Jeannette Karis, President
Spokane Association of REALTORS®
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When tragedy hits, it raises awareness in each of us. This weekend marks one year since 11 homes were lost in the Valley View fire. Our hearts go out to the families that lost their homes last year. Because we live amidst the forested natural elements, the Spokane Association of REALTORS® reminds readers to ask several important questions for safety’s sake:

• Am I covered with current building replacement cost and content value of my home?

• What would I do if I only had a few minutes to save anything valuable and sentimental in my home?

• Where is the nearest fire station?

• Where do I take my family for safety?

• What would I do with my pets or livestock?

Fire safety measures are important before, during and after summer heats up the risk of wildfires around us. From www.Firewise.org, we offer these valuable steps to take right now:

Preparedness and Prevention at Home

Make sure all adult members of your family know where your gas, electric and water main shut-off controls are and how to turn them off. Also, show teens how to use a fire extinguisher.

Become familiar with your community’s disaster-preparedness plans. Create a family plan. Know where the closest police, fire and emergency medical facilities are located.

Plan several escape routes from your home and neighborhood. Designate an emergency meeting place for the family to reunite. Establish a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.

Plan how the neighborhood could work together before, during and after a wildfire. Talk with neighbors, making a list of those with special skills such as medical or technical. Consider how you would help neighbors who have special needs, are elderly, or disabled. Make plans to take care of children who may be on their own if parents can’t get home, and don’t forget pets in your disaster planning.

Periodically review your homeowner’s insurance policy with your insurance agent or company to make sure that, if the worst should happen, you have enough coverage to rebuild your home and life.

Safe choices in home design

When purchasing your next home or upgrading your current one, consider fire safety in these critical areas:

Choose fire-resistant roofing and siding materials. Replace wood shingles immediately. For outbuildings and sheds, a metal roof is the most fire-resistant. For the home itself, new composition roof shingles utilize fire-resistant technology (see www.firesmartroofing.com). If it’s time to replace siding, remember that vinyl siding melts. Hardiplank siding uses fire resistant cement fiberboard. (see www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/fire_prevention.shtml)

Inspect the greenbelt around your home. Trim all trees to clear at least five feet above and around the home. Trees and plants should be in zones, not in a long row that could ignite their way to your home. Choose landscaping plants that are fire-resistant. Remove any foliage within ten feet of a chimney outlet. Stack firewood at least 30 feet from structures. Remove flammable vegetation within ten feet of woodpiles. Remove accumulating leaves, needles, twigs, and all other combustible materials from the roof and rain gutters. Clean your roof and rain gutters regularly.

The Spokane Association of REALTORS® reminds readers that your home is where your heart is. Never take fire safety for granted. We wish our community a fire-safe summer.

Jeannette Karis, president of the Spokane Association of REALTORS® can be reached at President@SpokaneRealtor.com.