Rural dwellers: What's your fire protection plan?

AGreyMan

I'm gravely disappointed.
Brass Subscriber
#1
I live in a rural area served by a volunteer fire service. Skill and experience questions aside, their response time can vary quite a bit. Although wildfires/forest fires are fairly rare in my area, there is always the danger of house fires: All my appliances are propane powered, we have a wood stove, etc.

To this point, my plans have included copious quantities of smoke (and CO) detectors, at least 2 on every floor, with batteries changed annually. We have and have practiced a fire evacuation plan, and the kids are great at it. I have 5# fire extinguishers on every floor. We have generous fire insurance (I think).

As it gets pretty cold here, I have our travel trailer stored about 100 yards from the house with all systems ready to go if we have to evacuate and can't get to the cars (tuck-under garage). We've got it stocked with emergency supplies including an LP furnace, clothes/boots, an old cell phone to call 911, etc.

Future plans for this are:

1) Update copies of important documents such as birth certificates, drivers licenses, deed, insurance policies, etc. and store off-site.
2) Upgrade to 10# or 20# fire extinguishers (can't be too heavy or wife may not be able to use them.)

What have other folks done to prepare against fires, specifically house fires?
 

Josh

We could edit this?!
#3
I’m in the same boat and wild fires are common here. We actually have one burning right now on some public land and I can see the smoke from my house. (Though this is big wide open flat Oklahoma so that’s not saying much)

One of the things I did when building my house was to use rock wool insulation through out. It’s more or less impervious to fire. I was skeptical and tossed a chunk in a fire to see if it would catch, ended up piling a bunch of boxes over it trying to get it to catch. In the end I dug it out of the ashes no worse for the wear just a bit darker in color.

Aside from that the usual fire detectors, fire extinguishers, fire proof important documents box, along with keeping and vegetation near the house short and trimmed.
 

disturbed1970

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#4
Current home is ICF with a metal roof. Multiple fire extinguishers, Fire safes for guns, optics, and documents. Try to keep dead stuff pushed back.

BOL is poured concrete, metal roof. Nothing that burns within 300 yards of the buildings. Fire extinguishers, and sprinkler systems. Fire safes. Lots of sand buckets.
 

Bacash

Just a guy
Brass Subscriber
#5
Same boat with rural location and fire department. Actually this is something that we just discussed in our house because we started using the wood burner.

I actually just replaced all the smoke detectors with ones that are interconnected by RF. I had gone to put wood in and a big puff of smoke had come out, and the wife said she couldn’t hear the smoke alarm that went off in the basement in the room above. The floors are all insulated, so I guess that knocks the sound down. Problem solved with these, one goes off they all go off.

Link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PC5S37K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

We also have several (3 or 4) 10lb extinguishers, a 5lb and a handful of the 2lb scattered in strategic locations. We also have a plan on getting out through various points.

Part of our discussion was putting a box with warm clothes and such in the detached garage should we need to evacuate. Have not done that yet.

I also keep a 100’ garden hose blown free of water and coiled along the back of the house to right by where I’d go up the roof to get to the chimney, as well as a pre-extended extension ladder right where it would be set up, should there be a chimney fire.
 
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HandLoad

Twinkle Me, LORD
Brass Subscriber
#6
Metal roof. Hardy Plank Siding. 1650 gallon (miniscule, I know) watertank uphill, with firepump of modest size rtg.

20 - 40 feet clear space round the house.

Fireproof safe for important papers ready at the exit route from house. Bug bags, heirlooms ready to go quickly.

Coleman Tent Trailer fully provisioned, pointed out, all vehicles with trailer hitch, ready to hook and go (even the Polaris)
 
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NoFlyZone

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#8
We cut the wood line back away from the house many years ago for fire safety and to keep the critters at bay!
The nearest woods are about forty yards from the house, but most are more than a hundred yards away.
Coiled, drained water hoses near the frost proof hydrants are on standby.
During the Winter months when we use the wood stove, I clean the chimney on the first weekend of each month, while the generator is doing its test run.
That way we dont have a large build up in the flue that could cause a chimney fire.
All the firewood is well seasoned hardwoods to lessen the buildup too.
Fire extinguishers abound and smoke alarms on each level as well as inside each bedroom. Those are hardwired together so that if one goes off, they all go off!
 

Red dog

Well-known member
#9
Volunteer department 30+ miles away, only water what they can carry. All steel house, 10,000 gal of water on site, 2 inch pump, hoses, fire nozzle, w/quick connects to the tanks. Figure if I am home I am the fire department. Neighbors kid saved their home with a garden hose, risking his life in my opinion, needs gutting but the structure is standing. Insurance is my preferred option as my friends didn't have any and now they're having to do all the work making it right.