Defensible Space 101

"Wildfire is coming....are you prepared?"

Wildfires are becoming increasingly common across the United States. In order to protect your home from being damaged or destroyed by a wildfire, it is important to create and maintain what's known as defensible space. I use the term 'defensible space' as a blanket term of protecting your home from wildfire when the time comes. A buffer zone between your property and any grass, trees, or shrubs can help slow or stop the spread of fire. It also provides firefighters with a safe area to work in, when trying to defend your home from a wildfire. One of the biggest problems regarding wildfire is the lack of initiative to provide adequate defensible space by property owners. By taking some simple steps, you can help create defensible space and protect your home from the dangers of wildland fire.

Hopefully, you don't live in one of the few states that get devastated by wildland fires each year, but if you do, you'll want to go over my guide on how to prepare yourself for when the time comes.

In 2018, 58,000 fires burned across nearly 9 million acres, destroying more than 25,000 structures, 18,000 being residential homes. Now before everyone says "not in my state!", let's take a look at the top 12 states for wildfire acreage burned since 2016:

If you live in one of these states it would be irresponsible for you to not do some basic defensible space to help protect your property. One common factor you might notice between these 12 states is a hot, dry climate (inb4 you say buuuuttt Alaska! *Deep breath* Alaska is its own beast with its own distinct climate and due to how large geographically it is, the feds essentially let fires burn year round.)

Whew ok, now you're probably thinking "cool I live in a humid climate I'm safe!"

The National Weather Service tracked at least one wildfire in 48 states over the last 10 years. During this time period, the only states that did not see at least one significant wildfire were Rhode Island and Vermont. Maine, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Connecticut — all New England states — had fewer than five serious wildfires from 2011 to 2020. A significant wildfire is defined by the National Weather Service as one that caused "a fatality or property damage". It is a pretty low bar if you ask me but nonetheless, that's the definition they're going with.

Let's look at the states with the highest number of significant wildfires, as defined by the NWS.

Hey! There are humid climates on the list too! Florida is particularly interesting because despite its humid climate, there are still a good number of wildfires, mostly due to lightning and the flammable oils that are secreted by native plants and trees in the region.

"But Firefighter, I live in suburban area theres no way a wildland fire would get to me!."

Again, not so fast my friend!

The Tubbs Fire

The Tubbs fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. It started on October 8, 2017 and burned for over two weeks, destroying over 5,000 structures and killing 22 people. The fire was so large that it could be seen from space. NASA satellites captured images of the blaze, which showed a massive plume of smoke extending for hundreds of kilometers. The fire had a profound impact on the local community. Many people lost their homes and possessions, and the area is still recovering from the damage. But despite the devastation, the Tubbs fire also brought out the best in people. Firefighters from all over the state came to help contain the blaze, and donations poured in from around the world to support those who had lost everything. The Tubbs fire may have been a tragedy, but it also showed the world the power of love and kindness in the face of adversity.

What I'm getting at here is that nobody is really safe from wildland fire. We all like to think that we're invincible; that we can take care of ourselves in any situation. But the truth is, when it comes to wildland fire, we're all vulnerable. Fire is unpredictable and dangerous, and it can happen anywhere. Even if you live in a city or a suburb, you're not 100% safe. In fact, wildland fire is one of the most significant threats to suburban areas that border wildland/urban interfaces.

Wildland Urban Interface

The wildland/urban interface (WUI) is a term used to describe the area where urban development meets wildland or undeveloped land. This area can be found on the edge of cities or in rural areas near forests or other natural areas. The WUI is often considered to be a "buffer zone" between urban and wild areas, and it plays an important role in protecting both ecosystems and human communities.

One of the most important functions of the WUI is to create a defensible space against wildfires. This space acts as a barrier, preventing the fire from spreading into urban areas.

What Can We Do About These Threats?

Are you concerned about the wildfire threats in your area? You're not alone. Wildfires are a growing concern in many parts of the world, and they can have devastating effects on both property and human life. So what can we do about it?

• Harden your home with fire resistant materials.

• Create defensible space by clearing away any flammable vegetation and keeping your roof and gutters clean.

• Use fire smart landscaping, such as choosing plants that are less likely to ignite.

Remember, There are three ways your home can be exposed to wildfire: direct flames from a wildfire or burning neighboring home, radiant heat from nearby burning plants or structures, and flying embers.

Ok I am going to rapid fire these out. The assumption here is that you already know basic building construction so I won't have to explain these in detail. If not, just google it.

1. Harden your home

Prepare for wildfire by taking the necessary steps to harden (prepare) your home can increase its likelihood of survival. The first line of defense is your roof. Make sure that there are no gaps or holes where embers could potentially enter. It's also a good idea to install metal mesh screens on your vents. Eaves and soffits should be boxed in and protected with noncombustible material.

Next, take a look at your walls. Build or remodel your walls with ignition resistant building materials, such as stucco, fiber cement wall siding, treated wood, or other approved materials. This is especially important when neighboring homes are within 30-feet of the home. Be sure to extend materials from the foundation to the roof. Smaller spaces, such as the roof-to-wall area should have their siding replaced with a noncombustible material.

Your decks and patios are also vulnerable to catching fire, so make sure that they're clear of debris. Create an ember-resistant zone around and under all decks and make sure that all combustible items are removed from underneath your deck. If a deck overhangs a slope, create and maintain defensible space downslope from the deck to reduce the chances of flames reaching the underside of the deck.

If you have a patio cover, make sure that it's made of non-combustible material. And finally, if you have a fence, make sure that it's made of metal or another fire-resistant material.

Have a good water supply with multiple garden hoses that are long enough to reach all areas of your home and other structures on your property. If you have a pool or well, consider getting a pump.

2. Create Defensible Space

Defensible Space preparation is broken down into three zones, these screenshots were taken from here:

The three zones of defensible space can help you create a safer environment for both you and your family. While it is impossible to completely protect yourself from every danger, these principles can help minimize the risks.

3. Fire smart Landscaping

This is the last way we are going to prepare ourselves for wildland fire. Landscaping is a critical part of home defense against this threat. By creating a fire smart landscape, you can help protect your home and property from the dangers of an out-of-control fire.

The first step is to choose the right plants. Avoid using highly flammable plants such as junipers and pine trees near your home. Instead, choose plants that are less likely to catch fire, such as succulents, ferns, and certain types of palms. Keep your plants watered and green, as they will be less likely to catch fire. It is worth noting, however, that all plants will burn under the right conditions.

I will note that proper landscaping practices such as pruning, maintenance and cleanup, have a greater defensible space impact rather than what type of plant you choose. Things to think about when choose the right plants:

• Does the plant contain a lot of waxes and oils?

• How fast does the plant grow?

• How tall will the plant grow?

• Does the plant shed bark?

Regardless of what type of plant you choose to decorate your yard, make sure you're following some basic rules when clearing "ladder" fuels and minimum vertical clearance. Ladder fuels are a term for live or dead vegetation that allows a fire to climb up from the ground into the tree canopy.

A basic rule of thumb for clearing ladder fuels is having a 6ft clearance from the ground to the first branches of a tree. If you have a bush or shrub, the first branches should be approximately 3x the height of said brush or shrub.

Conclusion

While wildfires will always be a part of our landscape, we can take steps to help protect ourselves and our homes. By creating defensible space around our dwellings and using fire-smart landscaping techniques, we can increase the chances that our property will survive an unexpected fire. And if a wildfire does come through, hardening our home against fire can minimize the damage. Have you made your home as fire-safe as possible? If not, now is the time to start planning and implementing these measures.

TL:DR Clean up your property and update your home.