Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association wildfire safety guidance

How it works

Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association’s wildfire page is an informational safety resource, not a rebate or grant program. It explains practical steps homeowners can take to reduce the chance that a wildfire will ignite the home or spread through the property.

What the money covers

No money is provided. Instead, the page recommends home-hardening measures that homeowners can choose to do on their own, including:

• Using fire-resistant building materials.
• Limiting flammable vegetation in the three home ignition zones.
• Improving roofing, vents, decks, porches, siding, windows, and emergency access.

Home ignition zones

The page identifies three zones around the house:

• Immediate Zone: 0 to 5 feet around the house
• Intermediate Zone: 5 to 30 feet
• Extended Zone: 30 to 100 feet

Recommended home-hardening actions

The page says homeowners should trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck, and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet from the ground depending on tree height. It also recommends removing plants containing resins, oils, and waxes, using crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches in the Immediate Zone, and keeping the landscape in good condition.

For construction, it recommends Class A fire-rated roofing products such as composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles. It also says homeowners should inspect shingles or roof tiles and replace or repair loose or missing pieces, box in eaves while still providing ventilation, and screen roof and attic vents to help prevent ember entry.

Additional guidance includes never storing flammable materials under decks or porches, removing dead vegetation and debris from those areas and between deck board joints, using fire-resistant siding such as brick, fiber-cement, plaster, or stucco, and using dual-pane tempered glass windows.

Emergency preparedness

The page also advises keeping street names and house numbers clearly marked, making driveways at least 12 feet wide with 15 feet of vertical clearance for emergency vehicle access, developing and practicing an emergency action plan, knowing two ways out of the neighborhood, and having a predesignated meeting place.

Timing and deadlines

This is a standing safety guide with no stated application process, deadline, funding amount, or expiration date.