How To Help Protect Your Home From Wildfires - …...This helps prevent the fire from moving between...
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How To Help Protect Your Home From Wildfires What’s your roof made of? Each material has its own advantages, disadvantages, limitations and cost considerations. To explore your options, talk to a professional roofer. 1 FEMA suggests this cost-effective, DIY approach to yard design that could help slow the spread of a wildfire. TIP: Leave at least 18 feet between the crowns of your trees; increase the distance if the ground slopes (consult a professional landscaper to determine the amount of the increase). This helps prevent the fire from moving between treetops. 3 (within 30 feet of the home) (from 30–100 feet from the home) (more than 100 feet from the home) Sources: 1. FEMA 2. FEMA 3. National Fire Protection Association Illustraon by Clint Ford Here’s what to look for with plants, trees and shrubs in your yard. 2 ELIMINATE • Flammable vegetation, such as dry grass, brush and shrubs • Firewood stacks • Combustible patio furniture • Trees and shrubs. Keep them well- spaced and surrounded by noncombustible materials. (From 30 to 60 feet, leave at least 12 feet between tree crowns; from 60 to 100 feet, leave at least 6 feet. 3 ) • Pavement/gravel. Create firebreaks with driveways, patios and walkways. • Woodpiles. Stack on gravel or asphalt, away from vegetation like trees and grass. • Fuel tanks. Check your local code for the minimum distance to keep these from your home; store underground or on a noncombustible pad. • Other structures. Keep sheds, pergolas and detached garages at least 50 feet from your home (farther if you’re storing combustible materials). USE • Irrigated grass • Rock gardens • Stone patios • Metal patio furniture Thin and prune vegetation YOUR YARD Create A Defensible Space ZONE 1 ZONE 2 YOUR ROOF TIP: Keep your roof and gutters free from leaves and litter, and regularly trim any overhanging tree branches. Protecting your home also means having the right insurance. Go to geico.com and get a quote on homeowners insurance through the GEICO Insurance Agency. Materials less resistant to fire: Asphalt shingles, wood shakes Avoid plants with combustible characteristics, such as: • Leaves that are fuzzy, waxy and/or narrow. • Bark that is loose or papery. • Needles that are long and thin. Consider plants that are: • Drought-resistant • Pest-resistant • Native to the area • Noninvasive • Slow-growing • Wind-resistant Materials more resistant to fire: Slate, terra cotta, standing seam metal roofing ZONE 3 Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Homeowners coverage is written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO
Transcript of How To Help Protect Your Home From Wildfires - …...This helps prevent the fire from moving between...
How To Help Protect Your Home From Wildfires
What’s your roof made of? Each material has its own advantages, disadvantages, limitations and cost considerations. To explore your options, talk to a professional roofer.1
FEMA suggests this cost-effective, DIY approach to yard design that could help slow the spread of a wildfire.
TIP: Leave at least 18 feet between the crowns of your trees; increase the distance if the ground slopes (consult a professional landscaper to determine the amount of the increase). This helps prevent the fire from moving between treetops. 3
(within 30 feet of the home)
(from 30–100 feet from the home)
(more than 100 feet from the home)
Sources: 1. FEMA 2. FEMA 3. National Fire Protection Association
Illustration by Clint Ford
Here’s what to look for with plants, trees and shrubs in your yard. 2
ELIMINATE• Flammable vegetation, such as dry grass, brush and shrubs
• Firewood stacks
• Combustible patio furniture
• Trees and shrubs.
Keep them well-
spaced and surrounded
by noncombustible
materials. (From 30 to
60 feet, leave at least
12 feet between tree
crowns; from 60 to
100 feet, leave at least
6 feet.3)
• Pavement/gravel.
Create firebreaks with
driveways, patios and
walkways.
• Woodpiles. Stack on
gravel or asphalt, away
from vegetation like
trees and grass.
• Fuel tanks. Check
your local code for the
minimum distance to
keep these from
your home; store
underground or on a
noncombustible pad.
• Other structures.
Keep sheds, pergolas
and detached garages
at least 50 feet from
your home (farther
if you’re storing
combustible materials).
USE• Irrigated grass• Rock gardens• Stone patios
• Metal patio furniture
Thin and prune vegetation
YOUR YARD
Create A Defensible Space
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
YOUR ROOF
TIP: Keep your roof and gutters free from leaves and litter, and regularly trim any overhanging tree branches.
Protecting your home also means having the right insurance. Go to geico.com and get a quote on homeowners insurance
through the GEICO Insurance Agency.
Materials less resistant to fire: Asphalt shingles,
wood shakes
Avoid plants with combustible characteristics, such as:
• Leaves that are fuzzy, waxy and/or narrow.
• Bark that is loose or papery.
• Needles that are long and thin.
Consider plants that are:• Drought-resistant
• Pest-resistant
• Native to the area
• Noninvasive
• Slow-growing
• Wind-resistant
Materials more resistant to fire: Slate, terra cotta,
standing seam metal roofing
ZONE 3
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Homeowners
coverage is written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. GEICO is a registered
service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO
