No. 1: Understand the realities ofwildfires
|No. 2: Mitigate the risk of fires
- |
- Secure structural vulnerabilities. Smallgaps and openings leave large structures vulnerable to infiltrationby embers. Cover attic vents with a 1/8-inch (maximum) wire mesh tokeep out embers or firebrands. Ensure garage or barn doors closecompletely and seal gaps with weather stripping. If a pergola,fence or other structure is attached to a primary structure,install a metal flashing strip about 18 inches tall where itattaches to the main building.
- Create a low- or non-combustiblezone. Prune trees and shrubs a minimum of 5feet away from roofs, eaves, windows, siding and attachments. Clearaway dead and dying vegetation on an ongoing basis. Install hardsurfaces such as stone or gravel around the perimeter of structuresto create a fuel break.
- Create a defensible space. Brush andvegetation provide a fuel source to carry fire within theboundaries of a property. Ensure there is a minimum of 30 feet ofdefensible space around structures by reducing the continuity ofvegetative fuels. That means mowing grasses and clearing shrubs, aswell as isolating trees or separating them into small groups tobreak canopy continuity. Trees should be trimmed to a minimum of 10feet above the ground. Clear all dead and downed debris toeliminate ladder fuels. Replace landscaping plants with native,low-growing, fire-resistant varieties.
Related: 5 questions agents must ask when writing winery andvineyard insurance
|No. 3: Take accurate inventories
Related: Do you collect wine? Here are some tips for keepingyour bottles safe
|No. 4: Work collaboratively with insureds onsite
|No. 5: Communicate throughout the process
Larry Chasin ispresident of Cedar Knolls, New Jersey-based Pak Programs, aprovider of insurance for wineries and vineyards, breweries, wineand liquor retailers, cideries, distilleries, and liquor and wineimporters and distributors. Email him at [email protected].Related: There's some good news for Napa residents followingthe quake ... sort of
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