With the dry climate and windy weather that we experience here in Santa Barbara, fires can spread very easily. While we can’t predict exactly when a fire may threaten our local neighborhoods, we can take measures to protect our properties through fire abatement strategies.
Remove Brush
Fire needs fuel, and brush can be a perfect ingredient for fire growth. It’s wise to have your property cleared of brush. If you have Economy Tree, Inc. come out to your place in Santa Barbara, we can use our heavy-duty equipment to remove any brush. We can take care of everything for you from dealing with potentially poisonous plants and pesky critters to handling the cleanup. Once we’ve finished the job, there will be less vegetation that can burn. We can clear brush at any time of the year, but it’s especially useful in the drier months.
Trim Trees and Clear Branches
Trimming trees can be important since fire can spread more easily from tree to tree if they’re touching each other. When trees are regularly trimmed, there could be enough of a gap between them to prevent the spread of fire. In addition, dead branches may be more likely to ignite since they’re so dry. We can closely assess your trees to see if there are any areas that need to be removed for this reason.
Some of the signs of tree decay that you can look out for include:
- Dry or brittle limbs
- Noticeable rot
- Peeling bark
- Leafless branches
As we trim trees, we’ll also keep an eye on vertical spacing. If there’s a fire close to the ground, your property may fare better if you have some separation between the ground and the tree tops. We can go through your property and trim branches that may be too close to the ground.
Clear the Area Around Your Home
In recent years, fires have come very close to many neighborhoods, and in some cases, they’ve actually reached local homes. If you’d like to better protect your house, you need to have the area around it cleared. Any dead vegetation will need to be removed from this area, and dry leaves and pine needles will need to be taken away as well. This includes leaves or pine needles that may have fallen on your roof or gotten into your rain gutters. Branches should be kept away from your roof and especially your chimney, plants and shrubs should be trimmed regularly, and vegetation should be removed from around your deck or patio.
Be Prepared
Unfortunately, fires are possible throughout the year in California. Enlisting our fire abatement services can help you protect your home. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
