(Photo | by sippakorn yamkasikorn from Pixabay)
As wildfires become a consistent threat to Oregon, taking precautions and preparing your business for wildfires should be part of your regular maintenance routine. A UN report predicted a global increase of extreme wildfires of 50 percent by 2022 showing the trend goes well beyond the West. What once was recognized as a four-month season here, has extended to six to eight months due to climate conditions, further increasing your risk. In 2020, wildfires in the West caused over $19 billion in damages and destroyed over ten thousand buildings.
I’ve culled some tips from Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to share some steps business owners can take to help protect their property from wildfire damage:
Maintain a Defensible Space around Your Property
One of the best ways to protect your structures is to create a buffer and eliminate any highly flammable materials within five feet of your buildings. You want to reduce the opportunity for materials close to the building to ignite from sparks or embers. Prune branches that hang over the roof, cut down thin trees and remove all dead vegetation. For an added layer of protection, place about five feet of noncombustible materials such as gravel or concrete adjacent to your property’s foundation.
Use a Class-A Roof Covering
If you’re due for a roof replacement, Class-A fire rated roofing products offer the best protection for homes and buildings. Common Class-A roof coverings include: clay tiles, slate, asphalt glass fiber composition shingles and concrete tiles. Metal is another good option.
Move Small Structures and Flammables Away
Move small structures such as storage sheds and garbage containment at least 30 feet from the building. Highly flammable objects such as palettes and propane tanks should be regularly stored a minimum of 50 feet away. Do not stack combustible materials such as cardboard more than ten feet high.
Reduce Deck/Walkway Risks
At a minimum, use deck boards that comply with California requirements for new construction in wildfire-prone areas. Remove combustibles under decks or raised walkways and maintain effective defensible space around the perimeter. Keep in mind decayed wood is more combustible so regularly check your deck for rotten boards and replace them.
Install Vent Screens
Blowing embers from a wildfire many miles away can enter vents and ignite a building. Installing fine mesh metal vent screens can help keep embers out. Regularly inspect the screens as part of your maintenance routine to ensure they are clear of flammable debris.
Clean Debris from Your Roof and Gutters
Regularly remove debris such as pine needles and twigs from the roof and gutters as the debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers and cause the roof to catch on fire. Installing noncombustible gutter covers is another consideration.
Fire Resistant Landscaping
Avoid combustible materials within five feet from your building. Concrete sidewalks and stone are a good option. You can place about five feet of noncombustible materials such as gravel or brick adjacent to your building’s foundation. If you choose to have plants in this area, opt for lower growing, fire-resistant vegetation.
If your building, equipment or inventory is damaged or destroyed by a wildfire, a typical business owner’s policy would cover the repairs or replacement. A separate business income policy would protect you from the loss of income your business sustained due to closure from the fire. If you have questions about your business coverage, contact your insurance agent to ensure you have adequate protection.
Meryl Langley is a financial representative with COUNTRY Financial in Bend. She can be reached at Meryl.Langley@countryfinancial.com or 541-388-9016 with questions.
Business insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company, Bloomington, Illinois.
