5 ms·

Try to set up a sprinkler on the roof and just leave it... it'll go a long way to knock down any embers that may land on it.

dajohnson89 9y ago
Would be worried about water damage there....can be more costly than fire/smoke damage.
- inetsee 9y ago
  A sprinkler on your roof wouldn't do any more damage than a heavy rainfall.
  - NightlyDev 9y ago
    More like light rainfall :p
- ClassyJacket 9y ago
  ...Does it not rain on your house?
  - jopsen 9y ago
    in California it doesn't rain much :) So who knows if the roof will hold water... hehe
    - KGIII 9y ago
      I know you're joking but California is a whole lot more than Southern California. California was on my shortlist of places to retire to and a requirement to be on that list was lots of snow. It's a great place with great climate variations.
dredmorbius 9y ago
This is specifically advised against in guidelines as it may reduce neighbourhood water pressure (and in some cases: supplies). http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Pre-Evacuation-Preparation/ http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Pre-Evacuation-Preparation/
- icantdrive55 9y ago
  Yea, but many people don't have, or couldn't afford property insurance. Turn it on, and get out.
  - Y7ZCQtNo39 9y ago
    If you can't afford property insurance, maybe you really can't afford the home.
    - Mchl 9y ago
      Most people on Earth can't afford a home.
      - Y7ZCQtNo39 9y ago
        It certainly puts things into perspective.
- itomato 9y ago
  Pump trucks bring their own pressure.
thinkMOAR 9y ago
For last minute option, perhaps best to attempt to make a sprinkler out of the gardenhose by poking holes in it and if long enough roll it out around the house.
rsync 9y ago
"Try to set up a sprinkler on the roof and just leave it... it'll go a long way to knock down any embers that may land on it." This is a fantastic idea and something we have begun to implement this year for our house and one of our barns. I've been meaning to do it for the last five years but it's more complicated than you think - your water supply and all components out to the sprinkler heads need to be metal (not PVC) pipe and depending on the height of your buildings it might be non-trivial to get the right pressure up to the top of a 30 or 40 foot tall structure. I cannot comment on issues of "neighborhood water supply", etc., as we have our own water supply. The plan is very simple - upon evacuation, turn on the sprinklers which will irrigate the area of the roof itself, as well as 10-12 feet beyond. It's a very good idea because much of the risk of structure involvement arises from embers that are blown, or float onto the roof, into the gutters, or into the attic (through vents). Related to that, it is extremely important to keep your gutters clear of leaf debris and clear any accumulated piles of brush away from the house itself (usually in exterior corners, etc.)

dajohnson89 9y ago

Would be worried about water damage there....can be more costly than fire/smoke damage.

inetsee 9y ago
A sprinkler on your roof wouldn't do any more damage than a heavy rainfall.
- NightlyDev 9y ago
  More like light rainfall :p
ClassyJacket 9y ago
...Does it not rain on your house?
- jopsen 9y ago
  in California it doesn't rain much :) So who knows if the roof will hold water... hehe
  - KGIII 9y ago
    I know you're joking but California is a whole lot more than Southern California. California was on my shortlist of places to retire to and a requirement to be on that list was lots of snow. It's a great place with great climate variations.

dredmorbius 9y ago

This is specifically advised against in guidelines as it may reduce neighbourhood water pressure (and in some cases: supplies). http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Pre-Evacuation-Preparation/ http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Pre-Evacuation-Preparation/

icantdrive55 9y ago
Yea, but many people don't have, or couldn't afford property insurance. Turn it on, and get out.
- Y7ZCQtNo39 9y ago
  If you can't afford property insurance, maybe you really can't afford the home.
  - Mchl 9y ago
    Most people on Earth can't afford a home.
    - Y7ZCQtNo39 9y ago
      It certainly puts things into perspective.
itomato 9y ago
Pump trucks bring their own pressure.

thinkMOAR 9y ago

For last minute option, perhaps best to attempt to make a sprinkler out of the gardenhose by poking holes in it and if long enough roll it out around the house.

rsync 9y ago

"Try to set up a sprinkler on the roof and just leave it... it'll go a long way to knock down any embers that may land on it." This is a fantastic idea and something we have begun to implement this year for our house and one of our barns. I've been meaning to do it for the last five years but it's more complicated than you think - your water supply and all components out to the sprinkler heads need to be metal (not PVC) pipe and depending on the height of your buildings it might be non-trivial to get the right pressure up to the top of a 30 or 40 foot tall structure. I cannot comment on issues of "neighborhood water supply", etc., as we have our own water supply. The plan is very simple - upon evacuation, turn on the sprinklers which will irrigate the area of the roof itself, as well as 10-12 feet beyond. It's a very good idea because much of the risk of structure involvement arises from embers that are blown, or float onto the roof, into the gutters, or into the attic (through vents). Related to that, it is extremely important to keep your gutters clear of leaf debris and clear any accumulated piles of brush away from the house itself (usually in exterior corners, etc.)