Useful Safety Tips for the Wildfire Season

1. Common Sense Safety Tips for the Wildfire Season Folks in California will experience a rough year again, due to lack of rains. Most of us are already suffering severe drought conditions because of low rainfall and snowpack. Most Californians are already concerned about wildfires season and many regions have already declared the start of wildfire season. But California doesn’t have a monopoly on wildfires; they can occur anywhere, including the western United States and Canada, in Australia, too. It becomes an issue whenever there are drought conditions. We should know of how to prevent them, what to do when they occur, and what to do if a wildfire goes through or nearby your area. Common Sense Safety Tips for Avoiding Wildfires * Keep vehicles, equipment, gasoline, and other flammable containers or objects off of grass and away from vegetation. * Create a safe perimeter around your property as mandated by CalFire. * Don't leave any fire unattended, such as a campfire, trash container fire, or indoor fireplace fire. * Smokers, do not carelessly throw cigarette butts away. Rather, dispose of them in non-flamable containers, preferrably containing water. * Avoid fireworks. We We get it that they are fun, but wildfires aren't! * Avoid anything that burns, sparks, or creates any sort of flame on windy days. Example: a weed whacker hitting a rock can create sparks and start a wildfire. What to Do During a Wildfire * Get the latest wildfire updates from your local radio or Tv stations. You can also monitor local online resources. * Be prepared to evacuate when recommended. As soon as you hear an evacuation notice, you should follow the order. That means that you should be prepared well in advance!) * Double check your evacuation kit and replenish any missing or depleted items – including medications and medical supplies. * Try to avoid smoke. Wear a maskface mask when you start to smell smoke or start to cough. Masks are not a perfect shield, but they will help. Smoke is far more damaging to our lungs than we realize. What to do After a Wildfire * If you have evacuated during the fire, wait for officials to give the ok before you return to your property. * Avoid hotspots – even after a fire is extinguished. Hotspots can easily ignite a fire again. * Take additional steps to reduce being subject to smoke inhalation. Smoke will linger in the air for days after a wildfire. For most of us smoke inhalation will have long-term effects. * Watch out for collapsing roads and sliding hillsides. Fires does erode the soil causing them to move in wet conditions. Watch out for the next rain storm and rather evacuate than risk being swept away by a landslide. * Use air purifiers to help clear the air of fire particulates and smoke. Creating a safe space around your property will require special equipment that can cut through vegetation, brush and high grasses. Shamrock Landscape in Benicia does have all the machinery needed for this task. You can connect with them here: Shamrock Landscape Co 886 Rose Dr. Benicia, CA 94510 (707) 647-2000 https://shamrocklandscape.net http://www.citysearch.com/profile/666500910/benicia_ca/shamrock_landscape_co.html