The “May Gray” that Californians have been waiting for isn’t exactly showing up this year. With the minimal rainfall in the past few months, wildfires are more likely to occur. The weather, indeed, has become quite a pain, even when May is on its way out;as the Los Angeles Times puts it:
So far this year, California has seen double the number of brush fires than average. Because there was so little rain this year, the moisture level in the brush is incredibly low.
The conditions are causing problems across the region. Los Angeles County fire officials have responded to about two dozen brush fires in the past two days.
“Everything is fueled by the heat. So a car fire next to a piece of brush — everything is escalated,” said Keith Mora, an inspector with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “Anything right now is complicated by the weather.”
The risk of fire is a concern among homeowners, of course. Apart from making sure the garden grass is wet, there are other things you should be taking care of to protect your home from accidents.
Royal Roofing Construction, trusted roofers in Santa Ana, has a few tips in keeping your home safe during this season.
The first tip is to clear your roofing in Santa Ana, CA of any debris. A clean roof goes a long way in preventing fire damage to your home. Remember that leaves are flammable, and now that the season is drier than ever, the risk of these starting a fire is considerably higher.
Trimming overhanging branches is also a great way to prevent fire damage. You might have some trees around your property, which you need to prune every now and then. Cutting the branches makes sure that the fire won’t touch your roof in the event that it starts.
Lastly, if you have the budget, you might want to consider replacing your old shingles with a fire resistant roof system.
For the prepared homeowner, dangers like fire are still a threat, but to a much lesser extent.
(Article excerpt from Ash is the new ‘May Gray’ in Southern California, www.latimes.com, May 16, 2014)