Wildfire Preparedness: Safeguarding Your Business Year-Round

As climate change intensifies, the traditional "fire season" is becoming a thing of the past. With historically dry conditions, record-setting heat waves, and harmful wind events, wildfires are starting earlier in the year and lasting longer. Now more than ever, it's crucial for businesses to adopt a year-round strategy to mitigate the risk of wildfires.

Rising Wildfire Risks Across the Nation

Although the western United States often makes headlines for wildfires, the frequency of wildfires is increasing nationwide. The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) Wildland Fire report reveals that there were 68,988 reported wildfires across the country in 2022, up from 58,985 in 2021. These fires burned over 7.5 million acres nationally in 2022, compared to 7.1 million acres in 2021.

At Sea Mountain Insurance, we urge our policyholders to understand wildfire risks and implement effective strategies to protect people and property.

What You Need to Know About Wildfires

A wildfire, also referred to as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, brush fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire that typically occurs in wildland areas. However, wildfires can also consume homes, agricultural resources, and businesses. In the United States, nearly nine out of ten wildfires are caused by human activities, including burning debris, unattended campfires, and sparks from vehicles or equipment.

Wildfires can threaten buildings in three main ways:

1. Flying embers blown by the wind ignite combustible materials on or around the structure.
2. Direct flames spread from nearby vegetation to the building’s exterior.
3. Radiant heat from surrounding flames causes the structure to catch fire.

Effective Strategies to Protect Your Property

Creating a defensible space around your property is one of the most effective ways to prevent or slow wildfires. This buffer zone helps keep the fire away from your building and surrounding vegetation. Insurance carriers typically recommend a minimum clearance of 300 feet for grass and brush fires and 500 feet for forest fires.

Key Defensible Space Guidelines:

• Roadways: Use established roadways to provide barriers and ensure access for firefighting personnel, fire mitigation efforts, and evacuation routes.
• Building Features: Avoid skylights and gutters that can trap combustible debris.
• Water Accessibility: Ensure there is a reliable water source to effectively combat fires.
• Fire-Resistant Materials: Use non-combustible roofing materials like pre-cast, poured concrete, slate, metal, or composite.

Additional Mitigation Measures for Business Owners

• Regularly maintain defensible space, especially in wildfire-prone areas.
• Implement "fire smart" landscaping by placing fire-resistant plants strategically around buildings, keeping trees and shrubs trimmed back, and replacing combustible mulch within five feet of the building with rock mulch.
• Request your utility company to trim trees near power lines.
• Regularly inspect and maintain fire extinguishers on your property.
• Conduct regular fire drills and emergency evacuations with employees.
• Know the location of the nearest fire hydrant or water supply.

By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the risk of wildfires impacting your business. For more information on protecting your property and ensuring the safety of your employees, contact Sea Mountain Insurance today.