Firewise Resources
Checklist for reducing your wildfire risk
- CLEAR ignitable material such as needles and leaves from roof, gutters, eaves, porches and decks.
- REPAIR any loose or missing roof shingles/tiles and caulk any gaps or openings on roof edges
- COVER exterior attic vents and install metal wire mesh (1/8 inch or smaller) to under-eave and soffit vents.
- RELOCATE items kept under decks or porches; swap out vegetation in these ares for rock or gravel.
- REPLACE mulch with hardscaping, include rock, gravel, or stone.
- REMOVE ignitable features within 30 feet of all structures including firewood piles, portable propane tanks and dry and dead vegetation.
- PROTECT by watering dry grass and shrubs, trim brown vegetation, and dispose of yard waste.
- PRUNE low hanging branches (6-10 feet or taller trees, 1/3 of tree height for smaller trees); remove any tall grasses, vines, and shrubs from under trees.
- CONTACT neighbors and create a plan to address shared wildfire safety concerns tighter.
Learn about Ignition Zones
Immediate Zone
The home itself and everything within 5 ft of the foundation
Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris and pine needles that could catch embers.
Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.
Reduce embers that could pass through vents in the eaves by installing 1/8 inch metal mesh screening.
Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers.
Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles – anything that can burn. Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.
Intermediate Zone
5-30 FT, INCLUDES DECKS AND FENCES
Clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks.
Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks.
Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches.
Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) so a surface fire cannot reach the crowns. Prune trees up to six to ten feet from the ground; for shorter trees do not exceed 1/3 of the overall tree height.
Space trees to have a minimum of eighteen feet between crowns with the distance increasing with the percentage of slope.
Tree placement should be planned to ensure the mature canopy is no closer than ten feet to the edge of the structure.
Tree and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters of a few each to break up the continuity of the vegetation across the landscape.
Extended Zone 1
30-100 ft
Dispose of heavy accumulations of ground litter/debris.
Remove dead plant and tree material.
Remove small conifers growing between mature trees.
Remove vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area.
Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops.*
Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.*
*The distances listed for crown spacing are suggested based on NFPA 1144. However, the crown spacing needed to reduce/prevent crown fire potential could be significantly greater due to slope, the species of trees involved and other site specific conditions. Check with your local forestry professional to get advice on what is appropriate for your property.
Extended Zone 2
100+ FT
Research shows that keeping high intensity fire 100 ft from a home will prevent a fire from igniting the hoem directly.
Preventative measures: place low-growing plants and well-spaced trees, keep volume of vegetation (fuel) low.