Article sponsored by Goodwin’s Market and Akasha Healing Center
Article by Scott Limpus
The San Bernardino County Fire Department (SBCoFD) and California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (CalFire) READY! SET! GO! Campaign addresses three key areas that residents should address before a fire starts.
In Part 1 of this series on how to get ready for fire season, we discussed creating a defensible space around our homes. In Part 2, we looked at the steps needed to harden your home. In Part 3, will we learn about some of the vegetation that homeowners can plant that will make their property more fire resistant.
To review the steps outlined in Part 1 to create a defensible space, homeowners are encouraged to complete these activities before the start of fire season.
Keep your property lean and green to help protect your family and home.
Defensible Space Zones
Zone 1
Zone 1 extends 30 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.
• Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (vegetation).
• Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters.
• Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.
• Remove branches that hang over your roof and keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney.
• Relocate wood piles into Zone 2.
• Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows.
• Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.
• Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.
Zone 2
Zone 2 extends 100 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.
• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.
• Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees. (See diagram)
• Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram)
• Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches.
Here is a review of Part 2, here are some things you can do to harden your home and make it more fire resistant.
1. The roof is the most vulnerable part of your home. Homes with wood or shingle roofs are at high risk of being destroyed during a wildfire. Build your roof or re-roof with materials such as composition, metal or tile. Block any spaces between roof decking and covering to prevent embers from catching.
2. Vents on homes create openings for flying embers.
3. Eaves and soffits should be protected with ignition-resistant* or non-combustible materials.
4. Heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break even before the home ignites. This allows burning embers to enter and start fires inside. Single-paned and large windows are particularly vulnerable.
5. Wood products, such as boards, panels or shingles, are common siding materials. However, they are combustible and not good choices for fire-prone areas.
6. Surfaces within 10 feet of the building should be built with ignition-resistant, non-combustible, or other approved materials.
7. Screen or enclose rain gutters to prevent accumulation of plant debris.
8. Use the same ignition-resistant* materials for patio coverings as a roof.
9. Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a non-combustible screen. Use metal screen material with openings no smaller than 3/8-inch and no larger than 1/2-inch to prevent embers from escaping and igniting a fire.
10. Have a fire extinguisher and tools such as a shovel, rake, bucket, and hoe available for fire emergencies.
11. Consider using ignition-resistant or non-combustible fence materials to protect your home during a wildfire.
12. Driveways should be built and maintained in accordance with state and local codes to allow fire and emergency vehicles to reach your home. Consider maintaining access roads with a minimum of 10 feet of clearance on either side, allowing for two-way traffic.
13. Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road.
14. Consider having 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.
FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPING
A fire-resistant landscape isn’t necessarily the same thing as a well-maintained yard. This type of landscape uses fire-resistant plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home. Fire resistant plants are great in California because they are often drought tolerant, too.
The good news is, you don’t need a lot of money to make your landscape fire resistant. And you will find that a fire-resistant landscape can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home.
Choose Fire-Resistant Plants and Materials
• Create fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks and roadways.
• Use rock, mulch, flower beds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks.
• There are no “fire-proof” plants. Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.
• Choose fire-retardant plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe.
• Select fire-resistant shrubs such as hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples.
• Plant hardwood, maple, poplar and cherry trees that are less flammable than pine, fir and other conifers.
Check your local nursery, landscape contractor or county’s UC Cooperative Extension service for advice on fire-resistant plants that are suited for your area.
In the next article, we will discuss the next step in the READY SET GO! Campaign, creating a Wildfire Action Plan.