Help your home survive a wildfire with these preparedness tips

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Fire season is upon us, so the Lehigh Acres Fire Rescue and Control District is urging people who live in high-risk areas to do everything they can to prevent a wildfire tragedy.

There are a few simple tasks you can do in a day or over the weekend to give you home a better chance of surviving a wildfire.

Clearing fire fuel from areas on our around the home is helpful. Be sure to clear off pine needles, dead leaves, and anything that can burn from roof lines, gutters, decks, and fence lines. 

Homeowners should trim back any shrubs or tree branches that are closer than 5 feet to the house. Also, rake out any landscaping mulch that touches your home. If it is flammable, it should be 5 feet away.

Anything that can burn — think woodpiles, spare lumber, parked vehicles, or boats — should be stored more than 30 feet from the house. Those are items that can act as a large fuel source.

Every year, wildfires burn across the United States, and more people are living where wildfires are a real risk.

“Our District is referred to as wildland-urban interface, which is a transition zone between wilderness and developed land,” Lehigh Acres Fire Chief Robert DiLallo said. “In preparation for wildfire activity, homeowners need to understand their role and take action in reducing wildfire risk. Preparedness Day is a reminder that small improvements can make a big difference.”

Whether it is replacing wood chips with gravel or reimagining your entire landscape design, what you do to prepare really matters.

The post Help your home survive a wildfire with these preparedness tips appeared first on NBC2 News.

NBC2 Cape Coral