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Coquitlam warns renos in heat a safety hazard

City said residents doing home renovations during dry spell should be careful
Home reno file
Coquitlam is warning its residents even minor home renovations during hot weather can be a fire or safety hazard.

While barbecuers and smokers have been put on alert of extreme fire conditions by local authorities during the current dry spell, the city of Coquitlam is also warning any residents doing home renovations to be careful.

A press release Wednesday said homes adjacent to forests are particularly vulnerable to wildfire jumping from vegetation to structures. 

"It really applies to everything, even minor renovations," said Coquitlam Fire Chief Jim Ogloff.

His fire department issued some guidelines for homeowners to follow while doing renovations that can reduce the risk of a fire spreading and extending the time it takes for a home to ignite and burn. Coquitlam has produced a brochure detailing what residents can do. Construction tips include:

• Ensure adequate fire protection is provided during construction of a building. This includes hot-works safety practices during common welding, roofing and plumbing installations. Construction fire safety plans are required.

• Replacing your roof? Fire-resistant-rated materials may provide additional protection. Class A options include concrete tile, slate, metal and terra-cotta. 

• Build decks with non-combustible or fire-resistant materials. Cover with solid surfaces as opposed to slotted surfaces that allow needles to accumulate below the deck.

• Ensure outdoor structures such as gazebos should have at least 9 m separation from a main structure.

• Relocate flammable debris at least 10 m away from the home.

• Dispose of cigarette butts safely and refrain from outdoor burning.

Landscaping tips include:

• Where possible, refrain from planting or landscaping with highly-flammable trees such as evergreens and bark-mulch, opting instead for FireSmart choices such as deciduous shrubs or trees and decorative rock situated well away from the home. 

• Use rock mulch or lava stones around any shrubbery that is within 2 m of your house.

• Use gardens and flower beds as effective fire breaks.

• Select fire-resistive vegetation such as deciduous trees and shrubs, succulent plants and slow-growing plants that have thick, woody stems.

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