An idea from years ago just resurfaced

[Gofirstclass]

I've been watching/reading the news about the CA wildfires that burned 100 homes and it brought to mind an idea that I had years ago.

I used to live in an area that was relatively close to fields and when they would burn I'd get the sparks and embers coming down around my house. Scared the crap out of me but I came up with and idea that I installed.

We had an underground sprinkler system that watered the grassy areas of our lot. I installed a dedicated valve and 1" PVC line that went from the control box up the side of the house to the roof then ran along the ridgeline. I installed several 360* sprinklers along that line that just sat on the ridgeline.

When the fields started to burn I would turn on that dedicated valve and start watering my roof. It only took about 10 minutes to soak the wood shingles and prevent any fires from starting.

If this is something that any of you could use to protect your property, feel free to use it.

GFC

 

[Nater Potater]

We were in a similar situation, but surrounded by open ground. We had fires both man-made and lightning caused. We were a long way from any fire station assistance, and the original home builder had used cedar shakes. 'Not a good idea, in my eyes. We also had sprinklers on the roof like GFC, but, since our well was at the mercy of the questionable power grid, I wired a breakout panel into the home that could be fed by a generator that could power the sprinklers for about 12 hours. I told the wife that if it looked like fire was getting close, we'd fire up the generator, turn on the sprinklers, and walk away. Fortunately, it never came to that.

 

[NorCalRobert]

I've been watching/reading the news about the CA wildfires that burned 100 homes and it brought to mind an idea that I had years ago.

I used to live in an area that was relatively close to fields and when they would burn I'd get the sparks and embers coming down around my house. Scared the crap out of me but I came up with and idea that I installed.

We had an underground sprinkler system that watered the grassy areas of our lot. I installed a dedicated valve and 1" PVC line that went from the control box up the side of the house to the roof then ran along the ridgeline. I installed several 360* sprinklers along that line that just sat on the ridgeline.

When the fields started to burn I would turn on that dedicated valve and start watering my roof. It only took about 10 minutes to soak the wood shingles and prevent any fires from starting.

If this is something that any of you could use to protect your property, feel free to use it.

GFC

Many of the destructive fires were wind driven and the embers would blow into the attics through the eve and gable vents and start burning inside the attics.
I am sure a roof mounted sprinkler system could have helped save many homes.

 

[JHornsby3]

NorCalRobert is correct. When fires move through the homes like that, it's not the roofs that ignite. It's the eaves, soffits and vents. The company the produces Phoschek, also makes a product that like the retardant dropped by the planes. Only its a gel used to protect the home. If you live in a fire prone area, your insurance company will love you. more so if you have this stuff on hand. I hounded a friend in New Mexico to get some for his home. His insurance company gave him a huge discount off his home policy. When there is a threat, he just puts it in a sprayer and walks around the house spraying the soffits down. Putting the gel in an automated spray system might be easily done.

 

[Nater Potater]

The company the produces Phoschek, also makes a product that like the retardant dropped by the planes.

Thanks for the tip! As we move closer to building our last home up north in the trees, that'll be on my list of must-haves. https://www.perimeter-solutions.com...application-as-a-proactive-wildfire-solution/

 

[Shoyrtt]

I have gone through two fires, the 1980 Panorama Fire (310 homes) and the 2003 Old Fire (993 homes). Many of the homes that burned in 1980 had shake shingle roofs and wooden eaves. As a result all of the new construction and a lot of the homes that survived went to composite or tile roofs and they boxed and stuccoed in their eaves.
My in-laws did the big retrofit on their home after the first fire that included sprinklers on the roof and were diligent about keeping the vegetation clear around their home. It didn’t help. I was at their house in 2003 when the 80-90 mph winds came down the mountain. The fire crews at the top of the neighborhood abandoned their position and ordered everyone to evacuate. The wind made the hose I was using and the sprinklers almost useless. I followed the order and left. They lost their home.
I rushed over to my mother’s house 8 miles away and got on her roof. The wind speeds were less, maybe 50-60. She had a composite roof but had exposed wooden eaves. I had better luck and was able to keep things wet as the fire came through.
A sprinkler system will work in the right conditions, but with the winds in some of these fires exceeding 100 mph, you will still have structures that are lost.

 

[JHornsby3]

Thanks for the tip! As we move closer to building our last home up north in the trees, that'll be on my list of must-haves. https://www.perimeter-solutions.com...application-as-a-proactive-wildfire-solution/

Nate, I will get you the specifics for you. I have all their info on the computer and not on my phone.

The gel is used on historical structures and they dont burn at all. Between the gel and foil, over 100 year old cabins are left when the fires move through.

 

[dwna1a]

Another great addition to the system idea. Add a injector to the main supply lines and a soap mixture. The addition of soap breaks the tension of the water which helps it soak into the wood. You would use less water and get better coverage.

We used to do this with the brush trucks and water vests. Dawn dish soap is cheap and goes a long way.

 

[Bruce SEA 993]

Mickey Thompson of off road racing fame saved his race shop and home by using roof mounted sprinklers. There was a pool on site for the source of water and a portable pump ready to go and plumbed into the system.

It was a SoCal brush fire and may not have been as hot as some of the forest fires you guys are talking about but his was the only place around the area that survived.

Also, I had heard that the eaves are critical as well.

Cheers!