Tips to Prevent Fire Damage to a Home
Florida is well-known for its nearly year-round warm and sunny climate. Visitors flock to the state to enjoy the heat, but it can also pose a danger to some residents. Florida's dry season can create real hazards for home owners, especially those who live in an area prone to wildfires or lightning strikes.
The homeowner insurance attorneys at the Coye Law Firm offer this article as a way for you to plan how to protect a home from a fire. These random, devastating events can leave individuals and families dealing with severe damage or injuries, loss of their home, or death. Protect your home from a fire before it is too late.
Fires in Florida
If you visit Florida for a week or two, you may see nothing but clear skies and bright, sandy beaches. However, there are some points during the year in which Florida's weather is wild, unpredictable, and damaging. Hurricanes and severe thunderstorms can cause damage, but dry climates can be just as dangerous. According to the National Weather Service, Florida's dry season is expected to run from mid-October to Mid-May, which is over half of the year. The "dry season" is characterized by weather patterns of high heat, low humidity, and little to no precipitation. These factors work to create very dry conditions, which can easily ignite into a fire if a spark occurs. Sometimes, a spontaneous thunderstorm can cause lightning strikes, which have been known to start wildfires.
Some of Florida's less densely-populated areas are usually more at-risk for wildfires than those living in busier, urban areas. The less-populated areas in Florida tend to be more wooded and overgrown than cities or incorporated towns. It is especially important for more rural or farm-based homeowners to know ways to keep their homes and property safe from wildfires.
Keeping Your Home Safe
We are all taught basic fire safety tips to keep our homes and families safe: don't leave candles burning unless you're in the room, have a working smoke alarm in your home, and have an escape route. However, wildfires may require extra precautions. The National Weather Service recommends a few extra steps for Florida homeowners. You can find more information on the Firewise program's website, www.firewise.org.
- Make an effort to keep your gutters and roof clean. Remove any sticks, leaves, pine needles, and other yard debris that may accumulate over time.
- Coordinate with your family to develop a "disaster plan," which should include plans to leave your home, subdivision, or town within a short period of time.
- Keep the trees in or around your yard trimmed to about 6-10 feet off of the ground. This will make it harder for fire to spread from low-lying brush to tall trees.
- If your home has a gas line, turn it off if threatened with fire. This can prevent an explosion.
- Don't go to the basement or garage to get away from a fire, as they usually have limited ways out and may contain hazardous materials.
- If you leave your home because of an approaching wildfire, close all windows and doors, open any drapes or curtains, and try to move furniture as far away from the windows as possible. These actions can help stop or slow the fire from entering the home.
Unfortunately, even the best preparation may not prevent a wildfire. In those circumstances, the homeowner may be able to recover through insurance policies or charitable assistance.
After a Fire
If your home has been damaged or destroyed by a fire, there are resources available to you. Make an insurance claim if you have a policy that covers fire damage to a home. Local, national, and international charities may be able to help you and your family while you try to repair or rebuild your home. You can usually find charities, such as the American Red Cross, online.
If you want to help victims of wildfires, you may be able to find information online as well. If you have supplies or food to donate, talk to members of your community or contact the charities directly to see how and where to donate.
Staying Safe and Secure
Although Florida is a warm weather tourist destination, the state's unpredictable weather patterns can leave people scared and vulnerable. Take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your property. If you have trouble claiming benefits from your homeowners insurance company to help rebuild after a fire, call an attorney at the Coye Law Firm. Our homeowners insurance lawyers want to help you prevent these disasters, but we are also willing to help if damage or a dispute occurs. Call us today at 800-648-4941.