Wildland Interface |
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Wildland Fire Safety Tips
If you live where flammable vegetation is
abundant, your house and property could be a target for a Wildland fire.
Be prepared for these damaging fires that can sweep through the woods or
neighborhoods. The following safety tips will create a fire safe
environment for your property.
10 Steps to Wildfire Defense
1.
Define your defensible space.
Create a 30-foot, non-combustible zone around your house. It is the most
effective safeguard against wildfire.
2.
Reduce flammable vegetation,
trees and brush around your home.
Choose fire-resistant plants with loose branching habits, high moisture content
and little seasonal accumulation of dead vegetation.
3.
Remove or prune trees.
Remove or thin overcrowded or weakened trees. Prune low-hanging branches to keep
ground fires from climbing into trees.
4.
Cut grass and weeds regularly.
Fire loves dry grass and weeds. Mow or trim low vegetation and keep it
well-watered, especially during dry seasons.
5.
Relocate wood piles and
leftover building materials. Stack
all burnable materials at least 30 feet away from your home and other buildings.
6.
Keep your roof and yard clean.
Leaf and branch build-up on composition shingle roofs can burn off the
"gravel" surface layer and spread fire into the home.
7.
Keep signs and addresses
visible, and keep the home accessible.
Highly visible signs and address numbers allow firefighters to find your home
quickly during an emergency. Safe, easy access to your property includes
driveways with well-trimmed peripheral vegetation.
8.
Rate your roof. In a wildfire, it’s the most vulnerable part of your house. Consider
treatment or replacement of a wood shake roof. If you have a fireplace or wood
stove, install an approved spark arrestor.
9.
Regularly recycle yard debris
and branches. Properly
dispose of all collected yard debris immediately.
10.
Know what to do when wildfire
strikes. If the fire is directly
affecting your home, evacuate immediately
and then call