Firewise Around The Home

Under decks and porches should be clear of debris and other flammable materials because these areas are often enclosed and can easily catch fire. Debris and flammable materials can provide fuel for a fire to spread quickly, endangering the house and its occupants. Keeping these areas clear reduces the risk of a fire starting and helps to ensure the safety of the property.

All of the mentioned options (firewood stacks, propane tanks, and overgrown shrubs) should be moved 30 feet away from your home because they are flammable materials that can pose a fire hazard. Firewood stacks can easily catch fire and spread to your home, propane tanks can explode if exposed to heat or fire, and overgrown shrubs can act as fuel for a fire. Moving these materials away from your home reduces the risk of fire and helps to keep your property and family safe.

All of the above options (gravel walkway, driveway, and stone wall) work well as fuel breaks around a home's perimeter. These features create a physical barrier that can help prevent the spread of fire by reducing the amount of flammable vegetation near the house. Gravel walkways and driveways can act as a firebreak by providing a non-flammable surface, while stone walls can serve as a barrier to fire. Having all of these fuel breaks in place can significantly enhance the fire safety of a home.

Ember or spark penetration to the home can occur through various means such as window screens, missing or loose shingles/roof tiles, and open garage doors. These openings provide pathways for embers or sparks to enter the home, increasing the risk of fire. Therefore, all of the options mentioned above are potential ways for ember or spark penetration to happen.

Keeping your lawn well-hydrated and maintained reduces the intensity of a fire and creates less fuel for a wildfire. This is because a well-hydrated lawn has less dry vegetation that can easily catch fire and spread. Additionally, a well-maintained lawn makes it easier to mow, ensuring that the grass remains short and less likely to ignite. Therefore, the safety benefits of keeping your lawn well-hydrated and maintained include reducing the risk and intensity of fires.

Low-growing, low flammability plants are recommended for Firewise landscaping because they are less likely to catch fire and spread flames. These types of plants have a lower fuel load and are less likely to produce embers that can ignite nearby structures. By choosing low-growing, low flammability plants, homeowners can create a defensible space around their property that helps reduce the risk of fire spreading and damaging their home.

Pruning tree branches 6 to 10 feet from the ground is important because it helps prevent wildfires from spreading to the tree tops. By removing lower branches, the fire is less likely to climb up the tree and spread to the higher branches, reducing the risk of the fire becoming more severe and harder to control. This practice is a preventive measure to protect the tree and surrounding areas from the potential devastation of wildfires.

Clearing leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches, and decks helps protect your home from wildland fire by reducing potential fuel sources that can ignite and spread the fire. Storing lawn furniture away during red-flag warnings is also important as it prevents the furniture from catching fire and potentially spreading the fire to your home. By implementing both of these safety tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of your home being damaged or destroyed by a wildland fire.

All of the above roofing materials (asphalt shingle, concrete tile, and metal) are considered "Class A" for the best fire resistance. This means that they have the highest level of fire resistance and are able to withstand severe fire exposure.

Under-eave and soffit vents are critical for attic ventilation. However, they can also be entry points for embers during a wildfire. Using metal wire mesh with a small mesh size (1/8 inch or smaller) is crucial as it prevents embers from passing through while still allowing for airflow. Larger mesh sizes or other materials like metal plates or aluminum foil sheets may not effectively block embers or may obstruct ventilation.