As Northern California continues to be ravaged by wildfires (and the rest of the West Coast is impacted by the effects), it's important for property managers to understand how wildfires can impact their community. There are a number of steps property managers can take to minimize damage in the event of this kind of natural disaster.
In this blog post for Buildium, Carolyn Berk presents some strategies. Berk writes:
Keep an eye on air quality
During a wildfire, air quality can be just as dangerous as flames. Even if a blaze is far away, it produces smoke and particles that can harm your residents, especially the elderly and those with chronic heart and lung disease. Check the air quality on websites like AirNow. If unhealthy air quality is reported in your area, tell residents to avoid opening windows, and to run air conditioners with the fresh air intake closed to avoid letting additional smoke inside.
Share evacuation routes and nearest shelters
Residents need to know where to go if they must evacuate their homes. Make this information readily available by sharing your community’s evacuation plans and escape routes.
Safeguard your properties
Now is a good time to double check fire safety essentials, clearly marked emergency exits and smoke detectors with working batteries. This will prepare you for wildfires, and also help you pass your next fire inspection.
Take the following additional steps to reduce the risk of a wildfire damage:
- Clear out combustible material from around buildings. Move away gas tanks, rake up leaves, and clean out gutters.
- Avoid landscaping that increases the risk of fire damage. FEMA provides a guide to identifying which types of plants are more combustible, and where they can be safely planted.
- Try to use fire-resistant materials when replacing or repairing your property. Class-A roof coverings provide the highest level of fire-protection available.
- Identify and make note of vents and other openings that lead into buildings. Embers can be blown in during a wildfire, so knowing where these openings are ahead of time means you’ll be ready to close them if a blaze is looming.
- Add screens to the area below decks, porches, and patios as a wire mesh screen can help keep out flammable debris like dry leaves.
