As Featured in

Melissa Apostle
40 Marcus Drive, 3rd Floor
Melville, NY 11747

Hot Property (631) 390-9711

A little preplanning can save your home if fire strikes By John Morell

Although house fires are not classified as natural disasters, the While fire alarms and sprinkler systems are helpful, the key to

Michael Austin
saving a home in a fire—especially a vacation home that is vacant
destruction they cause is more devastating than that resulting
most of the year—is the fire department’s response. Having the
from earthquakes and hurricanes. The latest figures available local fire department assess your home and the surrounding
neighborhood can increase the chances of saving your property.
indicate that more than 3,100 people were killed in house fires “Call and ask if they could do a preplan with you,” says Melissa
across the United States in 2003, with more than 13,000 injuries Apostle, director of private client services for Cook, Hall & Hyde,
an independent insurance and risk management firm based in
and $6 billion in property damage. According to the Institute New York. “Fire authorities are usually happy to do that if your
property has some unusual features.”
for Business and Home Safety, about 140,000 wildfires occur on
A preplan will prepare the fire department for unforeseen
average each year, burning a total of 14.5 million acres. problems, such as narrow streets that hinder fire trucks from
maneuvering around corners and guard gates
that waste precious time getting to the scene.
“The inspectors will look at where the
bedrooms are, evaluate your pool as an addi-
tional water source, and, if your home is in an
area with cold weather, they’ll want to know
if snow has to be plowed off the driveway,”
says Apostle. “It’s really a big ‘What if ’ to see
how your home can be protected.”
Fire hoses lose pressure the farther they
are from the hydrant, so if your home is
set back from the street, a pumper truck is
needed to repressurize the water before it is
shot through the hose. Homes that are more
than 1,000 feet from the nearest hydrant
are often given higher insurance premiums
to cover the risk. “It’s a significant increase
because your house will be gone if the fire
department can’t get a pumper truck to your
address in time, ” says Apostle.
Adding a hydrant to your property is a
good way to reduce risks and insurance pre-
miums. Consult with the water company
on how to obtain a hydrant and ask the fire
department to advise on optimal placement.
Also, it is important to have the hydrant
inspected after the installation. “If the cou-
plings from the hydrant don’t match the type
used by the fire department, they can’t use
it,” says Apostle. “If you’re going to all that
expense, you’re going to want to make sure
it fits if there’s a fire.”

This locked PDF is made available by Robb Report Vacation Homes, a CurtCo Robb Media, LLC publication. This does not constitute an endorsement, implied or otherwise, by CurtCo Robb Media, LLC. It may not be printed or sold by anyone other than CurtCo Robb
Media, LLC. Reproduction or alterations in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. This locked PDF may not be transmitted via e-mail, fax, website or any other content transmission mechanism considered unlawful. Any photographs or il-
lustrations appearing in this PDF are the sole property of the Copyright holder. In no event shall CurtCo Robb Media, LLC and/or its respective suppliers be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or
profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortuous action, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this document. Robb Report Vacation Homes is the registered trademark of CurtCo Robb Media, LLC. The Robb Report Vacation
Homes logo, trademarks and service marks and other CurtCo Robb Media, LLC logos, product and service names are trademarks of CurtCo Robb Media, LLC. Without CurtCo Robb Media, LLC’s prior permission, you agree not to display or use in any manner, CurtCo
Robb Media, LLC’s Marks. Subscriptions and back issues (310) 589-7700. reprints@curtco.com