The Risk of Wildfires and the Role of Defensible Space | SERVPRO of Bartow County

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged by fire or water loss event, SERVPRO of Bartow County is ready and able to restore your property to preloss condition.

There are many risks property owners have to deal with, and one that is happening with more frequency is wildfire. You might not think of wildfire as being a common source of house fires, but the risk is higher than you’d think. Each year, billions of acres of land burn across the country, and that land contains many houses. But you can take steps to protect your home and property. 

Simply being more careful with fire is a great first step. According to the National Park Service, 85% of fires are caused by humans. Beyond being more careful, creating a “defensible space” around your property is a great way to reduce the risk of damage from a wildfire.

What Is Defensible Space?

Defensible space is a technical term for a fire break. In order for wildfires to survive and thrive, they need fuel. The more fuel available, the hotter and faster the wildfire moves.

By removing the fuel around the outside of your property and creating a buffer zone, aka defensible space, a fire approaching your house will slow and firefighters will have a chance to control and eventually stop the wildfire. You create defensible space by removing combustible materials, such as debris, and incorporating fireproof elements in your landscaping.

Defensible space is required by law in California, but in Georgia, it’s simply a recommendation—a recommendation that can save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

Wildfires Are on the Rise

While we often think of wildfires occurring only on the West Coast, that’s simply not true. Every single state was affected by the destruction of wildfires in 2020. Of the 59,000 wildfires last year, over 10,000 occurred in California. Here in Georgia, we experienced 1,699 wildfires, burning 5,677 acres of land.

While the risk is lower in Georgia, lower is not the same as zero. It’s important to take steps to protect your home, and defensible space is one way to do so.

*If your home is damaged by fire of any sort, wild or not, SERVPRO of Bartow County is ready and able to repair the damage caused. Get in touch today at (770) 387-7455 to get the SERVPRO of Bartow County pros on your team.