(SEVIERVILLE, Tenn.) SMOKIES.LIVE – There are steps you can take to protect your home during the spring wildfire season approaching for the Smoky Mountains.
Days with a light wind, low humidity and people burning winter debris, create dangers for a wildland fire to spread quickly. Smoky Mountain communities have enacted Firewise for tips to remove that brush and combustible objects from your home.
Wildland firefighter, Nicholai Allen, founder of Safe SOSS offered practical guidance on how homeowners should prep their property before leaving town, especially in wildfire- and weather-prone areas.
He says making sure your home has the best defense possible before a wildfire starts is your best defense.
“I live in a wildfire zone. I’m at the top of a mountain, so when you live in a wildfire area there’s a beauty that comes from living on that interface or living in nature,” Allen said. “But there’s steps you need to take, similar to living in the snow, if you live in a wildfire area you can take certain steps.”
Allen said giving your home defensible space is important, but also you need to protect your home from the flying embers from fires miles away.
SAFE SOSS® was developed by Allen to help homeowners fight back with science, not fear. This three-step supplemental wildfire defense system gives you practical tools to help block embers, seal vulnerabilities, and defend your property before a wildfire ever arrives.
Step 1: Universal Ember Guard Carbon Filter — fits behind existing vents to help block embers and filter smoke.
Step 2: High-Heat Ember Guard Tape — seals small gaps where embers can collect, like thresholds, vents, or door frames.
Step 3: Twice Over Wildfire Risk-Reduction Spray — connects to your garden hose to coat wood, mulch, and vegetation with a clear, eco-friendly phosphate formula that helps slow or stop ignition and supports healthy regrowth.
All of these products can be found at Lowe’s.
Allen said the Ember guard will help to extinguish embers that fly into your crawl space or attic vented areas.
He said people overlook garage doors or exterior doors that have gaps and that’s where embers can get caught.
“Anywhere wind can get into your house, embers can follow right behind it,” he said. “He said the high heat fiberglass tape, made out of what fire blankets are made out of, so it’s very high heat resistant.”
He said these products together can greatly reduce the risk your home is a total loss in the event of a wildfire.
Here’s information from Gatlinburg about making communities Firewise.
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