How to Prepare Your Home for Fire Season | News

BUTTE COUNTY, CA. – As the days get warmer, all the grass and vegetation surrounding our homes begins to dry out.

CAL FIRE says our area has become a hotbed of dry fuel, ready to ignite a wildfire at the slightest spark.

CAL FIRE Captain Dan Collins told Action News Now that if you're looking to protect your home, focus on getting the first few feet around your home. It should be free of any dead, dry debris such as weeds, leaves or pine needles.

Collins says you should also check your roof for dead vegetation.

“When it comes to home hardening and safety around your properties, especially against wildfires, we want our citizens to focus on zone zero and zone ones which are within the first 5 feet of the house or structure, then the additional 25 to 30 feet total. of the structure. If people can focus on those areas, we hope that will reduce the impact of wildfires hitting their property or any kind of embers, sparks or embers,” Collins said.

Another way to prepare your lawn is to remove all low branches. In addition to protecting your home, CAL FIRE wants you to think about what you would do if you had to evacuate.

One way to prepare to evacuate quickly is to pack a travel bag. The bag should contain medications, documents, and an extra set of clothes to get you through a day or so if you can't get home.

CAL FIRE says it's important you know your area This way, if an evacuation order is issued, you know if it applies to your neighborhood.

To learn more about ways to protect your home during wildfire season, you can visit the CAL FIRE website. defensible space webpage..