Warning! The year ahead is expected to be high risk for wildfires, thanks to a mild winter, warmer weather, and continued drought. The dangerous conditions are cited by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), which encourages businesses, farmers, and home owners to take action to reduce their risks.

 

In 2012, more than 67,000 wildfires scorched the United States, claiming more than 9.2 million acres—the third largest amount of acreage burned in the U.S. in the 13 years of record-keeping.

 

Some things you can do to prepare include:

 

1.      Regularly clean your roof and gutters.

2.      Make sure you have household items handy that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw, bucket, and shovel.

3.      Keep a ladder that will reach your roof.

4.      Purchase a garden hose long enough to reach any area of your home, and other structures on your property.

5.      Consider protective shutters or fire-resistant drapery in your home.

6.      Treat wood and other combustible materials in your roof, siding, decking, and trim with fire-retardant chemicals evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory.

7.      Create a 30-foot safety zone around your home—100-foot if you live in a pine forest. Clear flammable vegetation like leaves, dead limbs, and twigs from the zone.

8.      Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.

9.      Clear vines from your home or other structures.

10.  Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.

 

If you have questions about your wildfire protection, contact your Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance agent today.