Fire Safety Outdoors

Attempting to fire proof your home is a big part of any safety plan that can save your family, your home, and your belongings. But it is very easy to forget that the outside of your home is just as much of a fire hazard as the inside can be. It would be unwise to neglect to fire proof the roof, patio, backyard, garden, and the front yard. Minimizing all of these outdoor fire hazards is an essential part of preventing accidental fires.

If you have a storage space in your yard for firewood this can be potentially the biggest fire hazard in or out of your home. It in vitally important that you follow basic safety precautions when store firewood anywhere on your property. Make sure that the wood is at least 30 feet from the main home to prevent it from lighting in the event of a fire. It is also a good idea to store it in some kind of non-combustible container like a metal bin.

Another way to prevent fires outside of your home is to keep the lawn free of debris. Make sure that all toys, stray litter, or lawn ornaments are kept in a safe place off the lawn when they are not in use. When you are landscaping you can also take fire safety in mind with the kind of plants you choose to buy. A lot of varieties of plants are naturally fire resistant while others burn more quickly and easily than others. If you are putting these plants within 30 feet of your home it is very wise to make sure these are fire resistant plants and leave the non-fire resistant plants for outside of the 30 foot safety radius. However, even fire resistant plants have to be cared for in order to be effective. Trim the plants regularly and be sure to remove any dead and dried leaves since these are very flammable.

Be sure that you know what roofing materials your home has for the roof. Not too many years ago builders were using very flammable materials and this has caused more than one person to lose their entire because of a small accidental fire that spread to the roof. Currently there are many new and fire resistant roofing materials that you should be sure are on your home. Class A shingles, terra cotta, and metal are all excellent choices for fire safety. Or you can treat the roof with a fire retardant spray that reduces flammability if you don’t wish to replace your roof.

Lastly, be careful with barbeque grills. You need to keep the grill clean and maintain it regularly. Check any hoses or lines on the grill to be sure they are free from cracks that could be a fire danger. And if you use propane tanks, be sure they are checked regularly to be sure they are not damaged.