Wilderness Fire Know-how
By
Frank Ross
In
2005 I inspected numerous mountain cabins. Most
of the buyers were from out of town and this was their first getaway
cabin and they really needed someone to help them get to know their
mountain hide-a-way. One thing I cautioned them about was fires.
Fires from within and fires from without. Rustic cottages are the
perfect spot for a break, but if you want to give yourself a break
from fires, remember to establish a break. Got all that?
What we're talking about is a firebreak, which is an area around
your cottage that won't fuel a fire. Your basic protection is to
keep the brush cut and cleared. But there is much more you can do to
create primary and secondary firebreaks. Now before you begin
cutting and trimming trees you should check to see if there are any
restrictions in your area to prevent you from doing this. It may be
a condition of the area in which your cabin is located necessitated
by the land developer that a professional trained in such work be
called in to evaluate the area and then mark the trees and bushes
that need to be cut or need to be left.
A normally approved procedure to make a fire break is
as follows:
A
primary break is a clearing of all ground within five yards of
your buildings. Space trees so the tops are at least five yards apart.
Saw off branches that are less than ten
feet above
ground level. Prune branches so they're at least three yards away
from a chimney or stovepipe. Remove flammable ground litter such as
dead grass, dead trees, branches, and household debris.
A secondary firebreak extends at least fifteen yards from
your buildings. Remove shrubs, small trees, and dead ground litter.
Keep the tops of mature trees even more than five yards apart
to lower the chance of a ground fire spreading up them. Extend the
firebreak area to 25 yards downhill
from any building on a sloping site, as fire will travel uphill if
possible.
To protect your cabin, consider a few other fire safety tips. For
the structure itself, select fire-resistant materials; metal roofing
and aluminum siding may not look as nice as logs and wooden
shingles, but they're a wiser safety choice. If you can't resist
wood, treat it with a fire-retardant every few years.
Dry grass and debris collect under open porches, decks and floors,
so close them in. This will keep sparks from blowing in and setting
fire to dry floor joists or rafters. Also look for animal nests,
both rodent and birds ,
and clear them away if you believe them to be a possible fire
hazard.
As you would in any home (but especially one you don't always live
in), maintain the fuse boxes, heaters, wiring, stoves, and other
possible heat sources. Store any cleaning fluids and other flammable
materials in approved containers. And stack any firewood or lumber
well away from the building.
Keep fiberglass boats and canoes away from buildings, since they're
highly flammable. Store them upside down, three
feet above
ground level, either on a clearing or a rock. If you're storing a
powerboat nearby, remove any gasoline.
Most areas in the mountains where I inspect cabins require an
approved burning pit and in a lot of areas there are restrictions as
to when the burning pit can be used.
Even bar-b-ques can be a possible fire hazard so use them with full
attention. And remember; don’t leave any kind of fire unattended.
If a
fire should break out remember to first protect personnel,
then property. Act quickly and get all personnel to
a safe place, call 911 and if the fire is beyond your control don’t
risk your life in trying to put it out. Let a trained fire fighter
do that. Be smart and always have a fire extinguisher handy or a
working water hose. If you have questions about fire safety contact
your local fire department and I am sure they will answer your
questions. Remember what Smokey the Bear always says, “Only YOU can
prevent forest fires.”
Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post
Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National
Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Readers may contact Mr.
Ross at (435) 867-6400 or
frank.ross@pillartopost.com.
You can learn more about Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection
at
www.pillarposthomeinspection.com
