PORT TOWNSEND — Fire danger is low on the North Olympic Peninsula now but as the summer fire season nears, fire officials are calling for homeowners, especially those in rural areas, to take steps to protect their properties.
“Area fire districts take every precaution to help protect you and your property from wildfire,” said Chief Gordon Pomeroy of East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, in a news release.
“If there is a major fire there will simply not be enough fire engines or firefighters to defend every home.”
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue prepared a list of suggestions for preparation ranging from using fire-resistant construction materials to keeping a pair of old shoes and flashlight handy in case of sudden evacuation at night.
“With advance planning and preparation, you can significantly increase the chance of saving your property in the event of fire,” Pomeroy said.
“As many as 80 percent of the homes lost to wildfires could have been saved if their owners had only followed a few simple fire-safe practices,” he added.
Preparation measures are crucial because firefighters often attempt to save homes that have a better chance of surviving, according to East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman Bill Beezley.
“In the event of a large fire, we need to make tough decisions as to which homes are savable and might not spend a lot of time on the ones that won’t survive the fire,” he said.
“The steps that people take will go a long way in deciding whether to fight the fire or move to another property.”
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue suggested:
■ Those living near a natural forested area should create space between their homes and the forest to protect against fire.
Buffer zones can be created by removing weeds, brush and other vegetation.
The first zone should extend 30 feet out from buildings, structures and decks, fire officials said.
Tree canopies should be trimmed to the point that branches are a minimum of 10 feet from structures and other trees.
The second zone should extend between 30 feet to 100 feet out from buildings and decks.
Homeowners can minimize the chance of fire jumping from plant to plant by removing dead material and removing or thinning vegetation.
The minimum spacing between vegetation is three times the dimension of the plant, fire officials said.
Any lawn area should be mowed to a maximum height of four inches.
To protect the home itself, homeowners should first concentrate on the roof, which is the most vulnerable surface.
■ Homeowners are advised to build or re-roof their home with fire-resistant materials like composition, metal or tile and block spaces between roof decking and covering to prevent ember intrusion, fire officials said.
Pine needles, leaves and other debris should be cleared from roofs and gutters.
Because vents are particularly vulnerable to flying embers, all openings should be covered with 1/8-inch or smaller metal mesh with attic vents in eaves as well as baffles under the eaves, officials said.
All new construction or upgrades should use heavy timber or non-flammable construction material for decks and enclose the underside of balconies and decks with fire-resistant materials to prevent embers from blowing underneath.
■ Heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break even before the home ignites which allows burning embers to enter and start internal fires, officials said.
Single-pane and large windows are particularly vulnerable so the installation of dual-paned windows with the exterior pane of tempered glass will reduce the chance of breakage in a fire.
Decks should be cleared of combustible items, such as baskets and dried flower arrangements.
■ Rural homeowners need to make sure their driveways can accommodate large fire engines with a minimum of 10 feet of clearance across and 13 ½ feet above the road.
Access roads should have a minimum of 10-foot clearance on either side of the traveled section of the roadway and should allow for two-way traffic.
■ Each family should create and rehearse a disaster plan that establishes meeting locations and communications and should also prepare an emergency supply kit before a wildfire or other emergency occurs, officials said.
For more information, contact East Jefferson Fire-Rescue at 360-385-2626 or contact the fire department nearest your residence.
