some other tips....keep the vegetation DOWN and have a water supply source available. If you have a fire hydrant within 75ft of your home, I would go to ebay.com and buy a 100 ft. section of 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 hose. You can also get 2 1/2 hose....but you would suffer too much friction loss and the stream would not be powerfull enough for "amateur" firefighting purposes. Then buy a nozzle that is compatible with the hose. The hydrant pressure, large diameter hose and nozzle will be more than enough pressure to keep your home safe and sound. The key is to wet it continually as the fire approaches. Of course, if it's very smokey outside, you may want to invest in some type of respirator. I am NOT advising you to fight fire.....I am NOT adivising you to get into harms way. But if you feel you must do something, you could at least do this.
MOD Deleted Hose 100" 1 1/2 with extras All Brass. - eBay (item 130220968429 end time May-14-08 21:31:31 PDT)[/url] (that reducer you see is pretty much essential for hooking up to a hydrant, since most hydrants have 2 1/2 inch discharges and you need that reducer to to attach to a typical 1 3/4 hose.) You would also need a hydrant wrench, although any very large heavy duty type wrench would do the job theoretically.
MOD Deleted Brand New FIRE HOSE Hydrant/ Spanner Wrench - eBay (item 130221451343 end time May-16-08 17:18:14 PDT)[/url]
Some other tips :
Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs.
Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.
Clear a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
Trim tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
Remove vines from the walls of the home.
Mow grass regularly.
Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and grills. Place a screen over the grill – use non-flammable material with mesh.
Regularly throw away newspapers and trash at an approved site. Follow local burning regulations.
Place any ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for two days and then bury the ashes in mineral soil.
Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans in a safe location away from buildings.
Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Use only UL-approved wood-burning devices.
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05-14-2008, 04:56 PM
Leave Fire Hydrants to the Pros!
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