Fire Safe Landscaping

Wildland fires destroy hundreds of homes and acres of land every year across the country.  Fire safe landscaping is an effective tool that creates an area of defensible space between your home and flammable vegetation that protects against devastating fires.

TIPS FOR A FIRE SAFE LANDSCAPE

1.  Create a defensible space perimeter by thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around your home

2.  Beyond 30 feet, remove dead wood, debris and low tree branches

3.  Eliminate small trees and plants growing under trees.  They allow ground fires to jump into tree crowns

4.  Space trees 30 feet apart and prune to a height of 8 to 10 feet

5.  Place shrubs at least 20 feet from any structures and prune regularly

6.  Landscape your property with fire- resistant plants and vegetation to prevent fire from spreading quickly

There are no FIRE- PROOF plants.  Select high moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.

MAINTAIN YOUR HOME AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY

1.  Keep plants green during the dry season

2.  Trim grass on a regular basis up to 100 feet surrounding your home.

3.  Stack firewood at least 30 feet from your home

CARBON MONOXIDE

WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE ?  Carbon Monoxide ( CO ) is an invisible, odorless gas that comes from burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, oil, and methane.  When these fuels burn incompletely, CO is produced.  Home heating and cooking appliances can produce CO if damaged or misused.  Vehicles such as cars, trucks, tractors, and lawn mowers are also a source of CO.  Any motor allowed to run indoors can produce dangerous levels of CO.

EFFECTS OF CO EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE ?  CO replaces the oxygen in the bloodstream: This can lead to suffocation.  Flu-like symptoms are an early indication of mild CO poisoning.  More serious exposures can lead to difficulty breathing or eventually death.  Those most at risk for poisoning are the young ( 4 and younger ) and the old ( 75 and older ).

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CO DETECTOR ALARM GOES OFF ?  

1.  Make sure no one is experiencing any signs of CO poisoning

2.  If symptoms of poisoning are present, every one should exit the building leaving the doors open as you go.

3.  Get medical help

4.  Use a neighbor's phone to call 911

    CO POISONING SYMPTOMS

1.  Dizziness, ringing in the ears

2.  Blurred vision, burning eyes

3.  Persistent throbbing headaches 

4.  Tightness across the forehead

5.  Pale skin

6.  Nausea and vomiting

7.  Confusion, disorientation, loss of muscle control

8.  Fainting, unconsciousness

9.  Sleepiness, never feeling rested

10.  Rapid heartbeat or pulse, fluttering or throbbing of the heart, tightening of the chest

11.  Shortness of breath

12.  Chest pain ( angina ) when exercising

13.  Intoxicated appearance 

14.  Sudden death 

If there's SMOKE Stay low and Crawl Below

If your clothes catch ... STOP, DROP, & ROLL

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