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Emergency Information

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Xativa Forest Fire - Lessons to Learn

Special Photo Credit: We would like to thank Alan Benstead for the use of his incredible photos of the Xativa Forest Fire and Mike Jones for having the good sense to send them in!

The recent Xativa forest fire had the local community holding their breath as the flames swept closer to their homes. Over 160 hectares have been burned so far. But what lessons have we learned?

From 21st June 2005 to 23rd June (and counting) the Xativa forest fire has caused widespread damage, chaos and concern. Last night (evening of 22nd) the flames grew considerably and spready rapidly over the sierra separating Canals and L'Olleria. It seemed that this widfire was not going to be contained.

Then a clap of thunder heralded the first few rain drops and had the entire community praying that the rain would spread over the flames. Prayers were answered and the menacing smoke, flames and glow were converted into steam. Ironically, the evening also brought in strong winds - which would only have fanned the flames had the rain not fallen.

This morning (23rd) the planes and helicopters are still buzzing overhead and we can see them spraying the hillsides with water. With another scorching day ahead there is every chance that the flames could rise again.

So were we prepared? Do we know what to do in a forest fire? How many of us turned to the internet for advice to be faced with the opening line "Don't wait for a forest fire to come before preparing for it."!

So without further ado, here is some emergency information that may help (taken from various internet sources). In the absence of any (obvious) official information from the Valencia administration, this is as good as it gets.

We've also opened this article for comments (registered users only - but it's free and easy to register) so that you can share tips and ask each other questions.

10 Steps to Wildfire Defense

1. Define your defensible space. Create a 30-foot, non-combustible zone around your house. It is the most effective safeguard against wildfire.
2. Reduce flammable vegetation, trees and brush around your home. Choose fire-resistant plants with loose branching habits, high moisture content and little seasonal accumulation of dead vegetation.
3. Remove or prune trees. Remove or thin overcrowded or weakened trees. Prune low-hanging branches to keep ground fires from climbing into trees.
4. Cut grass and weeds regularly. Fire loves dry grass and weeds. Mow or trim low vegetation and keep it well-watered, especially during dry seasons.
5. Relocate wood piles and leftover building materials. Stack all burnable materials at least 30 feet away from your home and other buildings.
6. Keep your roof and yard clean. Pine needle build-up on composition shingle roofs can burn off the "gravel" surface layer and spread fire into the home. The Forest Service’s Cohen also found that — in several cases — exterior wood walls caught fire from concentrations of pine needles that lined their base.
7. Keep signs and addresses visible, and keep the home accessible. Highly visible signs and address numbers allow firefighters to find your home quickly during an emergency. Safe, easy access to your property includes driveways with well-trimmed peripheral vegetation. Contact your local fire agency for recommendations.
8. Rate your roof. In a wildfire, it’s the most vulnerable part of your house. Consider treatment or replacement of a wood shake roof. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, install an approved spark arrestor.
9. Regularly recycle yard debris and branches. Check into alternative disposal methods such as composting or recycling. If you burn yard debris, first contact your local fire agency for current regulations.
10. Know what to do when wildfire strikes. Monitor local radio and TV for fire reports and evacuation procedures. Arrange garden hoses so they can reach any part of your house. Keep an emergency checklist handy and make sure it includes closing all windows and doors and packing your car for quick departure.

Forest Fire Safety Checklist

The following checklist and guidelines will help you prepare for fire safety, evacuation and home defense. Use it as a guide to enhance homesite safety.

This is an annual checklist. Don't wait until a fire is approaching to perform these tasks.

Figure 1: Thin tree and brush cover. Dispose of slash and debris left from thinning. Remove dead limbs, leaves and other litter. Stack firewood away from home. Maintain irrigated greenbelt.	Mow dry grasses and weeds. Prune branches to 10 feet above the ground. Trim branches. Clean roof and gutters. Reduce density of surrounding forest.

Annual Fire Safety Checklist Thin trees and brush properly within the defensible space. Remove trash and debris from the defensible space. Remove any trees growing through the porch. Clear roof and gutters of leaves and debris. Remove branches overhanging chimney and roof. Stack firewood uphill or on a contour away from the home. Use noncombustible roof materials. Place shutters, fire curtains or heavy drapes on windows. Place screens on foundation and eave vents. Enclose sides of stilt foundations and decks. Use a chimney screen or spark arrester. Clear vegetation around fire hydrants, cisterns, propane tanks, etc. Make sure an outdoor water supply is available, with hose, nozzle and pump. Make sure fire tools, ladder and fire extinguishers are available. Post address signs that are clearly visible from the street or road. Make sure the driveway is wide enough for fire trucks and equipment. Post load limits on bridges. Install and test smoke detectors. Practice a family fire drill and evacuation plan. Evacuation Tips If a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your radio for updated reports and evacuation information. Confine pets to one room and make plans to take care of them in the event of evacuation. Arrange for temporary housing with a friend or relative whose home is outside the threatened area. Leave a note in a prominent place in your home that says where and how you can be contacted. If your home is threatened by wildfire, you will be contacted and advised by law enforcement officers to evacuate. If you are not contacted, or you decide to stay and help defend your home, evacuate pets and any family members not needed to protect your home. Remove important documents, mementos, etc. from the possible fire area. When evacuating, wear protective clothing: sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face. Choose a route away from the fire if possible. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of the fire and smoke. Take a disaster supply kit containing: a supply of drinking water; one change of clothing and footwear for each member of the family; a blanket or sleeping bag for each person; a first aid kit that also includes any prescription medications; emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries; an extra set of car keys and credit cards, cash or traveler's checks; and extra pairs of eyeglasses and other special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members. Defending Your Home Whether you choose to stay to defend your home or to evacuate, complete as many of the following preparations as possible. Do not jeopardize your life. No material item is worth a life. Wear fire-resistant clothing and protective gear. Remove combustible materials from around structures. Close or cover outside vents and shutters. Position Garden hoses so they reach the entire house. Have the hoses charged, with an adjustable nozzle, but turned off. Place large, full water containers around the house. Soak burlap sacks, small rugs or large rags in the containers. Place a ladder against the roof of the house on the opposite side of the approaching wildfire. Place a Garden hose near the ladder, prepared as described previously. Place portable pumps near available water supplies, such as pools, hot tubs, creeks, etc. Close all windows and doors. Do not lock them. Close all inside doors. Turn on a light in each room, and all outside lights. Leave them on even during daylight hours. Fill tubs, sinks and any other containers with water. Shut off the gas at the outside meter of the propane tank. Remove lace, nylon or any other drapes and curtains made from light material. Close Venetian blinds, heavy drapes or fire-resistant window coverings. Move overstuffed furniture into the center of the house, away from windows and sliding glass doors. Park your car in the garage, facing out. Close the windows but do not lock the doors. Leave the keys in the ignition. Close the garage door but leave it unlocked. Disconnect the automatic garage door opener.   Useful Links These links are mostly taken from US websites. If anyone knows any Spanish relevant sites in English or Spanish then let us know. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06304.html http://www.safeco.com/safeco/About_Safeco/News_&_Media/archive/2000_0614.asp http://www.widfire.org http://dep.state.ct.us/updates/forestf/tips.htm

http://homebuying.about.com/library/weekly/aa110300a.htm Author: Special Credit: Xativa fire photos: Alan Benstead
Created: 2005-06-23 09:20:17 | Updated: 2005-10-31 11:46:20

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