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LinkedInAppendix F: Checklist
The list below is intended to help you survey your surroundings and home for potential problems. Items in bold are the preferable condition. Details on specific problems and solutions can be found in other sections.
ROOFS
1. Covering material: Class A or not Class A.
2. Roof system: Class A or not Class A.
3. Debris accumulation in gutters and other roof areas: none or present.
4. Bird stops for clay barrel tiles: fully stopped or none/not fully closed.
5. Combustible material at horizontal-vertical intersections/interfaces: none or present.
VENTS
1. Vent screens: present or not.
2. Vent screen material and openings: metal or fiberglass; 1/4 inch1.
3. Pre-cut plywood panels for evacuation: yes or no.
4. Access to and likelihood of installing blocking prior to evacuation: yes or no.
1 Post-fire structure loss / survivor surveys have shown that 1/4" mesh screens are really too large to provide adequate protection against ember entry. Embers large enough to ignite combustible materials and result in home loss can enter through this size mesh. Building codes specify this size mesh because of concern about moisture related damage (mold and decay fungi). Because of this, covering vents during preparation for an approaching wildfire is very important. Uncovering them after the wildfire danger has passed is equally important.
EAVES
1. Soffit material: non-combustible (such as fiber-cement board) or combustible (such as plywood). For some materials, including plywood, thicker will provide more protection than thinner (assuming you have a tongue-and-groove joint, something or other than a simple butt joint). However, thicker likely won’t help much with vinyl soffit materials.
2. Eave construction: boxed or open.
3. Vents (see VENTS above)
VEGETATION (0 to 6 ft from home)
1. Close to vents, soffits, windows: no or yes.
2. Type and size: ground cover/small or medium/large.
3. Condition: vigorous/green or having dead material on or under.
TREES
1. Distance from home: over 10 feet or under 10 feet.
2. Overhanging branches: none or some.
3. Size: small/medium or large.
DEBRIS
1. Debris accumulation in vulnerable areas (roofs; deck-wall; roof-wall; under deck/adjacent to cladding; gutters; at base of wooden fences): none or some.
WINDOWS
1. Glass panes: double or single.
2. Glass type: tempered (if outer pane) or annealed.
3. Coverings: storm shutters or none
4. Pre-cut plywood panels for evacuation: yes or no.
3. Screens: metal or fiberglass.
DECKS
1. Surface: solid (non-combustible) or deck boards with gaps.
2. Combustible or debris accumulation under or on deck: no or yes.
3. Decay (rot): no or yes (if yes, contact Pest Control Operator).
FENCES
1. Within 10 feet of house: non-combustible or combustible.
SIDING
1. Materials: non-combustible or combustible.
2. Combustible materials: panel or lap.
3. Lap siding: complex lap overlay or simple lap.
4. Open joints at edges (between door and trim): none/filled or some.
PARCEL
1. Flat area vegetation control: 30 foot minimum or not.
2. Sloping area vegetation control: increasing with slope or not.
3. Vegetation distribution: mosaic or not.
4. Home position: set-back or at top of slope.
5. Detached outbuildings within 50 feet of home: predominantly combustible or non-combustible.
4. Fire-fighting effectiveness: access for equipment and water supply: adequate or inadequate.