Fire Resistant Landscaping

No one disputes that the wildfires are a major risk each summer. Sprawl development around big cities andsecond home projects in scenic areas have pushed more homes into the "wildlife urban interface," where uncontrolled fires ignite houses and put both residents and firefighters at risk.

Fire prone landscaping around homesincreases the possibility of fire damage, while also hindering the activities of firefighters. Homeowners and communities would benefit from landscaping techniques thatcreatea semi-fireproof zone or defensible space around homes.

The first action is creating a defensible space around your home. Allow at least 30 feet, and in very fire prone areas at least 100 feet free of combustible materials. This means reducing the amount of wildfire fuel from shrubs, dead plant material and firewood. This area should utilize fire-resistant vegetation that is healthy and green for most of the year.

Defensible space is an area around a structure where forest fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire towards the structure. It also reduces the chance of a structure fire moving from the building to the surrounding forest. Your house is more likely to withstand a wildfire if grasses, brush, trees, and other common forest fuels are managed to reduce a fire's intensity.

Here are some more suggestions on how to make home landscaping more resistant to wildfires.

DO

Keep roof and gutters clean by removing pine needles, leaves and other debris.

Use masonry walls, patios, walkways and pools tocreatea safety barrier close to structures.

Plant trees and shrubbery far enough apart so that their crowns will not touch when vegetation reaches maturity.

Prune low-growing, deep-rooted ground covers close to structures on hillsides.

Use timers onautomaticsprinkler systemsfor consistent irrigation and water conservation.

Urge neighborhood cooperation to develop area-wide landscaping that inhibits flames from spreading.

DON'T

Allow dead tree limbs or underbrush to accumulate within 30 feet of your home.

Landscape shrubbery and adjacent trees in a "fire ladder" that allows flames to quickly jump from ground level to heights.

Plant highly flammable trees such as eucalyptus, pine and juniper. Avoid flammable shrubbery.

Build narrow archways or passageways, or plant trees in a manner that restricts access for fire-fighting equipment.

Stack wood piles against residence walls.

Water too infrequently if a natural area tends to dry out late in the season.

Consider too, that regular landscape maintenance provides fire safety. Over time, plants grow and spread; mulches dry out; leaves and pine needles accumulate. All contribute to the fuels from which a fire grows. Proper maintenance improves the appearance and helps protect your home from wildfire.

Using fire resistant plants in your landscaping is part of the overall fire defense plan.

What are fire-resistant plants?

Fire resistant plants are plants that don't readily ignite from a flame or other ignition sources. Although fire-resistant plants can be damaged or even killed by fire, their foliage and stems don't contribute significantly to the fuel and, therefore, the fire's intensity.

Plants that are fire-resistant have the following characteristics:

-Leaves are moist and supple.

-Plants that have little dead wood and tend not to accumulate dry, dead material within the plant.

-Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor.

-Most deciduous trees and shrubs are fire-resistant.

However, it's important to remember that even fire resistant plants can burn, particularly if they are not maintained in a healthy condition.

While little can be done to control the natural fires that occur in many areas, homeowners can change their approach to landscaping and help improve the chances of their homes and property surviving a brush fire.