Protect Your Home from Wildland Fire
"Since 1985, approximately 9,000 homes have been lost to urban/wildland interface fires across the United States" (Federal Emergency Management Agency, d). "The threat of wildland fires for people living near wildland areas or using recreational facilities in wilderness areas is real. Advance planning and knowing how to protect buildings in these areas can lessen the devastation of a wildland fire" (Federal Emergency Management Agency, b).
A fire safe landscape isn’t necessarily just a well-manicured yard, but is composed of fire resistant plants that are strategically planted to prevent wildfire from reaching and destroying your home. "The good news is, you don’t need a lot of money to make your landscape fire safe. And you will find that a fire safe landscape can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home" (CDF).
Part of a fire safe landscape includes a safety zone of 30 feet or more around your home. This is the zone where flammable materials are cleared and only ground cover or nonflammable materials are located. If your home is on a slope, this safety zone will increase in size to 100 feet or more, because fire can spread faster and farther up a slope. "If your site is near a ridge, set your home back 30 to 100 feet…from the crest. Clear vegetation downslope from the house. Avoid narrow valleys or canyons. These act as natural chimneys during a fire, and would draw heat and flames to your home" (Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact).
When establishing your landscape, the main idea is to plant to prevent fire from approaching your house. The most undesirable landscape is a stair-step landscape. Do not plant, from your house outward, tall to short plants but instead short to tall. Lawn or other non-flammable material, such as rock, swimming pools and patios, should make up the components that surround your house; the farther you move out the taller the plants. Trees should be kept furthest from your house, shrubs can be closer, and bedding plants and lawns should be nearest the house preventing a ladder sequence. Do not plant shrubs or trees within 30 feet of your home’s windows; when on fire, the heat from the burning shrubs and trees can break windows.
Most plants in your landscape should be fire resistant and drought-tolerant with a high moisture content, low oil content, and low litter production. Plants with these characteristics will not burn as fast as other plants. Water your plants and lawn well and keep them separated in sections by masonry or stone walls. These walls can help be a fire barrier to your home by shielding from and deflecting flames and possibly prevent the spread of fire.
Keep your yard clean of debris. Do not let your landscape get overgrown or put off removing dead greenery; these can easily ignite. Maintaining your landscape is a must. Trim dead branches, rake up leaves and pine needles, mow grass often, and keep shrubs and trees pruned and thinned to rid your yard of potential fire fuel. Remove climbing vines on the walls of your house. Remove all dry needles and leaves on your roof and in your rain gutters so they do not catch fire by sparks. Sweep your roof often especially in the hot, dry season, and clean out all debris under structures.
Keep your trees trimmed. Tree limbs too close to your chimney or dead, dry limbs too close to the house could ignite. Dead limbs should be trimmed off, and limbs close to the chimney should be trimmed back 10 feet or more. Tree and shrub limbs should not come in contact with overhead wires. All trees and shrubs near powerlines should be trimmed so that there is a 10 foot clearance, and any dead or diseased tree near a powerline should be cut down by the utility company. Likewise, trees and brush should be removed from around propane and natural gas tanks at least 10 feet (these tanks should not be within 30 feet of your home). All tree limbs should be trimmed up the base to a height of 8 to 10 feet if the tree is taller than 18 feet; trees should be thinned a 15-foot space between tree crowns. Thin out heavily wooded areas, especially if located on a slope. Remove all brush from beneath trees to prevent fire from spreading from the ground up.
Flammable materials should be stored in proper storage containers and a reasonable distance from your house. Your firewood should be stacked at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home if you live on a slope. Vegetation should be cleared 10 feet away from a wood pile.
When creating a fire safe landscape, you should also consider fire proofing your home. The main considerations in doing so are the materials that make up the exterior of your home. The most important material is your roofing material. When threatened by a fire the first thing to ignite is usually the roof. Your roof should be fire resistant so that windblown sparks do not catch it on fire. "Untreated, wooden shake roofs are the number one cause of home losses to wildland fires" (British Columbia Forest Service). Fire resistant roofing includes metal roofing, clay or concrete tile, asphalt shingle or treated wooden shakes. If you are building your home, be aware that sparks will roll off a steep roof but will not roll off a flat roof and sparks can also get caught in any roof valleys or grooves. Also, eaves-troughs should be metal; if wood or plastic, they could catch on fire.
Siding is just as vulnerable to fire as the roof; it too should be fire resistant. Materials such as stucco, metal, brick, cement shingles, tile, concrete block, poured concrete and rock are good materials to use. These siding materials should be at least ½ inch thick and cover the whole wall from roof to foundation when applied.
If you have unprotected vents, sparks from a fire can get into the house and ignite your home. These vents, usually foundation and attic vents, should be covered with a ½ inch or less wire mesh. Chimneys, also, should be screened with a ½ inch wire mesh to prevent sparks from escaping and igniting surrounding trees or brush. "Ensure that chimney outlet clearances are maintained a minimum of…24 inches from roof peak and a minimum of…35 inches from the roof directly below" (British Columbia Forest Service).
"Overhang construction traps heat and embers, and will increase the risk of structure loss" (British Columbia Forest Service). Decks should be built of non-combustible materials or encased. The underside of overhanging decks should be enclosed and all debris should be removed from underneath.
"Windows are often overlooked as fire hazards, but they can be a serious risk. Radiant heat can pass through them and set fire to curtains. More heat is radiated with large windows and they break more easily. Cracked windows shatter with heat, letting in fire and sparks." (Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact) Windows and glass doors should have thick, tempered safety glass installed and be double paned with metal blinds, fire screen, or shutter to cover the window. If windows, glass doors, or vents do not have protective coverings, plywood will work well. The size and number of windows in your home, that face large areas of vegetation, because these have a greater chance of coming under a tremendous amount of heat and breaking.
Trailers and mobile homes should be skirted with non-combustible materials around the base and mobile or semi-permanent trailers should be adequately tied down.
In all homes, smoke detectors should be installed on all levels, especially near the bedrooms, and the heating system should be maintained.
Make sure your home is simple to locate and easily accessible for the local fire department. Your street sign should be non flammable and visible at your street’s intersection and your address should be marked at the end of your driveway and visible from the road. It would be wise to make sure your address is not duplicated in the county to prevent confusion. Clear road signs should be posted to show traffic restrictions, such as dead-end roads and weight and height limitations. Vegetation should be cleared at least 10 feet and all overhanging tree branches should be cut back along the sides of roads. Keep gates unlocked if you have one or more leading to your house. Avoid a steep and winding driveway; it should not rise more than 10 feet within a 100 foot span and should be at least 12 feet wide and 14 feet high without obstruction. If you have a bridge on your property, it needs to be able to support a minimum weight of 40,000 pounds and culverts should be strong enough to accommodate heavy equipment. Heavy equipment usually is needed to combat a wildfire, such as bulldozers hauled on large trucks, and the road needs to be adequately equipped to handle such weight and size. At the end of the driveway, there should be a turn-a-round at least 100 feet in diameter with parking available on the side.
If a fire is approaching your house, you need to prepare for the blaze. All windows and doors that lead outside should be closed to prevent sparks from entering the house. All doors within the house should also be closed incase the house does catch on fire; this will slow down the spread of the fire from room to room. Heat from a fire will radiate through windows and glass doors and can catch flammable materials on fire. Move all such materials to prevent this possibility, this includes drapes, curtains and furniture; close windows and all venetian blinds or noncombustible window coverings. Turn on the lights in each room, porch, and yard. This aids in visibility when the smoke gets thick and darkens the sky. Fill all sinks, bathtubs and buckets with water incase the power goes out. Shut off any gas valves within the house or outside. "Open the damper on fireplaces to stabilize inside/outside pressure, but close fireplace screens to keep sparks from igniting the house" (The National Ag Safety Database).
Not only should you be prepared inside but outside, also. Move all lawn furniture away from the house, and store it in the garage. All spigots should have a hoses attached to them to reach every area around your home. Garden hoses with shutoff nozzles work the best; you just have to turn on the water and they are ready to go. All trashcans and buckets should be filled with water and placed where they can easily be found. "If you have an emergency generator or a portable gasoline-powered pump that will supply water from a swimming pool, pond, well, or tank, clearly mark its location and make sure it is ready to operate" (National Wildland Fire Prevention Team). You should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons in case of an emergency and all emergency water sources should be clearly marked and easily accessible. To help firefighters protect your roof from fire, place a ladder against the side of your house opposite the approaching fire. If they are unable to help protect your home, lawn sprinklers can be used to keep the roof wet, but don’t turn them on until needed so the water supply, needed by firefighters, is not reduced. "When firemen arrive, it is wise to leave the task of protecting the home to the professionals. A quick briefing about such things such as the location of water supplies, buried utility lines and septic tanks, and any hazardous materials you have stored will be welcomed. But, after the briefing, the biggest assistance you can give the firemen is to retreat to a safe place while they concentrate on protecting your home without having to protect you too" (The National Ag Safety Database).
Be prepared to evacuate your home. Turn off the automatic garage door opener in case of a power failure so you are able to get the car out; keep the garage door closed and unlocked. Your car should be parked in the garage ready to go with its nose facing the garage door, the windows closed, and the keys in the ignition. "Place valuable documents, family mementos and pets inside the car in the garage for quick departure, if necessary. If you do evacuate, use your pre-planned route, away from the approaching fire front. Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times. Don’t forget extra batteries. If you are trapped by fire while evacuating in your car, park in an area clear of vegetation that could burn, close all vehicle windows and vents, cover yourself with a blanket or jacket and lie on the floor" (National Wildland Fire Prevention Team). Listen to the radio to hear reports and evacuation information. Wear cotton or wool clothing that covers all parts of your body, including gloves and a bandana (to cover your mouth and nose).
Make a list of all the items you would like to take with you if you have to leave your house because of fire danger. Have supplies prepared and several escape plans mapped out. Supplies that would be handy are: a flashlight with extra batteries; portable, battery-operated radio with extra batteries; first aid kit and manual; emergency food and water; non-electric can opener; essential medicines; cash and credit cards; and sturdy shoes. (Federal Emergency Management Agency, b). An evacuation plan should include:
-an escape route
-family meeting place
-instructions for children
-steps to make the house as "fireproof" as possible
-plans for a fast get-away
-Provisions for pets (The National Ag Safety Database)
"Maintain an inventory of all of your possessions, including descriptions and serial numbers, if any, and keep this list (or video) in a safe location away from your home, such as in a safety deposit box" (Washington Insurance Council).
"Children in the family should be given firm instructions that they are to leave the home at the first threat of danger if such an emergency catches them home alone. They should report to the prearranged meeting place, and stay there until they hear from you. Should they encounter a threatening situation as they are arriving home, their instruction should be not to enter the danger zone, but instead to go directly to the meeting place" (The National Ag Safety Database). "In case family members are separated from one another during a wildland fire (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the ‘family contact.’ After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person" (Federal Emergency Management Agency, b).
If you are in your home when a fire approaches and are not able to or choose not to evacuate, you should stay inside away from exterior walls. All doors should remain closed and unlocked. All family members should stay together and remain calm. Once the fire has passed, check the roof immediately for fire, sparks and embers, but use caution when climbing onto the roof. Check your yard for burning materials and put them out, if possible. Keep the doors and windows of the house closed and keep checking your house and yard for at least 12 hours after the fire has passed by. You don’t want an ember to start another fire.
If you find that you are trapped in a wildland fire remember that you cannot outrun a fire. "Crouch in a pond or river. Cover head and upper body with wet clothing. If water is not around, look for shelter in a cleared area or among a bed or rocks. Lie flat and cover body with wet clothing or soil. Breathe the air close to the ground through a wet cloth to avoid scorching lungs or inhaling smoke" (Federal. Emergency Management Agency, c).
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Definitions:
"There are three different classes of wildland fires. A surface fire is the most common type and burns along the floor of a forest, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees. A ground fire is usually started by lightning and burns on or below the forest floor. Crown fires spread rapidly by wind and move quickly by jumping along the tops of trees. Wildland fires are usually signaled by dense smoke that fills the area for miles around" (Federal Emergency Management Agency, a).
"The Wildland/Urban interface is defined as the area where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels." (Federal Emergency Management Agency, d)
Ground Covers:
-Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
-Bugleweed (Ajuga)
-Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis)
-Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
-Spotted Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
-Stonecrop (Sedum)
-Periwinkle (Vinca)
-Aaron’s beard (Hypericum calycinum)
-Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis)
-Bearberry, Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hookeri)
-English ivy (Hedera helix)
-Sunrose (Helianthemum nummularium)
-Wild lilac (Ceanothus glohosus)
Shrubbery:
-Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos)
-Bearberry (Cotoneaster)
-Euonymus (Euonymus)
-Lilac (Syringa)
Herbaceous Perrennials:
-African daisy (Osteospermum fruticosum)
-Cape weed (Arctotheca calendula)
-Carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans)
-Silver Speader (Artemisia caucasica)
-Ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum)
-Periwinkle, myrtle (Vinca minor)
-Santolina (Santolina virens)
-Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
-Trailing gazania (Gazania Leucolaena)
-Wooly yarrow (Achillea tomentosa)
Succulents
-Ice Plant
-Rosea Ice Plant
-Stonecrops (Sedum)
-White Trailing Ice Plant
To make sure that these plants would survive in the area which you live, please consult your local nursery.
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Works Cited:
British Columbia Forest Service. "How to make your forest home Fire Safe." [http://www.iias.com/forest/homesafe.html ].
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. "Make your home fire safe!" [ http://www.fire.ca.gov/cdf_fp_protect_home.html ].
CDF. "Fire Safe Landscaping." [ http://firesafecouncil.org/landscaping.html ]. 1997.
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- [ eipa@fema.gov ]. "Reference Library-Fact Sheets." [http://www.fema.gov/fema/fact12.html ]. July 15, 1996.
- [ eipa@fema.gov ]. "Reference Library-Fact Sheets." [http://www.fema.gov/fema/fact12a.html ]. July 15, 1996.
- [ eipa@fema.gov ]. "Reference Library-Fact Sheets." [http://www.fema.gov/fema/fact12b.html ]. July 15, 1996.
- "Mitigation; Reducing Risk Through Mitigation." [http://www.fema.gov/home/mit/wfmit.htm ]. Oct. 17, 1996.
Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact. [ johnsod4@state.mi.us ]. "Wildfire: Are You and Your Home Prepared?" [http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/www/fmd/fire/forhome.htm ]. Nov. 28, 1999.
National Ag Safety Database, The. [ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/email.html ]. "University of Florida; Woodland Homes Fire Safety." [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/docs/as08000.html ]. May 1993.
National Wildland Fire Prevention Team. "Landscaping & Tactics for Fire Prevention." [ http://www.keepgreen.org/Webpages/Landscaping.htm ]. 1998.
Raftery, Miriam. "Fireproof Your Yard." Friendly Exchange. Spring 2000.
South County Fire Authority.
- [ hjewell@scfa.dst.ca.us ]. "Creating a fire Break to Save Your Home." [ http://www.ci.san-carlos.ca.us/fire/firebrek.html ]. 1994-98.
- [ hjewell@scfa.dst.ca.us ]. "Eliminating Fire Danger Spots." [http://www.ci.san-carlos.ca.us/fire/firespot.html ]. 1994-98.
- [ hjewell@scfa.dst.ca.us ]. "Fire Resistive Plants." [http://www.ci.san-carlos.ca.us/fire/fireplan.html ]. 1994-98.
- [ hjewell@scfa.dst.ca.us ]. "Preventing a Wildland Fire from Destroying Your Home." [ http://www.ci.san-carlos.ca.us/fire/firewild.html ]. 1994-98.
Washington Insurance Council. "Prepare Now For Possible Wildfires." [http://www.accessone.com/~wa-ic/wildfirr.htm ]. June 1996.
Washington State Department of Natural Resources. [ mark.gray@wadnr.gov ]. "Safe Debris Burning in Washington Forests." [http://www.wa.gov/dnr/htdocs/rp/safeburn.htm ]. March 26, 1997.
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Resources:
"Fire In My Backyard; Teacher’s Guide" http://fire.nifc.nps.gov/fire/ecology/docs/bkyrdint.htm
The International Fire Information Network http://www.anu.edu.au/Forestry/fire/firenet.html
Virginia Cooperative Extension http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/turf/430-300/lists.html
"Other Links of Fire Interest, Conservation and Fire Prevention" http://www.keepgreen.org/Webpages/Fire%20Links.htm
"Incident Management Situation Report" http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html
Firewise Landscaping http://www.firewise.org/pubs/fwl/contents.html
Fire Effects Information http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/welcome.htm
Fred J. Becker, Architect
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