubs in 10 foot increments, and form larger gaps of 20 feet or more for trees. Trees like the Coast Live Oak and the California Sycamore are good choices for fire-resistant trees. Prune any bushes near your house to ensure that they do not become access routes for fire. Introduce rock, brick and concrete pathways through your lawn. Add bare soil into your landscaping pattern, as well as fir or redwood bark chips around plants as they prove hard to ignite and thus augment your wildfire protection. Inspect your roof because the air-borne embers of a wildfire can penetrate into inner roof cavities, especially those of houses in warm climates as they are not usually airtight compartments. Embers can be pushed inside the home by the heavy winds generated by a bushfire. Clean your gutters from dry leaves and debris and install steel gutter guards. Check your attic for light infiltration which would indicate a hole in the roof. Plug any gaps with fire-rated gap filler and spray a fire retardant substance on insulation material to prevent ignition. Cover all roof-mounted air conditioning units with a fire retardant cover. Check glass windows and doors. Fire can gain access into your house through windows and doors, and through the seals around them. Permanent protective screens are available, as well as shutters and external blinds. You and the members of your household should know how to react in the event of a fire emergency. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with your family regularly. The escape route should have at least two ground-floor exits. Wildfire prevention is of the utmost importance if we wish to save our environment, our homes, and our lives. When to Evacuate Leave as soon as evacuation is recommended by fire officials to avoid being caught in fire, smoke or road congestion. Don t wait to be ordered by authorities to leave. Evacuating the forest fire area early also helps firefighters keep roads clear of congestion, and lets them move more freely to do their job. In an intense wildfire, they will not have time to knock on every door. If you are advised to leave, don t hesitate! Officials will determine the areas to be evacuated and escape routes to use depending upon the fire s location, behavior, winds, terrain, etc. Law enforcement agencies are typically responsible for enforcing an evacuation order. Follow their directions promptly. You will be advised of potential evacuations as early as possible. You must take the initiative to stay informed and aware. Listen to your radio/tv for announcements from law enforcement and emergency personnel. You may be directed to temporary assembly areas to await transfer to a safe location. The terms Voluntary and Mandatory are used to describe evacuation orders. However, local jurisdictions may use other terminology such as Precautionary and Immediate Threat. These terms are used to alert you to the significance of the danger. All evacuation instructions provided by officials should be followed immediately for your safety. Do not return to your home until fire officials determine it is safe. Notification that it is safe to return home will be given as soon as possible considering safety and accessibility. Evacuation of the Vulnerable It is imperative that individuals and caregivers with special needs have a preparedness plan for evacuation and proper care during a wildfire. Preparedness plans should include information on: Needs for medications, equipment or special dietary needs. Documentation about insurance and medical conditions should also accompany the person