Fire Prevention
By Keith Klamer
Have you ever thought about wildfire destroying your home or
damaging your property? Do you think you live too far away from areas in
the West that always seem to be in the media when fire season starts
heating up?
Don't kid yourself: as the global climate change heats up, increasing areas of the USA will be vulnerable to wildfires. Even sadder is the fact that some of these potential losses may very well have been prevented with the proper kind of landscape design, irrigation and maintenance.
Contractors in the landscape business can make a big impact on combating wildfires. It's not enough to just irrigate with the goal of beautifying; these days, irrigation contractors need to also think about "fire-proofing" their client's homes and real estate.
"Hey, wait," you say, "Doesn't that sum up what I do now? Design landscapes, water them, and maintain them?" Not exactly. To be a "wildfire-proof" irrigator, you need to design, water and maintain in a fashion that optimizes beauty and reduces threats from fire.
In a nutshell, you should plan with fire-breaks in mind, then pick fire-retardant and fire resistant foliage. You need to water yards, shrubs and trees to keep them green , even when drought threatens to "brown" them out. And you should keep an eye on your customers' landscapes so that downed limbs, leaves and other yard debris don't become fuel for a wildfire.
With drought conditions and high temperatures continuing to scorch much of the nation, offering fire-wise design, irrigation, and maintenance is more critical than ever. Nor should one underestimate the scope of the problem. While massive fires get all the headlines, thousands of smaller fires are just as dangerous to your customers' homes and properties.
Even in the face of fire risks, people still want to live in 'natural' areas. A home in the middle of a forest, or on a mountain with a breathtaking vista can be a siren call to people who have the money. But 'natural doesn't always mean 'wise for humans.' People overlook the fact that periodic wildfires are natural too...and that their irrigation system has to accommodate it.
Don't kid yourself: as the global climate change heats up, increasing areas of the USA will be vulnerable to wildfires. Even sadder is the fact that some of these potential losses may very well have been prevented with the proper kind of landscape design, irrigation and maintenance.
Contractors in the landscape business can make a big impact on combating wildfires. It's not enough to just irrigate with the goal of beautifying; these days, irrigation contractors need to also think about "fire-proofing" their client's homes and real estate.
"Hey, wait," you say, "Doesn't that sum up what I do now? Design landscapes, water them, and maintain them?" Not exactly. To be a "wildfire-proof" irrigator, you need to design, water and maintain in a fashion that optimizes beauty and reduces threats from fire.
In a nutshell, you should plan with fire-breaks in mind, then pick fire-retardant and fire resistant foliage. You need to water yards, shrubs and trees to keep them green , even when drought threatens to "brown" them out. And you should keep an eye on your customers' landscapes so that downed limbs, leaves and other yard debris don't become fuel for a wildfire.
With drought conditions and high temperatures continuing to scorch much of the nation, offering fire-wise design, irrigation, and maintenance is more critical than ever. Nor should one underestimate the scope of the problem. While massive fires get all the headlines, thousands of smaller fires are just as dangerous to your customers' homes and properties.
Even in the face of fire risks, people still want to live in 'natural' areas. A home in the middle of a forest, or on a mountain with a breathtaking vista can be a siren call to people who have the money. But 'natural doesn't always mean 'wise for humans.' People overlook the fact that periodic wildfires are natural too...and that their irrigation system has to accommodate it.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about the best irrigation company in St. Louis? Then visit MPR Supply's website to learn about all your irrigation and landscape maintenance options.