Do Heatwaves Increase Wildfire Damage?

7/5/2021 (Permalink)

When it's hot and dry in Los Angeles, the risk of wildfire damage grows. Takes steps now to mitigate wildfire damage to your home or business.

It's July in Los Angeles. It's hot and it's dry. In fact, July is the driest month of the year in sunny LA. Add it up, and summer is the season for increased risk of wildfire damage to your home or commercial property.

But there is a difference between "normal" summer temps and a genuine Southern California heatwave. First, after the sun sets, we'll get overnight lows in the high 60s or low 70s. This includes valley areas where it's hottest. Because of this, wise homeowners irrigate their lawns at night or in the morning, when it's coolest. But during a heatwave, overnight temps can linger in the 80s or higher! And the hotter it is, the faster that water evaporates, leaving foliage dry and parched.

As you no doubt know, dried out plants are a key fuel for wildfires. During our worst heatwaves, it's difficult to ensure lawns, trees and shrubs receive sufficient moisture, so they don't become kindling.

And when Los Angeles is experiencing a drought, or drought-like conditions, the state or county might place restrictions on water usage. Less water = increased wildfire risk.

Second, hotter temps make it harder to fight wildfires. They can feed a vicious cycle where the wildfire "creates" its own weather. Remember, hot air rises. As it does, the updraft can create the conditions for a "firestorm," increasing the frequency of strong wind gusts. And, of course, it's more difficult to contain a fire when high temperatures combine with strong winds.

Last, but not least, a heatwave can drive more people outdoors and to the refuge of the beach or mountains. Campfires, barbecues, fireworks and smoking (of cigarettes or the more herbal kind) can all spark a wildfire. Once a fire starts burning out of control, it can leave serious fire damage in its wake.

Preventing Wildfire Damage

The best way to fight a wildfire and prevent property damage is to stop one before it starts. If you're going to barbecue or chill out around the fire pit this summer, be sure they're fully extinguished when you're done.

There are also several things you can do to mitigate wildfire damage risks to your home or business. Proper management of your property, like cleaning debris from roofs and gutters or creating a defensible perimeter around buildings, is vital.

Most important, we need to support each other and our community during a wildfire emergency. Heed evacuation orders and help first responders by ensuring you and your family are out of harms way. Remember, nothing is more important than your safety. We can replace or restore your belongings. We can't replace or restore you.

Once firefighters contain the wildfire, and you're ready to begin the cleanup process, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is here to help. Our highly-trained and professional fire restoration service removes smoke and soot from a structure's interior and exterior. And we can also deodorize and improve the air quality inside the building.

We offer emergency restoration service to North Hollywood, of course, but also Universal City, Toluca Lake and areas of Los Angeles. We can clean up from any size water, fire or mold disaster. Call us 24/7, to make wildfire damage "Like it never even happened."