RED CROSS OFFERS TIPS IN CASE OF FIRE; RESIDENTS ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

Byline: Daily News

Temperatures are hot and the moisture has been sucked from the brush that covers Santa Clarita's canyons and hillsides.

The combination has fueled a half-dozen fires so far this summer including the July 3 Placerita Canyon blaze that scorched 400 acres and threatened homes.

Experts from the American Red Cross advise residents of hillside areas to be prepared and to take precautions in case of fire.

``Wildfires can happen quickly and without warning,'' said Peggy Brutsche, director of disaster services for the Los Angeles chapter of the Red Cross.

The organization offers these tips:

Protect your home

Regularly clean roof and gutters.

Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with spark arresters that meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association.

Wildfire preparedness tips

Use half-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas and the home itself. Also, screen openings to floors, roofs and attics.

Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, an ax, a hand or chain saw, a bucket and a shovel.

Before wildfire threatens

Use fire resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the home; or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with fire-retardant chemicals.

Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.

Create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home. Within this area you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat.

Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation, including vegetation under structures and dispose of it properly.

Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.

Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.

Prune 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 you home.

Mow grass regularly.

Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and barbecues.

Place a screen over the grill, using nonflammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch.

Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet.

Plan your water needs

Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small pond, cistern, well, swimming pool or hydrant.

Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.

Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of the home and near other structures on the property. Install additional outlets at least 50 feet from the home.

When wildfire threatens

If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.

Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.

Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate.

Arrange temporary housing or go to the nearest Red Cross shelter.

For more advice on disaster preparedness and response, call the Red Cross.