How Fire Defensible Is Your Home?
Incident: La Brea Fire Wildfire
Released: 8/25/2009
La Brea Fire Information
August 25, 2009
Los Padres National Forest
Start Date: Aug. 8, 2009
For more Information call (805) 925-9538
How Fire Defensible is your Home
Santa Maria, Calif. - The recent La Brea fire serves as a vivid reminder that we live in fire country-especially to those families who had to be evacuated during the wildfire. The advent of another El Nino adds to the possibility of more unstable weather. The right combination of lightning and wind can pose a serious threat to individual homes as well as whole communities. And that brings up a very important question-how fire defensible is your home
Saving your home, your life, and the life of firefighters depends on defensible space around your home.
Preparing and maintaining defensible space around your home is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from wildfire. In addition, in California you are required by law to clear a 100 foot zone of defensible space.
"A home that does not have defensible space is extremely difficult to defend in a wildfire situation" stated Dana D'Andrea, Deputy Incident Commander for California Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team 7. "Not only is the task extremely difficult it poses an unacceptable risk to the lives of firefighters" D'Andrea stated.
An example of a home with overgrown vegetation-nearly
impossible to defend against a wildfire.
Creating a defensible space is a simple concept. The first 30 feet of space closest to your home is critical. Trees should be trimmed at least 10 feet from the roof-line. Any combustibles like leaves or pine needles need to be removed from roofs and gutters. The 3 feet wide zone next to the structure should be a non-combustible material such as gravel or pavers. Keep the grass green and mowed. Remove highly flammable vegetation such as eucalyptus or manzanita and firewood from with within at least 100 feet of the structure. Store gasoline powered equipment and gas cans away from the structure.
In the next 70 feet of the 100 foot defensible zone be sure to remove all dead, dying, and diseased vegetation. Duff, leaves, and debris need to also be removed. Create space between vegetation to reduce the likelihood of spreading wildfire. Leave at least 10 feet between the branches of adjacent trees. Increase the spacing between branches of adjacent trees to 30 feet as slope increases. Limb trees up to at least three times the height of lower shrubs. Shrubs should be spaced at least 3 feet apart. Choose plant species that are more resistant to wildfire. Hardwoods are less flammable than evergreens.
There are numerous sources of information available to help plan your defensible space. The www.firewise.org website includes an interactive module to help you plan for the wildfire season. Another excellent information is the California Fire Safe Council as well the many local fire safe councils. To find a local fire safe council in your area visit www.firesafecouncil.org
