Preparing Your Napa Business for Wildfire Season

5/5/2021 (Permalink)

Businesses Have a Responsibility to Prepare for Wildfire Season

June through September are commonly when summer fires burn most fiercely. Wildfires can wreak havoc anywhere within California, and woodsy areas tend to be the most vulnerable due to the buildup of debris that rapidly catches fire. As with any natural disaster, business owners should develop a disaster recovery plan with the necessary instruction to keep businesses stable under extreme circumstances.

Develop a Wildfire Response Plan

A written wildfire response plan should be created and made accessible to all employees. Workers should be always aware of and familiar with the wildfire response plan instead of relying on it solely when a disaster quickly strikes. A plethora of copies of the wildfire response plan should be readily available when the unforeseeable happens. Employees should know the evacuation routes and practice traveling along with them. Be aware of the safest and secure location to retreat to if a wildfire burns and evacuation becomes necessary.

Maintain the Property

Scatters of natural debris can quickly start wildfires. Roofs, gutters, decks, alleys, and other areas around the property should be regularly cleaned of combustible materials, such as debris. It is important to note that dead vegetation should be immediately removed from the property.

Create a Defensible Space

Experts recommend fire scaping the property, which is otherwise known as developing a defensible property. The landscape should be structured strategically so that the disaster effect is lessened if a fire breaks out. Basically, the building is surrounded by less-flammable materials.

In fire scaping, near the business property are carefully picked, planted, and maintained to lessen the risk of combustion and diminish the rapid spread of wildfires. Fire smart plants with high moisture content and do not contain waxes, oils, or resins in their stems are ideal in fire scaping.

Protect Elevated Decks

Flammable materials should never be fixed underneath an elevated deck. Wildfires that happen have less chance to cause unrecoverable damage if the bottom of elevated decks is confined.

Close Vents

Attic and crawl space vents should be closed or safeguarded with a mesh screen to block flying ash from infiltrating the property.

Prepare a Disaster Kit

Businesses in high-risk wildfire locations benefit significantly from having a readily available disaster kit. At the least, the disaster kit should contain the following items:

• First aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Cash
• Water and canned food
• Blankets
• Battery-powered radio or technology to facilitate communication

Be Prepared for Alerts

Due to wildfire alerts being publicly broadcasted, it is essential to regulate how you and your employees will receive alerts and health warnings. Whether it is through public service announcements, smartphone alerts, social media, or air quality reports.

Fire Damage Restoration

When your business is overwhelmed by fires during wildfire season, immediate help is close by. SERVPRO of Napa provides reliable fire and smoke damage restoration services with a stellar reputation for rapid responses to emergencies in Napa County.

Our fire and smoke damage specialists at SERVPRO work quickly to restore the property to its pre-damaged condition. Soot is quickly removed from the property with state-of-the-art technology and advanced cleaning techniques.

Wildfires can happen anytime at a moment’s notice. SERVPRO of Napa County’s fire and smoke damage restoration professionals are available to the business and residential communities 24 hours a day and 7 days a week; for emergency and non-emergency situations.