There is less wildfire damage to 'hardened homes,' fire officials say

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - "Hardening your home" can be the difference between a few repairs and a total loss during a wildfire, according to officials.

Embers from a wildfire can ignite a home from up to a mile away. As of April 1, the Florida Forest Service listed over 1,100 wildfires burning around the state. 

FFS officials said there are construction materials that can help a home withstand those flying embers from a wildfire, and making sure the embers don’t blow into any weak spots in the structure. 

Officials said you can accomplish hardening your home, or making your home more defensible against wildfires, in the following ways: 

- When you assess the safety of your home start from the top to the bottom. 
- Start with the roof, which are the most vulnerable surface where embers land because they can lodge and start a fire. Look for any breaks in the tiling, and assess the general condition. Make sure to take note of any gaps or openings, and fill them. 
- Look at the gutters, and make sure they are clean and free of debris. FFS recommends metal gutters rather than plastic.
- If you have a shingle roof, make sure they are laying flat and haven't lifted due to wind. If you have a tile roof, double check that there aren't any vegetables between the tiles. Birds tend to build nests in dry areas. 
- Embers can gather and linger on combustible siding, or any overlapping materials on the outside of the structure. 
- Gaps in doors and windows can also be a place for embers to settle and ignite. 

The most critical area is within 30 feet of the structure, known as the "defensible space." If there is vegetation within five feet of your home, fire experts suggest that you make this a "fire free" area with non-flammable landscaping and high moisture content plants. Remove any dead plants. 

Any trees between five feet to 30 feet in the defensible space should have their branches trimmed six to 10 feet from the ground. FFS suggests creating "fuel breaks" in this area by building a driveway or walkway to slow the flames down. 

For additional advice, click over to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.