The summertime offers many different uses for fire. Smaller fires like fire pits and barbeques as well as larger fires like burning fields or old structures all pose risks of spreading to your home when combined with hot and dry weather.
Whenever a fire is lit, there are risks of stray embers catching in the wind and igniting other areas or structures. Lona Gervais with CAA gives tips on making your home more resistant to external fires.
“Simple things like clearing away vegetation, which is like fuel for fire. You can swap your flower beds against your house for some different landscaping materials like flagstone or concrete. Clear your yard, don't have a bunch of debris laying around. Move things that burn away from your house. Dispose of your yard trimmings and have your firewood away from your house. Watch for propane tanks and flammables close to your house. Move them away so it's safer for your home and your property.”
The same measures apply to structures around your home.
“When it comes to upgrading your deck or your fence or your sheds and that kind of thing, look for fire rated materials, replace your windows or doors with multi-pane temporary glass windows and non-combustible fire related doors and garage doors. And when it's time to replace the roof, you can choose class A fire rated roof materials, such as metal, asphalt, slate, clay, or concrete, those kinds of items.”
While plants can fuel spreading fires, not all plants are created equally.
“You can try to build a fire-resistant garden. So that's plants that are moist and that have, supple leaves and little sap or resin or oil or wax.”
Gervais stresses prioritizing the immediate area around your home, which is about one and a half meters. An emergency plan should be in place in every home in case of fire, if you have pets indoors it’s a good idea to have a window decal. In the event of a fire, it can let firefighters know there is an animal inside if you are unable to.
Gervais recommends speaking to an insurance agent if you have any questions, and to ensure your home is properly insured.