Southwest Florida Dry Season Safety Tips
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, homeowners should take a few key steps to protect their homes from wildfires:
- Keep a "defensible space" of 30 feet around your home free of dense groups of trees and other potential fire fuel. If you don't have 30 feet, work with what you have.
- Keep roof gutters clear of dried leaves, pine needles, branches and other debris.
- Store combustibles such as gasoline a safe distance from the home.
- Remove vines attached to your home that could carry fire to the roof.
- Remove flammable plants such as palmetto, wax myrtle and melaleuca from within 30 feet of your home.
- Use fire-resistant material for your roof, including tile or metal.
- Keep your yard well-trimmed and watered.
- Install water sprinklers on your roof.
- Trim tree branches so they're at least 10 feet from the ground.
- Avoid outdoor use of open flame.