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7 wildfire season tips to protect & Wfireproof your properties
by Yardi breeze
ildfire season can be a tough 2. MAKE WATER SOURCES AVAILABLE TO time for property managers, FIRST RESPONDERS
owners, residents, businesses and virtually everyone who lives in affected areas. And it’s not just California and the American West that are
experiencing a rate and intensity of wildfires like never before.
We originally published this article in 2020, a particularly dry year in many fire-prone states. In 2021, the fire risk may be higher than ever, as California experiences its third-driest year on record. Here are some tips to help protect and fireproof your properties.
1. CREATE A FIREPROOF, DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND THE PROPERTY
If you live within one of California’s State Responsibility Areas, you are required by law to create and maintain a “defensible space” around your property. This space must be clear of any natural growth or brush that could facilitate the spread of a wildfire.
Defensible spaces can be a good idea, even if you don’t live in California or you’re not required to make them. If fire season is a problem in your region, chances are it’s a bigger problem than ever before. Consider doing everything you can to protect your properties and the people who live there.
Want to help first responders protect your property in the event of a fire? Connect a garden hose into available water lines and leave them connected during fire season. Fire departments will use any tools at their disposal.
Hydrants, ponds and pools can be used to fight fires. Make sure first responders have easy access these resources at all times.
Also, the curb around hydrants and fire access areas should be kept freshly painted so it’s clearly defined and easy to see.
3. KEEP ROOFING & GUTTERS CLEAN
As part of your fall maintenance, gutters, roofing and lawns should be free of obstructions such as leaves and dead grass.
Gutter-cleaning may sound straightforward, but it’s surprisingly dangerous work. Ladders can slip or people can fall, especially when you or your maintenance team is leaning and reaching to clear out clogged gutter systems. The job can be kept safer with high-quality cleaning tools and ladder stabilizers. Even so, a professional contractor may be worth the additional cost of labor.
APARTMENT MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2021
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