“It’s the little things that make a BIG difference!”
From Firewise – www.firewise.org
Wildfire: Prevent Home Ignition Part 1 & 2
Wildfire! Preventing Home Ignitions is based on the research of Jack Cohen, Physical Research Scientist, of the U.S. Forest Service. It explains the combustion process and wildfire behavior, what you can do to create survivable space, and why some homes are destroyed while others survive. It also discusses how to identify your home’s Ignition Zone – the area that includes the home and its immediate surroundings, which, if properly conditioned, can save the home during a wildfire.
Wildfire: Prevent Home Ignition Part 1
Wildfire: Prevent Home Ignition Part 2
Firewise Planning and Landscape Design
(Firewise planning and information from www.firewise.org)
Firewise Landscaping. Part 1: Overview
Firewise Landscaping Part 2: Design and Installation
Firewise Landscaping Part 3: Maintenance
Firewise Foundation Plantings (Oklahoma)
Safer From the Start: Developing a Firewise Community
The following information is from extension.org:
Four basic zones are recommended for creating and planning a Firewise landscape design:
Zone 1
- Provide at least a 30’ buffer where tall plants are not grown on all sides of buildings and other structures
- Mow tall dry grass
- Provide enough space for fire suppression equipment to access the entire site
- Use fire resistant plant species
- Use proper irrigation close to building and structures
Zone 2
- Use low growing fire resistant plant species
- Use irrigation in this zone
Zone 3
- Plant low growing fire resistant plants
- Properly place trees away from structure and space them far apart
- Fuel load (vegetation volume) should be low
Zone 4
- Furthest zone from the building structure
- Use natural plantings
- Thin out highly flammable species
Although using fire resistant plants is important, appropriate planning and design is a large part of fire prevention.