Wildfire Awareness
Tri Phan, CPCU, ARM
Drought conditions
As weather becomes warmer, and wildland plants begin to dry out, it results in higher fuel loads. Therefore, wildfires risk West Coast. Property owners should take precautions to minimize property exposure.
How Wildfires Spread and Destroy Property
There are three ways that wildfires and spread and cause damage to property.
- Direct flames: Actual flame coming into direct contact with a building/combustible material.
- Airborne embers: Flaming airborne embers can travel more than a mile from the active wildfire. 60% wildland interface home ignitions are from flaming embers landing on flammable roofs/objects. (Smith 2009)
- Radiant heat: A wildfire can raise the temperature of nearby combustible materials to the point of ignition
This house was ignited by flaming airborne embers landing on vulnerable spots; meanwhile, the adjacent forest is not burning. Photo courtesy USFS-LTBMU.
Recommended Actions:
- Create a wildfire evacuation plan and train employees/inhabitants/family members how to use fire extinguishers
- Review and distribute a disaster communication plan
- Create and maintain a supply list
- Plan how property owners can restore critical operations during unplanned disruption in services
- Protect property by creating cleared zones that provide less fuel sources for the fire to spread
- Clean off the roof and gutters to minimize the risk of ignition
- Back up data to the internet cloud or an offsite drive
- Review Insurance coverage: Policy limits, time elements coverage should all be reviewed for adequacy
- If you need help with any of these recommended steps, email kylel@conreyins.com
First Published May 12, 2023
References
Myslivy, Jennifer. “BLM AND MAVERIK PARTNER TO PREVENT WILDFIRES.” <https://www.blm.gov/blog/2022-07-14/blm-and-maverik-partner-prevent-wildfires>
Smith, Ed, Sistare, Sonya. (2009). “Be Ember Aware!”. University of Nevada, Reno. <https://naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/1510_2005_89.pdf