Because the 2020 wildfire season started so early last year, it’s never a bad idea to start preparing for wildfire season earlier in the year. Everyone in California must do their part to make sure that fires don’t spark, or are kept under control in the worst case scenario. Here are four tips to making sure that your home is up to speed on California wildfire prevention strategies, which you should practice year-round.
Tip 1: Clean up any dead foliage in your yard
Aside from the cosmetic benefit of raking the dead leaves and branches from your yard, there’s a safety reason. Dried leaves and scrub that sits around your yard is highly flammable, and could ignite a flame in dry conditions if it gets too hot. If you have loose leaves and dead foliage sitting near an air vent, especially, make sure to rake it up and keep the area clear to avoid sparking a fire.
Tip 2: Trim branches and trees on your property
Like cleaning up the loose leaves and brush around your property, you want to make sure that your trees are not overgrown or dead. This is true for all of your trees, but especially if your trees are planted anywhere close to electrical wiring that could spark if the tree grows too close to the wiring. If this is the case, don’t try to cut the branches on your own because they could end up falling into the wiring anyway. It’s a good idea to hire a landscaping company that can help you properly remove the overgrown branches without creating a bigger problem.
Tip 3: Pay attention to local wildfire laws
Each area is different, but most of California urges people to avoid making open fires during the dry months. Listen to local officials and avoid creating open fires during fire season, as it often causes wildfires that can grow out of control. It’s a simple step that we can all take to protect our area, and save lives.
Tip 4: Keep garden beds moist
Keep the area around your garden moist and try to avoid letting it dry out too much. The dry season is particularly volatile when it comes to wildfires, so think about that if you’re planning on re-designing your landscaping this year. If you want to save water, it might be a good idea to consider zero scaping your yard to avoid having to worry about keeping it moist during the dry months. This isn’t uncommon in California, and can be a great way to make your yard look nice without using water.
