Getting ready for Texas fires

[Branchchipper]

There may be ideas on Firewise for temporary vent blocking. Crawlspace vents are another concern...

For anyone reading this string, please do not consider live fire as a tool to use as a fire approaches, as was suggested by another respondent!

What he referred to as a "backfire" is really just a burnout operation to remove fuels, but such operations can be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS to the instigator as well as others in the area. Without proper planning and coordination, such fires have killed both firefighters and civilians, even when they were started by firefighters in a few cases...

 

[ctpres]

To put it perspective. If I figured it out right, as of Sept. 4, Texas alone, has lost an area over twice the size of Rhode Island due to wildfires!

 

[ctpres]

Sorry I didn't title this "Getting ready for wildfire." Following is the best single list of things to do that I found. I have a lot to do. I hope this will help others.

 

[tony Cecil]

Hi

As I have done alot of burning on the property, I would suggest the only worthwhile thing you can do--if you have enough land surrounding your house, is to plow under everything around the house, for a really good distance----several hundred feet at least.....I tell you, an approaching fire is so hot you don`t have a chance to do anything, other than a backburn, and as was previously mentioned, it can turn on you in a hurry...You need to have a big area around your house with nothing to burn on it, and be able to evacuate quickly....I wish you luck Tony

 

[Ken45101]

I think you are overplanning.

If a wildfire approaches to the extent that you need to do some of the things you mentioned, you should have already evacuated! The property can be replaced, lives cannot. Do not underestimate the power of a wildfire, do not overestimate your ability to do something about it!

When trained CREWS with fire trucks and water cannot stop a fire, you certainly will not be able to do so either. Do not underestimate the heat and ferocity of a fire and what you can survive without proper protective gear.

Yes, some of the preplanning and preparations are good, but there are limits when they aren't enough. That's what insurance is for. Get out, protect yourself and your family.

 

[charliepff]

I think you are overplanning.

If a wildfire approaches to the extent that you need to do some of the things you mentioned, you should have already evacuated! The property can be replaced, lives cannot. Do not underestimate the power of a wildfire, do not overestimate your ability to do something about it!

When trained CREWS with fire trucks and water cannot stop a fire, you certainly will not be able to do so either. Do not underestimate the heat and ferocity of a fire and what you can survive without proper protective gear.

Yes, some of the preplanning and preparations are good, but there are limits when they aren't enough. That's what insurance is for. Get out, protect yourself and your family.

Correct on all accounts. People that stay to long make our job even harder because now we need to dedicate resources soley to save you instead of trying to protect structures that will be affected by the advancement of the fire. Follow the Firewise program for creating defensible spaces, cleaning your gutters and such. It even tells you what kind of vegetation around your house that will help and/or hurt your cause. IF you livein a high risk area it might be benificial to change to a masonry siding and approved roof. The furthest I would go would be a cistern or reserve tank with a sprinkler system. Then get with your local firehouse on how to make up a signto explain to them how to use it or put it into there maps for future use.