Preparing Your Home for Wildfires

Posted by STN Admin on September 15, 2023

If you live in rural California during the wildfire season, you should be aware of wildfires and how to properly prepare for their arrival. While many rural settings are prone to wildfires, California’s combination of elevation and dry climate make it more likely that wildfires will occur. The question is, what can homeowners do about protecting their property and families from the ravages of a wildfire?

Wildfires damage homes in three different ways. By direct contact with flame, the embers that are generated by the fire, and the radiant head pushed by the winds into your home. The action you take to protect your property will depend on the following scenarios.

Identifying the Risks

Places subject to wildfires means they will have fire seasons established which identifies the time of the year for higher risk. In California, fire season is from May to October with the combination of summer heat, high winds, and lack of rainfall that comes with that time. However, wildfires can happen at any time of the year under the right conditions.

Next is location. How close is your property to areas that are prone to wildfires? The closer it is, the more precautions you should take and check to see the vulnerability of where you live to wildfires.

Taking Appropriate Action

There are steps you can take to make your property more resilient to fire damage. Taking these steps will reduce the potential damage to your home.

Remove Combustible Materials: This includes leaf litter, lawn furniture, and garbage during fire season. The less fuel a fire has, the less damage it can do.

Place Fire-Resistant Materials: There are materials used in home construction that resist embers and even direct contact by fire. Such materials should be incorporated into the walls and roof of your home.

Create Defendable Space: This is an area that surrounds your home where firefighters can place their equipment to minimize the fire damage. It also provides a way out of the property if a wildfire appears suddenly. It also buys time as the wildfire must cross the space to reach your home.

But such barriers and the use of non-combustible materials do not provide complete protection. You will need to leave if a wildfire is in your area.

Have an Evacuation Plan

Even the best prepared homes may not be enough to prevent wildfires from consuming your property. You will need to have an evacuation plan that can be executed at a moment’s notice. While many wildfire warnings allow for some time to prepare and leave, others do not. You will need to be ready to go immediately if a wildfire threatens your area.

Have Emergency Kits in Your Home and Vehicle
Keep Extra Gas in Your Vehicle to Avoid Stopping at the Nearest Gas Station
Train Family to Leave within a Moment’s Notice
Know Your Evacuation Routes

Proper preparation and leaving immediately can save you and your family from a wildfire. The preparation work you put into your property beforehand will do its best to prevent wildfires from damaging your home. Your presence on the property only puts you in danger. Do what you can before a wildfire begins and know to leave immediately once a wildfire heads in your direction.

Contact Brickley Environmental Today

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following.

Asbestos Abatement
Mold Remediation
Lead-Based Paint Removal
Demolition
Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you

How to Prepare Your House for Hurricane Season

Posted by STN Admin on September 6, 2023

If you live near the ocean, then you are subject to the possibility of a hurricane or other powerful storm striking your area. Even if you live in a location that only sees powerful storms occasionally, you should prepare your house and have a plan for hurricane season.

Creating a Plan

The first step in any plan is to assess what may happen and what you need to do. What follows are a few steps that will help you best prepare should a hurricane threaten to strike.

Emergency Phone Numbers: Write down emergency phone numbers which should include the police, fire department, and all emergency services. If it’s 911, that not only makes it easy, but you should put that in your phone contacts list if it isn’t already there.

Emergency Supply Kit: You should keep an emergency supply kit in the home and a smaller one in each vehicle. The kit should consist of the following.

Food & Water: 72 hours for each person
Medicine: Primary medications for each person
Flashlights & Batteries
Full Gas Tank
Personnel & Safety Items: Items that protect you and provide comfort.
Documents: Including passports, wills, personal identification, and medical documents
Fire Extinguisher: Fires are a big danger after hurricanes. Have at least one in your home

Having these items ready will help you cut down on preparation time.

Shelters: Get to know the location of shelters that are designated to protect people both during and after a hurricanes. Knowing this before a hurricane strikes can save you valuable time. Also, if you have relatives who are out of the hurricane strike zone and within driving distance, plan on staying with them and leaving your home well before the danger builds.

Pets: Some shelters may not take pets, so identify a pet-friendly shelter or hotel. This is where having a good friend or relative out of harms way can help as well.

Getting Your Home Ready

Now that you, your family, and pets are ready, it’s time to make your home ready for the hurricane.

Remove Loose Objects from Your Yard: Take in anything that can blow around during the hurricane. Including lawn furniture, bicycles, grills, building materials, and the like. If you can pick it up, then it should be moved inside.

Cover Windows & Doors: If you have storm shutters installed or have access to plywood, cover the windows so that the glass is protected. Same is true for doors so they are not blown off their hinges.

Have Plenty of Water: Purchase five-gallon containers for your drinking water. Fill sinks and the bathtub for cleaning.

Power Switch: Turn the power off if you see downed power lines or flooding that is approaching your home. If you evacuate, turn the power off before you go to lower the chances of a fire occurring.

Finally, know when to leave. Keep in mind that the later you decide to evacuate, the more traffic you will run into. Either leave early or stay for the duration. But make the choice that is best for you and your family.

Contact Brickley Environmental Today

Asbestos Abatement
Mold Remediation
Lead-Based Paint Removal
Demolition
Hazardous Waste Removal

How to Protect Yourself and Your Home from Air Pollution

Posted by STN Admin on February 15, 2023

While most people think of air pollution as something that comes from power plants and factories, the truth is that the more threatening form of air pollution comes from inside your home. You can protect your family from both forms of air pollution with a few easy-to-learn steps.

Indoors

Reducing indoor air pollution starts with the products you purchase for your home. What you may not realize is that the very furniture and flooring may contain pollutants that may harm you and your family.

Avoid Products with Scents: Cleaners, air fresheners, and other products that contain scents may contain particles that interact with the ozone and create formaldehyde. Use natural cleaners if possible, such as lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, and plain water to reduce air pollution in the home.

Green Label: Look for the green label when purchasing carpets, cushions, and products that have adhesive elements. Such products may contain formaldehyde and residues of dangerous chemicals that can create indoor air pollution.

The same is true for furniture and other furnishings that are made from composite wood such as particle board or even plywood. Such materials use adhesives that may contain trace amounts of harmful chemicals. Look for such products that are compliant with green or safe standards.

Reduce Ozone: Certain products such as laundry water treatments, fruit and vegetable washers, and hair and facial applications emit ozone into the air. Look for products that are ozone-free and will not contribute to pollution indoors.

Ventilate: If you are painting, gluing, or using caulk, or other adhesive try to perform the work outside the home if possible. If you have no choice, such as painting a room, then open the windows, turn on the fan, and ventilate the area.

Outdoors

Although the threat may be less today compared to a half-century ago, there are still plenty of sources that cause outdoor air pollution. What follows are a few tips to protect your family and home in case outdoor pollution rises to dangerous levels.

Air Purifier: An air purifier can trap particles such as smoke while cleaning the indoor air from dust and other items. Remember to change out your air purifier’s filter when needed so that it works at maximum efficiency. Air purifiers are best used in bedrooms and living areas.

Central Air Conditioning: A central air conditioning system is not only more energy efficient for cooling the home compared to window units, but the air filter can also trap many of the particles that otherwise make it into your home. Be sure to change the air filter every few months or when needed. Otherwise, it may tax the unit to the point of requiring repair.

Windows Closed: This may seem to be an obvious response, but shutting the windows should be the first thing you do in case outdoor air pollution becomes too dangerous. Use portable fans to circulate the air inside the home.

With these tips, you can protect your home and family from both indoor and outdoor air pollution. A few commonsense steps will reduce indoor air pollution and limit outdoor air pollution from entering your residence.