8 Ways to Help Prevent Wildfires

Wildfires throughout the United States, and particularly in California, have become increasingly worse over the past several years, causing extreme devastation to local communities and ecosystems.

As these disasters continue to impact communities around the country, it’s important for residents in fire-prone areas to learn what they can do to help prevent wildfires. While no single person can prevent wildfires altogether, there are several steps everyone can follow to help prevent fires from occurring and spreading. Here are eight ways to help prevent wildfires.

Protect your home from wildfire by installing a Frontline Wildfire Defense exterior sprinkler system. For more information, contact us today for a free consultation.

What Causes Wildfires?

Wildfires can be sparked by a number of common incidents, ranging from natural weather events to human activities. Some of the most common causes of wildfires include:

• Lightning Strikes: During times of drought, which are very common in areas throughout California, lightning strikes can ignite dry vegetation, causing wildfires that spread uncontrollably.
• Campfires: Unattended campfires and campfires in dry areas can quickly ignite surrounding vegetation.
• Cigarettes: Irresponsibly discarding cigarettes can result in fires as the burning remains of the cigarettes ignite dry grass.
• Yard Waste & Trash Burning: Burning yard waste or trash is a common practice that can result in large wildfires as strong winds carry embers and burning debris that can ignite dry vegetation.
• Fireworks: Using fireworks in dry areas can ignite dry vegetation and lead to large fires.
• Vehicles: Heat from vehicle exhaust can ignite nearby vegetation, and off-road vehicles without spark arrestors often cause fires in wooded areas.

Understanding the common causes of wildfires is the first step toward understanding what you can do to prevent them.

8 Ways to Prevent Wildfires

If you reside in an area prone to wildfires, it’s important to learn what steps you can take to help prevent them. Here are eight ways anyone can help reduce the spread of wildfires in their communities.

1. Manage Home Ignition Zones

One of the best ways homeowners can prevent wildfires from spreading in their communities is to manage your home ignition zones. Manage surrounding landscape, and remove flammable materials within Home Ignition Zone 0 (0′ to 5′ from Home) and Home Ignition Zone 1 (5′ to 30′ from Home). This involves:

• Removing flammable materials from around your home’s perimeter
• Practicing regular landscaping to remove dead grass and vegetation
• Spacing out trees, bushes, and shrubbery to prevent wildfires from spreading between them
• Trimming trees to create vertical space between branches and the shrubbery below them

Proper management of ignition zones makes it more difficult for fires to spread quickly once they approach your property.

2. Avoid Fireworks

Fireworks are a popular American tradition during certain holidays, but they can be very dangerous, especially in communities that are prone to wildfires. To help prevent wildfires in your area, avoid setting off fireworks unless authorized by local regulators. If your area permits the use of fireworks, always keep a bucket of water on standby to extinguish them, and avoid letting children handle any flammable materials.

3. Responsible Camping Practices

When camping, never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure your campfire is surrounded by rocks or stones to prevent the fire from spreading. Before going camping, check local forecasts to determine whether or not conditions will be safe for fires, and check with local authorities to see if there is a fire ban. Once finished, be sure to extinguish your campfire with water to prevent embers from igniting vegetation after you leave.

4. Dispose of Cigarettes Correctly

If you smoke, make sure to never throw lit cigarettes or smoking materials on the ground. Cigarettes should always be completely extinguished before being disposed of. When possible, use water to extinguish cigarettes before disposal, and consider using a fire-proof container to safely dispose of cigarette butts.

5. Avoid Off-Roading During Dry Seasons

Off-roading can be a great recreational activity, but it can also have extreme consequences. Vehicle exhaust and vehicles with spark arrestors can easily ignite dry vegetation. Avoid going off-roading during dry seasons—and when you do go off-roading, always use a vehicle with working spark arrestors.

6. Comply with Local Regulations

In many areas, there are local laws and regulations regarding burning, including what kinds of substances can be burned and at what times of day it is permitted. This includes fireworks, yard waste burning, trash burning, and more. Always follow local regulations to ensure you aren’t endangering your community.

7. Check Local Forecasts

Before partaking in any activities that could possibly cause fires, always check local forecasts and fire ratings to determine whether the activity is safe. For example, if strong winds are expected, you should avoid lighting any fires as the winds can carry burning embers for miles and cause wildfires in other locations.

8. Install an Exterior Sprinkler System

An exterior sprinkler system serves as an effective defense tool against wildfires. By proactively hydrating your home, sprinkler systems can reduce the chances of ignition around your home and protect against fire-starters like drifting embers.

The Frontline Wildfire Defense exterior sprinkler system can protect your home from wildfire with:

• Remote activation for 24/7 protection from anywhere
• Built-in battery backup and satellite communication
• Environmentally friendly, biodegradable Class A foam
• Municipal, well, pool, and emergency water tank supply options
• Wildfire tracking and remote system activation using the Frontline app

For more information on how Frontline Wildfire Defense can help safeguard your home, contact us today for a free consultation.