6 Ways to Fireproof Your Home from Holmdel NJ Realtors

Tips from Realtors in Holmdel, NJ on how to minimize the risk of a fire outside of your home

Often during the summer, wildfires can begin and spread rapidly especially if you live in or near a wooded area. According to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, the reported number of wildfires in the United States in 2009 was 57,649 with a total of 2,036,262 acres burned. All wildfires begin with an ignition source, such as lightning. Nine out of ten fires, however, are started directly or indirectly by people, through debris burning, campfires, arson, discarded smoking products, sparks from equipment in operation, power lines, and other ways.

In order to avoid the risk of your home becoming a statistic in the event of a wildfire, follow these 5 tips from Holmdel, NJ Realtors:

Clean up your roof

Neglecting to clear your roof of leaves and other debris that has built up over time can be hazardous. In addition to creating a fire hazard, dead tree branches overhanging your roof can be dangerous during wind storms as they may potentially fall and hurt someone or damage your home. Although you can choose to do this work yourself, Realtors in Holmdel, NJ recommend hiring an experienced professional to minimize your risk of injury.

Clear the area around your chimney

Sparks from a chimney that is connected to a wood stove or fireplace are dangerous fire hazards if they fly into tree branches. In order to prevent this from happening, Holmdel, NJ Realtors recommend trimming any overhanging tree branches to approximately 10 feet from the chimney.

Build a fire break

According to Realtors in Holmdel, NJ one of the most important steps to prevent your home from becoming severely damaged in the event of a wildfire is to create a noncombustible fire break around your home. For example, materials used in roofing such as cedar shake are considered combustible and should have a break of at least 50 feet around it. Trees within this zone should be trimmed to be more than 10 feet apart from each other, and any dead trees and limbs should be removed from the property to prevent the spread of fire.

Relocate any piles of firewood

Piles of firewood or lumber that are stacked alongside your home can be a cause of sustained heat during a wildfire. Realtors in Holmdel, NJ advise that all lumber and firewood should be moved at least 20 feet away from your house during the peak of a fire season.

Clear the driveway

If the driveway of your home is especially long (more than 200 feet), you should consider trimming back any overhanging trees and limbs in order to prevent obstruction for emergency vehicles. In addition, any plants and shrubs should be manicured and out of the way to create about a 20-foot wide clearance from your driveway.

Do not store anything under your deck

The large, open area under your deck can be a good place to store items such as firewood and paints, nut keep in mind that these areas can be major combustion areas for fires to begin outside your home. Holmdel, NJ Realtors suggest to homeowners to store these items elsewhere to reduce the risk of a fire starting.

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