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Creating A Fire Safe Zone At Home

Jackson, Mississippi, July 2, 2012 - As burn bans issued by the Mississippi Forestry Commission continue across the state of Mississippi, the state's largest home insurer has advice on how to create a safety zone around homes in high risk fire areas of the state.

The best way to protect your home from a wildfire is to remove or reduce the potential fuel within a 30-feet safety zone around your home. (If you live in a high-risk area, increase the safety zone to 100 feet):

• Remove vines from house walls.
• Move shrubs and other landscaping away from your house walls.
• Remove highly flammable and low-branched trees, such as evergreens,
• eucalyptus, and juniper.
• For remaining trees, remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
• Clear tree debris, such as fallen limbs, leaves, and pine needles and cones.
• Move stacked wood outside the safety zone.
• Pay special attention to clearing debris beneath decks and other overhangs.
• Consider removing wooden exterior structures, such as decks and patios, or replacing them with more fire resistant materials.
• Install non-combustible roofing and siding materials, such as metal, slate, or concrete.
• Clear debris from gutters.
• Install electrical lines underground, if possible.
• You may also want to collect some basic firefighting tools, including hoses, buckets, shovels, axes, rakes, and saws. However, do not attempt to fight large, fast-moving wildfires on your own.

When a wildfire threat exists, use a battery-powered radio to stay aware of current information. Wildfires can move very quickly; if authorities issue an evacuation order, leave the area immediately.For Additional Fire Prevention Tips go to the State Farm Wildfire Safety Tips information page.

Contact

Roszell Gadson, Media Relations (770) 418-5940

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