wildfire. property from FIREFIGHTERS NEED YOUR HELP!idahofirewise.org/assets/library/Homeowner...

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When constructing, renovating, or adding to a Firewise home, consider the following:• ChooseaFirewiselocation.• DesignandbuildaFirewisestructurewithfireresistant

materials.• EmployFirewiselandscapingandmaintenance.

To select a Firewise location, observe the following:• Slopeofterrain;besuretobuildonthemostlevelportion

oftheland,sincefirespreadsmorerapidlyonevenminorslopes.

• Setyourone-storystructureatleast30feetbackfromanyridgeorcliff;increasedistanceifyourhomewillbehigherthanonestory.

In designing and building your Firewise structure, the primary goals are fuel and exposure reduction. Therefore:• Useconstructionmaterialsthatarefire-resistantornon-

combustiblewheneverpossible.• Forroofconstruction,considerusingmaterialssuchas

Class-Aasphaltshingles,slateorclaytile,metal,cementandconcreteproducts,orterra-cottatiles.Afire-resistantsub-roofcanalsoaddprotection.

• Onexteriorwallfacing,fire-resistivestuccoormasonrymaybemuchbetterchoicesthanvinyl,whichcansoftenandmelt.

• Windowmaterialsandsizeareimportant.Smallerpanesholdupbetterintheirframesthanlargerones.Doublepaneglassandtemperedglassaremorereliableandeffectiveheatbarriersthansinglepaneglass.Plasticskylightscanmelt.

• Installnon-flammableshuttersonwindowsandskylights.• Topreventsparksfromenteringyourhomethrough

vents,coverexterioratticandunder-floorventswithwirescreeningnolargerthan1/8-inchmesh.

• Provideatleasttwoground-leveldoorsforeasyandsafeexit,andatleasttwomeansofescape(i.e.,doorsorwindows)ineachroomsothateveryonehasawayout.

Any structures attached to the house, such as decks, porches, fences, and outbuildings should be considered part of the house. These structures can act as fuel bridges, particularly if constructed from flammable materials. Therefore, consider the following:• Ifyouwishtoattachanall-woodfencetoyourhouse,use

masonryormetalasprotectivebarriersbetweenthefenceandhouse.

• Usemetalwhenconstructingatrellisandcoveritwithhigh-moisture,lowflammabilityvegetation.

• Preventcombustiblematerialsanddebrisfromaccumu-latingbeneathpatiodecksorelevatedporches.Screenorbox-inareasbelowpatiosanddeckswithwirescreeningnolargerthan1/8-inchmesh.

• Makesureanelevatedwoodendeckisnotlocatedatthetopofahillwhereitwillbeindirectlineofafiremovingup-slope.Consideraterraceinstead.

When designing and installing a Firewise landscape, consider the following:Localareafirehistory•Sitelocationandoverallterrain•Prevailingwindsandseasonalweather•Propertycontoursandboundaries•Nativevegetation•Plantcharacteristicsandplacement(duffage,waterandsaltretentionabil-ity,aromaticoils,fuelloadperarea,andsize)•Irrigationrequirements•Giveyourselfaddedprotectionwith“fuelbreaks”likedriveways,gravelwalkways,andlawns•

To create a Firewise landscape, the primary goal is fuel reduction. Tothisend,initiatethezoneconcept.Zone1isclosesttothestructure;Zones2-4moveprogressivelyfurtheraway.Zone 1: Thiswell-irrigatedareaencirclesthestructureforatleast30feetonallsides,providingspaceforfiresuppressionequipmentintheeventofanemergency.Plantingsshouldbelimitedtocarefullyspacedlowflammabilityspecies.Zone 2:Lowflammabilityplantmaterialsshouldbeusedhere.Plantsshouldbelow-growingandtheirrigationsystemshouldextendintothissection.Zone 3:Placelow-growingplantsandwell-spacedtreesinthisarea,rememberingtokeepthevolumeofvegetation(fuel)low.Zone 4: Thisfurthestzonefromthestructureisanaturalarea.Selectivelypruneandthinallplantsandremovehighlyflammablevegetation.

When maintaining a landscape:• Mowthelawnregularly,anddisposeofcuttingsand

debrispromptly,accordingtolocalregulations.• Besuretheirrigationsystemiswellmaintained.• Usecarewhenrefuelinggardenequipment;maintain

equipmentregularly;storeflammableliquidsproperly.• Becomefamiliarwithlocalregulationsregarding vegetationclearances,disposalofdebris,andfiresafety

requirementsforequipment.

REMINDERS FOR FIREWISE™ LANDSCAPING

For more information contact:

FIREWISE COMMUNITIES

1 Batterymarch Park

Quincy, MA 02169

www.firewise.org

FWC-100-06

Use these tips to prepare your home and protect your family and pets.

Review these helpful checklists forFirewise Landscaping and

Firewise Construction.

INSIDE: Seven features of Firewise homes...

BE FIREWISE™

AROUND YOUR HOME

A homeowner's guide for protecting yourproperty fromwildfire.

The National FirewiseCommunities Programprovides wildland/urbaninterface resources forfirefighter safety,community planning,landscaping, construction,and maintenance tohelp protect people,property, and naturalresources fromwildfire. More informationis available from the Firewise website at

Firewise website visitors can view streaming video and also download checklists, school educational materials, and other information. Visitors can browse an extensive list of helpful links and use a searchable library of national, state, and local documents on a wide range of wildland safety issues. Visitors can also find their state Firewise Communities liaison to contact for assistance in hazard mitigation and planning.

REMINDERS FOR FIREWISE™ CONSTRUCTION

www.firewise.org

FIREFIGHTERS NEED YOUR HELP!

BE FIREWISE™ AROUND YOUR HOME

FIRE-RESISTANT ATTACHMENTS

Attachmentsincludeanystructureconnectedtoyourhome,suchasdecks,porches,orfences.Iftheseitemsattachedtoahomearenotfire-resistant,thenthehomeasawholeisvulnerabletoignition.

EMERGENCY ACCESS

Identifyyourhomeandneighborhoodwithlegibleandclearlymarkedstreetnamesandnumbers.Includeadrivewaythatisatleast12feetwidewithaverticalclearanceof15feetandaslopeoflessthan5percenttoprovideaccesstoemergencyvehicles.

A FIREWISE HOME HAS THESE SEVEN FEATURES

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www.firewise.org

FIRE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION

Wallmaterialsthatresistheatandflamesincludebrick,cement,plaster,stucco,andconcretemasonry.Temperedanddouble-paneglasswindowscanmakeahomemoreresistanttowildfireheatandflames.Formoreinformation,seetheFirewiseConstructionChecklistontheotherside.

A DISASTER PLAN

Thetimetoplanforanyemergencyispriortotheevent.Taketimetodiscusswithyourfamilywhatactionsyouwilltake.Postemergencytelephonenumbersinavisibleplace.Leavebeforeitistoolate.Decidewhereyouwillgoandhowyouwillgetthere.Havetoolsavailable(shovel,rake,axe,handsaw,orchainsaw).Maintainanemergencywatersource.Haveaplanforyourpets.Practicefamilyfiredrills.

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HOME IGNITION ZONE

TheHomeIgnitionZonebeginswithatleast30feetofspaceimmediatelyaroundthehomeandextend-ingoutasfaras100to200feetdependingonthecharacteristicsofthesurroundingforestsorgrass-lands.CreatingandmaintainingtheHomeIgnitionZonereducesoreliminatesignitionhazardspresent-edbyvegetation(bythinningorspacing,removingdeadleavesandneedlesandpruningshrubsandtreebranches)andcombustibleconstruction(woodenporches,decks,storagesheds,outbuildings,swingsetsandfences).WHY? Reducing ignition hazards improves the chances that the structure will survive a wildfire...

LEAN, CLEAN, AND GREEN LANDSCAPING

WithFirewiselandscaping,youcancreatesurvivablespacearoundyourhomethatreducesyourwildfirethreat.Prunelargetreessothatthelowestbranchesareatleast6to10feethightopreventafireonthegroundfromspreadingtothetreetops.WithintheHomeIgnitionZone,removeflammableplantsthatcontainresins,oils,andwaxesthatburnreadily:ornamentaljunipers,paupon,holly,redcedar,andyoungpine.Alistofless-flammableplantscanbeobtainedfromyourlocalstateforester,forestryof-fice,countyextensionoffice,orlandscapespecialist.WHY? Although mulch does help retain soil moisture, mulch and other landscape materials can become flammable when too dry...

FIRE-RESISTANT ROOF CONSTRUCTION

FirewiseroofconstructionmaterialsincludeClass-Aasphaltshingles,metal,slateorclaytile,andconcreteproducts.Theinclusionofafire-resistantsubroofaddsprotection.Makeaperiodicinspec-tionlookingfordeteriorationsuchasbreaksandspacesbetweenrooftiles.Keeptheroof,gutters,andeavesclearofleavesandotherdebris.Makesureunder-eaveandsoffitventsareascloseaspossibletotheroofline.Boxineaves,butbesuretoprovideadequateventilationtopreventcondensationandmildew.WHY? Something as simple as making sure that your gutters, eaves, and roof are clear of debris will reduce your fire threat...

Be sure to reduce the ignition hazards on your property to the extent of the Home Ignition Zone

(100-200 feet).

WHY? Firebrands (embers) collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials...

WHY? The need to evacuate can occur without notice. When wildfire conditions exist, be ready to take action...

WHY? So emergency personnel can rapidly find the location of the emergency...