For homes, a fire shield
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The recently contained Esperanza fire in Riverside County, which killed five firefighters and destroyed 34 homes, serves as a stark reminder that houses are vulnerable to burning.
But tools are available to help keep new and existing homes and their contents from igniting in a fire: retardants and reactants.
Typically, airborne embers drift during wildfires and are pulled into attic vents and other structural openings, where they ignite the framing, said Jon Traw, a partner in No-Burn California, a company that sells spray-on retardant products designed to protect wood, drywall, fabric and furniture from fire.
Coated with fire retardant, wood framing will resist the heat of a fire for up to several hours before igniting.
In addition, some lenders and insurance companies offer discounted rates of up to 0.5% on mortgages and 20% on insurance for treated homes.
-- Diane Wedner
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