Wildfires and Other Emergencies: Ensuring Your Health and Safety

With wildfires raging, safety is on everyone’s minds. Here at Harmony Communities, we to take the opportunity to discuss some of the measures that we implement on our grounds to help protect against the spread of fires, as well as precautions that residents can take to protect their homes from fire and other contingencies.

It is important to note that the types of large forest fires impacting communities across California are very difficult or impossible to fight with simple precautions like the ones outlined below; when a fire gets as large and aggressive as the ones we have been seeing on the news, the solution is usually evacuation while professionals fight the fire.

However, there are certain measures that communities and homeowners can take to reduce the risk of fire spreading across grounds as well as to reduce the risk of fires starting in the first place. At Harmony Communities, the grounds of each of our properties are cared for by professional landscapers/groundskeepers. Some of the things they do to mitigate fire risk include:

• Introducing more native vegetation.
• Appropriate tree spacing.
• Keeping trees and shrubs properly pruned, disposing of forest debris.

In addition, we encourage homeowners to take certain steps that can help reduce their risk of damage from fire and other emergencies:

• Keep your roof, gutters, and eaves clear of debris, and clear any other potentially combustible personal debris from around your home (like dry grass, brush, stacks of firewood, etc.).
• Maintain any personal irrigation systems you may have in place.
• If you see forest debris that may need removing, please let us know.
• Secure your home’s eaves and vent openings.
• Upgrade your windows and drapes. Windows are exceptionally vulnerable to fire as the intense heat can go right through and catch drapes and furniture on fire. The easy solution is replacing the window fabric with a more heat-resistant product. Windows can break as well, so smaller tempered units are more stable than large windows. A good choice is to install outside non-combustible shutters which can be quickly closed in an emergency.

While wildfires have been top of mind recently, far more homes are damaged and destroyed every year across America by home fires that could have been prevented. To reduce the risk of a home fire, do not use your stove or oven to heat your home. Keep batteries and battery-powered flashlights available. When needed, use flashlights instead of candles. Check to make sure that electrical cords on space heaters are not damaged and do not pose a tripping hazard. 

Other important safety tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and working properly. It is recommended that you replace the batteries at least once a year. As a reminder, pick a holiday or your birthday and replace the batteries each year on that day. 
• When freezing temperatures are expected, your water pipes need protecting. Insulate water pipes to avoid bursting. Leave water taps slightly open so they drip continuously. Drain and turn off outside water spouts. 
• Always, always have a fire extinguisher ready to use. Ideally, fire extinguishers should be inspected at least once a year to assure they will operate effectively and safely when needed. 

Safety is paramount at Harmony Communities. As well as community maintenance and landscaping, we ensure there is adequate park lighting, we take care of and maintain our roads on a scheduled basis (no potholes large areas of cracking), and we help residents with tree care and split costs when necessary. Finally, we have an emergency phone that is answered 24 hours a day. If any resident needs assistance, please contact (209) 670-6264.