Wildfire safety: How to be prepared in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach

Jim Abbott, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·5 min read

As a wildfire in the Tiger Bay State Forest continued to burn Tuesday, sending billows of smoke into the Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach area, it’s a good time for residents to review guidelines for being wildfire ready, according to the Florida Forest Service.

As the state’s population continues to increase, most communities are near forests and wooded areas, putting them at risk for wildfire, the Forest Service states on its website.

Amid stretches of high temperatures combined with dry and windy weather conditions, such as the area is experiencing this week, there’s a higher potential for brush fires, but there also are many tools that can help reduce the chances of a catastrophic wildfire.

Readiness includes creating defensible space around homes, safely burning yard waste, utilizing prescribed burning and reporting a potential wildfire or suspicious arson activity.

Here are the Florida Forest Service guidelines for being “wildfire ready”:

Previous coverage:Forest firefighters battling dry conditions and wind

Burn yard waste safely

Burning yard waste does not require an authorization, but you must follow the law and meet the requirements for your area. Yard waste is considered any vegetative debris such as brush, leaves, tree limbs and palms fronds collected from basic yard maintenance.

  • Any yard waste must fit in an 8-foot diameter pile or noncombustible container.

  • The fire must be ignited after 9 a.m. ET and must be extinguished one hour before sunset.

  • The fire must be 25 feet from your home, woods, brush or other combustible structures.

  • The fire must be 50 feet from a paved public road. The fire must be 150 feet from other occupied buildings.

In addition, it’s important to always consider the weather and conditions:

  • Never burn on windy days.

  • Refrain from burning yard waste during dry weather.

  • Avoid burning during periods of high fire danger.

  • Refrain from burning immediately following a storm and seek alternative removal methods.

  • Check local restrictions (homeowners association, city, county) to ensure there are no restrictions on burning in your area.

  • Always keep a shovel and water hose nearby.

  • Never leave a fire unattended.

Guidelines for yard preparation in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach

Creating and maintaining a buffer around a home can reduce the threat and spread of wildfire, according to the Forest Service.

Defensible space extends 30 to 100 feet from a home and includes landscaping such as grass, trees, shrubs or any wildland area that surrounds it. Defensible space can slow down or stop the spread of a wildfire because it distances your home from the embers and radiant heat of active wildfires.

To improve safety:

  • Remove all dead vegetation, including plants, leaves, grass and weeds, from your yard, roof, rain gutters, windows and under decks.

  • Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees to prevent fire spread in the canopies.

  • Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

  • Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.

  • Create horizontal and vertical space between shrubs and trees by removing vegetation and allowing plants to be separated by groundcover.

  • Remove or trim low-growing vegetation under pine trees.

  • Be aware of adjacent properties that may be prone to wildfire.

Making a home wildfire ready

Hardening one’s home and outbuildings against fire is important to reduce wildfire impact and its spread. Consider the following areas as you harden your home:

Inside, keep working fire extinguishers on hand, install a smoke alarm on each level of your home, inside and near all bedrooms. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries annually.

For roofs and eaves, regularly clear roof and gutters of branches, leaves and other types of debris. It’s also important to make sure eaves are made with fire-resistant materials and in good condition to ensure that a fire cannot enter an attic.

For vents and walls, clean vents regularly, remove debris surrounding these areas and consider installing vent covers to prevent fire from entering. Clear exterior walls of foliage and brush.

For windows, doors balconies and decks, regularly inspect windows and doors to ensure they are sealed with no leaks. Install dual-pane windows with tempered glass, shutters, insect screens. Use fire-resistant and noncombustible materials to repair or add balconies or decks to a home and eliminate debris and combustible products surrounding these areas.

Help lower wildfire risk by reporting arson

Nearly eight out of 10 wildfires in Florida are human-caused, including some that are intentional, according to the Forest Service. If you see suspicious activity, report it.

To report suspicious wildfire activity, contact the Florida Forestry Arson Alert Association at 1-800-342-5869 or a local Florida Forest Service field office. Callers remain anonymous and information that leads to the apprehension of an arsonist could result in a reward of up to $5,000.

Prepare an emergency supply kit

If the need arises to evacuate, an emergency supply kit can save life and property. Keep an emergency supply kit in an area that is easily accessible and ready.

A supply kit checklist should include a seven-day supply of prescriptions or special medications, cellphone with wall and car chargers, extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks, copies of important documents (birth certificates, proof of address, medical information, etc.), external hard drive or USB with personal computer information and files as well as an inventory of home contents.

Visit the Florida Forest Service website for more wildfire information.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Brush fires in Florida: Season safety for Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach