LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Fire safety


Foundation cover with 1/4 inch mesh Photo Jim Hurley

There we were, having dinner at a house near Serene Lakes, when a text message alerted us to a forest fire about ten miles north of our location. Looking out from the deck, we could see a plume of smoke rising straight up into the sky. Fortunately, there was no wind that day -- the fire was hardly moving, hence the straight plume of smoke. We had plenty of time to prepare, load the car and leave.

For those living in the beautiful and frequently breezy hills and canyons of the Lamorinda area, we know it is essential to be prepared should there be a fire.

Typically, I attempt to provide some humor with my perspective on home maintenance. This article, however, is intended not only to help you prepare for the chance that a fire could come in your direction, but to give you peace of mind that you have done all you can to protect your home and family in the case of a fire emergency -- no laughing matter. My first piece of advice: Don't Worry. Worrying won't accomplish anything, except perhaps to cause an ulcer. Take action to prepare for fire, and once prepared, you can relax.

How to prepare? Fire requires three elements to burn: oxygen, fuel (flammable material) and heat. Because we need it to survive, we can't do anything about the oxygen all around us, but removing fuel and avoiding sparks are entirely within our control.

First and foremost, avoid creating flames outside. Eschew outdoor wood or charcoal fires during the summer. If you like to gather friends and family around a fire on a cool summer evening, get a gas fire pit. Service your lawn mowers and other gas combustion motors to prevent sparks.

Secondly, eliminate potential fuel from around your house by:

Removing dry weeds, dead trees, and flammable shrubs from your property. The city of Orinda has a list of plants which are considered dangerous: https://cityoforinda.org/DocumentCenter/View/1026/Disallowed-Vegetation-List-PDF

Replacing shake shingle roofing with fire resistant or non-combustible materials.

Preventing embers from accessing fuel under your house or in the attic. Cover the vents on the foundation and attic of your house with wire mesh having less than 1/8 inch opening.

This last step could be a DIY item. Check the wire mesh which currently covers the vents to your foundation and attic. If the opening in the wire mesh is more than 1/4 inch square, it is recommended to cover the vent with a finer mesh. Your fire district may provide free wire mesh material for your use, if you go to their website and submit a request. Installing the mesh is pretty easy around the foundation -- cut the material to fit over your existing vents and secure it to the vent frame with self-tapping sheet metal screws. Covering the attic vents requires ladder work. If you are confident on a ladder, that is no problem, but if you don't care for heights, your local handyman might take care of that for you.

Once the outside of your house is prepared, it's time to prepare yourself. In the event of an emergency evacuation order, your first priority is to get everyone inside your home out of harm's way. If time allows, you might want to take a few irreplaceable items like family photo albums. If you happen to have those items in a box or bag, easy to grab and go, that is better. On high fire risk days, the fire district suggests having your go bag pre-packed and stowed in your car. However, do not waste time trying to gather that stuff together if a sheriff or firefighter is knocking on your door.

This article has highlighted a few important fire preparedness suggestions. I strongly recommend you visit the fire district web site for more complete information. The local fire districts have put together a comprehensive program of guidelines and actions required by statute in your area. They also provide consulting for residents on fire prevention and preparedness. Both local fire districts have pages of comprehensive information that will help you best prepare your home against fire.

Residents of Orinda and Moraga are in the Moraga-Orinda Fire District:

www.mofd.org/our-district/fuels-mitigation-fire-prevention

Lafayette residents are in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District:

www.cccfpd.org/wildfire-mitigation-program/

Taking action and following the recommendations of your fire department professionals will give you the satisfaction of knowing you are prepared. Being prepared is the best assurance that you and your family will be safe.