Our plates are full with bushfires that we have witnessed pretty early in the season. What happened in the Blue Mountains and around Sydney is just a timely reminder of our miniscule powers when compared to nature. This being said, efforts in the right direction can help us inhibit the monstrous effect of bushfires.
I agree that a fully fire-proof home is a Utopian concept- there is nothing like it in reality but I also believe that the degree to which homes can be made resistant to bushfires depends upon our diligence. An article on the Science News talks about a halogen-free flame retardant that gives us greater safety against fire.
Flame retardants curb the spread of blaze
Flame retardants retard the spread of the blaze. While they cannot prevent fire, they can certainly restrict its magnitude and life-threatening attribute. The article has a great distinction to offer. Houses which do not use a flame retardant spray give only about 2 minutes to their dwellers to flee a full-scale fire while those which use a retardant give nearly 20 minutes to their residents to escape.
Flammable furniture and appliances
Most of the furniture and appliances in our homes are made from flammable materials. The impression at times is that of hosting an enemy within our own walls but then these furniture and appliances are otherwise amicable objects- can’t complain really!
Characteristics of a good flame retardant
Great flame retardants are those which do not interact with plastic in a foul way, do not release toxins into air, are halogen-free and can be functional at extremes of temperatures
You can read the original article here.
Just imagine (Here is hoping you never have to be in that situation but those who have been are not a different species, they are just one of us…. so just imagine) that you have got 2 minutes to escape from your house on fire and you have given up completely.
Just then somebody honks on your ears that you actually have 20 minutes in hand. How would you feel? Elated beyond expression, isn’t it? That’s the point. When fire begins to overwhelm you from all directions the difference between 2 and 20 can become the story of your life.
If you are in a bushfire prone area in Sydney and would like some advice or help, please give me a call.
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