"Think about your own home. How often do you blow the leaves off your roof? Or sweep the debris off your front porch? Those are important because if an ember lands on them, they can catch fire. But we aren't doing that kind of maintenance on a regular basis. Anywhere we have debris accumulating on roofs, porches, decks, patio furniture you might see piles of leaf debris on the corners of your deck those are areas where embers are going to catch."
"Between 2018 and 2023, more than 41,000 structures in California were destroyed and 152 lives were lost in wildfires. What can you do to improve your chances? Kate Wilkin is an assistant professor of fire ecology at San Jose State University. This summer, she and her colleagues published a study of 176 homes in the Lake Tahoe area and Santa Cruz Mountains. After detailed inspections, they found only 2% met or came close to meeting state standards for reducing fire risk."
Between 2018 and 2023 more than 41,000 structures in California were destroyed and 152 people died in wildfires. Inspections of 176 homes in the Lake Tahoe area and Santa Cruz Mountains found only 2% met or nearly met state wildfire-mitigation standards. Many homes have accumulated leaves and debris on roofs, porches, decks, and patio furniture, creating easy ignition points for embers. Homeowners commonly neglect routine maintenance such as sweeping roofs and porches. Common reasons include busy schedules and uncertainty about needed actions. Positive practices observed included removing branches near chimneys, clear address signs, intact metal window screens, and generally good roof condition.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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