California Fire Season is Here
Be prepared with tips for your home and property.
An ember started the brush fire in Del Mar on June 25, 2024. It eventually burned 23 acres and required thousands of area residents to be evacuated. Thankfully, crews acted fast to stop the spread and allowed residents to return within the same day.
This event close to home reminds us that fire season is upon us, especially in California, where wildfires are a growing concern.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
The most important advice is to remove fuel - think dead or dying landscaping - from near your house and provide defensible space around it to create a barrier against an advancing fire.
Identify the vulnerabilities of your home most likely to ignite during a wildfire, such as keeping your roof and gutters clean from debris.
Suppose you plan to build a new home, especially in what Cal Fire refers to as a VHFHSZ (Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone). In that case, you must use fire-resistant construction and proven building detailing. For peace of mind, rely on the expertise of an experienced architect and builder to address these issues.
We have designed numerous homes in fire severity zones, and a few houses were lost entirely during previous wildfires.
Tea Fire, Santa Barbara
All that was left were the foundations of these homes.
Santa Barbara Residence
The new home was constructed with steel and fire-resistant concrete.
The rebuilding process can be very emotional, and many decide not to rebuild. Those who choose to rebuild want to feel safe, and though no home is guaranteed to survive a wildfire, added precautions can help protect your home and, more importantly, your life.
Montecito Residence
After the original home was destroyed, this home was designed with owner-requested 2-hour fire-rated walls, more than double the code requirement.
No matter what protections you have against a wildfire, prepare your packing list in case of an evacuation.
Cal Fire’s 6 P’s of Evacuation
People & pets
Papers, phone numbers & important documents
Prescriptions, vitamins & eyeglasses
Pictures & irreplaceable memorabilia
Personal computer, hard drive & disks
“Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) & cash
Our Del Mar clients were prepared with an evacuation list, and I am relieved they returned safely home after the fire was contained.
For further reading:
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) has developed a useful Wildfire Preparedness website to assess risks and recommend actions to keep you safer.