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Outside or "brush" fires destroy hundreds of homes
in this country each year. Many of us live in places that have
incorporated woodlands and trails into the development of our
homesites.
Since October 16, 2001, there has been no precipitation in
the area. Since then, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
has responded to an ever increasing amount of outside fires.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department would like to
remind you to make sure your home isn't in the line of fire.
Things to do to protect your home from outside fires:
- Keep roofs free of leaves, pine needles, moss, and twigs.
- Do not store or allow a build-up of flammable materials
such as fire wood or leaves under decks or within 100 feet
of your home.
- Do not plant trees too close to the house. Hardwood trees
tend to be less flammable than conifers.
- Rid your trees of moss, abandoned nests, dead limbs,
and anything else that would burn easily.
- Remove tree limbs that are within 15 to 20 feet of the
ground, extend over your roof, or are within 15 feet of the
chimney.
- Prune or pull up dead flowers when appropriate.
- Do not set out fireplace ashes near structures.
With careful planning, your yard should also serve as a firebreak
in the event of an outside fire. There should be short grass
for at least 30 feet from the house to any flammable material.
For more information on this or other fire safety issues, please
contact the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Public
Information and Life Safety Education Section at (703) 246-3801
or (703) 385-4419 (TTY).
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