With the region’s mild winter, wildfire season is starting early this year. As of Monday, there are more than one million acres nationwide that have been lost to wildfires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
AAA Alaska understands it’s impossible to predict when natural disasters are going to happen. Taking time to prepare for their occurrences now may help minimize their impact on Alaskans, their families and property. Alaskans’ homes most susceptible to wildfires are found in areas referred to as the wild land-urban interface, a half-mile wide zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development.
Protecting Alaskan lives and homes is a combined effort between homeowners and firefighters. The better Alaskans prepare and protect their property for the possibility of fire, the better chance fire crews can save it.
AAA Alaska gives these easy, cost-effective ways to reduce risk and minimize loss:
• Clearing roof surfaces and gutters regularly to avoid accumulation of flammable materials,
• Trimming tree limbs to at least 10 feet from any chimney or deck, removing dead limbs hanging over the roof or garage and removing tree branches to a height of 15 feet,
• Installing a chimney guard to keep sparks from landing on the roof,
• Using fire-resistant plants strategically around the home to slow fires from reaching primary structures,
• Soaking fireplace ashes and charcoal briquettes in metal pails of water before disposing,
• Storing gasoline in approved containers, away from occupied buildings,
• Locating propane tanks away from buildings and flammable vegetation,
• Keeping all combustibles such as firewood and picnic tables away from structures,
• Leaving garden hoses connected to hose bibs,
• Clearly marking addresses at all roadway entrances. Addresses on the home should be easily visible from the street,
• Having fire tools such as ladders, shovels, rakes and buckets available for fire crews.
Long-Term Fixes
The roof and exterior structure of a home should be made of non-combustible or fire-resistant materials such as tile, slate, sheet iron, aluminum, brick or stone. If the roof or siding is wood shingle or wood shake, consider upgrading to one of these fire-resistant materials. Consider replacing windows with double-pane, tempered glass windows. Lastly, all roads and driveways should ideally be at least 16 feet wide to allow for fire trucks and other large equipment.
Additional information on creating a defensible space is available from Firewise Communities at www.firewise.org. For more information on auto, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance, please contact your local AAA office.
• Anna O’Donnell is a spokesperson for AAA Alaska. AAA Alaska serves more than 27,000 members in Alaska with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.
