Semi rural living - Fire safety & water provision best practices

[rustyshakelford]

Several have mentioned the importance of Insurance...

It has basically become unobtainable for love or money in parts of California...

There is one simple criteria... distance from public fire hydrant... nothing more or less when it comes to buying insurance. Type of construction, fire sprinklers, pond, draft pipe, water storage can be a factor in determining price.

It really has come down to this...

I looked at rural home 1 mile from a public school... the home was within so many yards of a fire hydrant and no problem.

Exactly one mile down the road I looked at another home... it had 20,000 gallons of water storage plus a draw pipe with diesel pump from the pond... well cleared, tile roof, fire sprinklers etc... no chance as far as ANY conventional Homeowner's Policy... simply not possible... oh... 4 miles from fire station and in the city limits.

I spoke with the owners and heard again the same as before... the ONLY insurance they were able to obtain was through Llyods of London... it was only to cover the Insurance Requirement of the Loan... 380k loan balance with 9k premium through Llyods.

They have another policy for liability, wind damage, earthquake, hail and liability that excludes FIRE.

What people are learning is your options are limited and/or expensive... you are very much on your own... even if in city limits...

The ranchers and farmers I know take defensible space and fire restive construction very seriously...

One insurance underwriter simple said... you could have your own private Fire Station fully staffed and equipped... without a public hydrant within range there is nothing we can do for you...

That’s such a shame they are so strict with that. A hydrant doesn’t ensure something doesn’t burn down, just that there will be plenty of water to wash the slab off with.

Brett

 

[4570Man]

Why does the fire department put out an already total loss structure that's in no danger of spreading to another structure. Cleanup would be a lot cheaper and easier if they let it burn out.

 

[ultrarunner]

Why does the fire department put out an already total loss structure that's in no danger of spreading to another structure. Cleanup would be a lot cheaper and easier if they let it burn out.

A vacant fire damaged home 1 block from work caught fire at 5 am last Monday... it was during a rain storm and the sky was a glow... homeless had broke in and started a fire to keep warm... building was plywooded.

The Fire Department put out the fire... all in all about 5 hours until the last truck left... and it was raining hard... it does seem everyone would have been served if the fire would have lasted a little longer...

 

[rustyshakelford]

Why does the fire department put out an already total loss structure that's in no danger of spreading to another structure. Cleanup would be a lot cheaper and easier if they let it burn out.

I think the thought process is starting to lean towards less aggressive interior attacks when no threat to victims. However, if you’re home was on fire 99% of people want it out to save anything they can. Sometimes preserving a picture or piece of jewelry is the only thing of value and it’s sentimental at that. With the huge increases in fire service cancer it’s only a matter of time until letting it burn is considered I think. Also, a huge pile of ash is sometimes harder to sift thru for overhaul.

Brett

 

[DrRod]

In my part of the country, the number one fear is squirrels. If they get into your house they can chew on wires and cause a fire. Not the ultimate strategy but don't neglect the squirrel factor in fire prevention.

Because our cabin stands unoccupied for weeks at a time, we shut off the power completely. This complicates managing the water system as it has to be drained in the winter and we can't have a filter/treatment system as it will freeze. But our fear of gnawing animals takes precedence.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^We have twice had bears damage the 500 gallon propane tank... lost all propane the first time which could have been disaster... the second time the tank was turned off so no loss.

Good point about wildlife.

 

[ultrarunner]

Received my first water bill at the new place...

25 gallons per day for 59 days... water and sewer included.

I was surprised to see the 59 day total of $324 especially with 25 gallons per day use.

I dug a little deeper and my semi rural home has a fire sprinkler system... $90 of the water bill is 100% due to having a home Fire Sprinkler...

Other components are fixed charges like $80 for sewer connection...

Water at the lowest tier is priced at $4.52 per unit and a unit is $748 gallons... not including other fees/taxes.

 

[Diggin It]

I dug a little deeper and my semi rural home has a fire sprinkler system... $90 of the water bill is 100% due to having a home Fire Sprinkler...

Some kind of a flat surcharge? Or was it leaking, tested, or ... ?

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This is another one of those threads that has a different answer for every jurisdiction when it comes to response times and on scene policies and procedures. I've read too many news stories about responding departments refusing to do anything because the address was not a subscribing member. Seems to be a bigger thing in some eastern areas that have historically 'private' FDs.

One example:

The South Fulton Fire Department made national news last year after they refused to put out a house fire due to an unpaid fire subscription fee, and it appears that policy has not changed.

Homeowner Vicky Bell watched her home burn to the ground on Monday while firefighters stood behind her looking on, according to WPSD-TV.

While the city provides fire service free of charge to its residents, it requires an annual $75 fee for homeowners who live in unincorporated areas of Obion County -- which doesn't have its own fire department.

Tennessee Fire Department Watches House Burn, Again

Probably not an issue in most places, but it has happened.

 

[ultrarunner]

Some kind of a flat surcharge? Or was it leaking, tested, or ... ?

Meter Fee for Home Fire Sprinkler... making it over a $1000 annually.

 

[PILOON]

Interesting topic------

Friend has a business and as such they mandate water meters.
Last winter the city supply froze at their connection and after 2 days and many $$'s spent they gave up and installed him a permanent drip or leak as running water will not freeze.

So next his water bill will reflect their poor workmanship and that at his expense.

Local plumber reported that the city has over 100 similar freezing water main problems all using bypass permanent leakage as the solution.