Over 8 million acres of land in the United States has been burned down by wildfires this year alone. This is not a fact to take lightly, especially if you live in a dry area that’s prone to wildfires.

If anything, it’s the wake-up call you need to make sure you and your loved ones are ready for wildfire evacuations at any moment. Even if there aren’t any wildfires happening near you right now, there’s no telling how fast one will spread once it starts. You need to start making preparations now in order to ensure safety later, and a big part of that means protecting your home.

Here are 6 things you can do around the house to prepare for wildfire weather.

1. Clear the Yard of Debris

Do you have a lot of dry leaves laying in the yard? Are you someone who likes to save up a lot of wood so you can burn a controlled bonfire?

As fun as family bonfires may be, the material used to create them is incredibly dangerous in the event of a wildfire. It’s better to clear your yard during the dry season and dispose of flammable debris (both natural and man-made) responsibly.

2. Invest in Fire-Resistant Protective Materials

Maybe you don’t have debris in the yard, but there are a lot of leaves stuck in the gutters of your roof.

Clean them out, and while you’re up there, put fire-resistant materials on the roof and the exterior walls of your home. If you have the time, have your roof, deck, and siding treated by professionals who offer fire-resistant services.

3. Put Your Grill in a Safe Area

The next way to protect your home during a wildfire is to get your gas grill at least 15 feet away from it. Place your grill in a location where it won’t catch anything on fire should the heat cause it to explode. Be mindful of your cars and your neighbors’ property as you do this.

4. Don’t Park on Your Lawn

Speaking of your cars, do you have a tendency to park on the lawn sometimes?

This is one of the worst things you can do during the dry season. It doesn’t take much for the heat of a car’s exhaustion to ignite dry, brittle grass. This can happen whether or not a wildfire is blazing in your area!

5. Get Ready for Wildfire Season Inside

Although you want to do as much as you can to protect the outside of your home, there are also lots of smart things you can do inside. Some include:

  • investing in fire-resistant drapes
  • cleaning the chimney
  • keeping a fire extinguisher in your home
  • protecting wires and chords
  • minimizing the amount of clutter you have

These are a few simple tasks that make a big difference.

6. Review Your Homeowner’s Insurance

Last but not least, make sure your belongings are covered in the event that you do have to evacuate and your home is hit by a wildfire. This is one of the most devastating things that can happen to someone, but not knowing how you’re going to bounce back from it makes the situation significantly harder to bear.

With good home insurance coverage, you can at least trust that you’ll have the financial support you need to start moving forward.

Healing After a Wildfire

No matter what you do to get ready for wildfire evacuations and damage, there’s always going to be a possibility that one comes your way and hits your home. Fire prevention can help offset some of the damage, but it can’t guarantee your home won’t be affected at all.

Thankfully, there are plenty of first responders and restoration services that can help get you back on your feet. If your home has already been affected by a wildfire, click here to discover everything we can do to help you recover.