Playing with Fire: Don’t Get Burned

Thirty metres is all it takes. Thirty metres of defensible space that may save your sanctuary.

Spring’s onset has us itching to get outside to erase the remains of a seemingly too long winter. There are leaves to rake, brush to burn, and bulbs to plant all in an effort to restore curbside charisma to our own little piece of the planet.

Develop a wildfire emergency preparedness mindset

Home is where memories are created and shared. It is where memories live on. No one wants to see their treasured memories lost and that’s why preparedness, especially this time of year, should be a mindset.

Spring is fire season. That time of year is designated in the Forest Act to denote when wildfires and forest fires are likely to occur. Surprisingly, wildfire incidence is four times greater from mid-March to early May. But what is the cause?

Contributors for wildfires

Climate change is a big factor. Also, the burning of grass or brush, with all good intentions, simply gets out of control. Grasses dry out quickly with the right conditions. Low relative humidity, strong surface winds, and warming temperatures can lead to drought, and all serve as contributing factors for wildfires.

Defensible space serves as a buffer for the area encompassing a structure. Our home, garage, or barn can have fuels and vegetation, which are a danger for fires. It will take some effort to maintain the defensible area, but it could pay off, especially for firefighters who will require access around your home.

Wildfire emergency preparedness: managing fuel sources

Past this 30-metre perimeter it’s a good idea to manage fuel sources as much as possible. Softwood trees (coniferous), such as spruce, white-pine, Douglas-fir, and cedar are very volatile fuel sources with their resinous needles. In contrast, hardwoods (deciduous), such as oak, maple, and birch are less conductive to burning with the succulent leaves. Clearing and thinning softwoods around structures translates into good property management.

When we talk about defensible space we’re not talking about bare ground. There can be single shade trees or ornamental shrubs of the fire-resistant variety like broad-leaf deciduous trees, ferns, or any herbaceous plant. These shrubs, vegetation, and trees should be at least five metres apart and at least three metres away from a chimney or stove pipe.

Ensure all gasoline and flammable liquids are safely stored away from occupied structures in approved safety containers. The same holds true for other combustibles like firewood, boats, and wooden structures.

Wildfire emergency preparedness: keep gutters and roof surfaces clear of debris 

Clean gutters and roof surfaces regularly from leaves, twigs, and other debris, as they can be flammable. The flue opening of chimneys and stovepipes are required to be covered with non-flammable screens with mesh openings not exceeding two and a half centimetres. An approved spark arrestor installed on the top of the chimney is a good idea. Any trees extending within three metres of the flue opening should be cut back.  

It’s wise to have a garden hose connected to an outside water outlet for each structure on the property and at least 100 feet connected to the residence in order to protect all sides of the roof. Knowing the location of nearby creeks or ponds will aid firefighters if additional water is required. A full pool is a good water source as well.

When burning, try to avoid dry windy days and always have fire tools ready. For instance, have a shovel, rake, and bucket of water ready just in case of emergency. For barrel brush burning, make sure the barrel is in good condition and has a metal mesh screen with no large openings. 

Utilize steel rods to raise burning material up from the bottom of the barrel. All ashes should be soaked and allowed to sit at least 24 hours or more before disposing into a pit.

Most importantly, always place your civic number where it can be readily seen and your accompanying  driveway should be at least five metres in width.

Remember: Be prepared and develop a mindset for fire prevention. And keep in mind that they laughed at Noah.