| Wildland fires take place all across the United States. | | | | the wildland fire that may arise has an interruption in |
| Once thought to be merely a problem that took place | | | | one of those three items means that you've done |
| in the western aspects of the United States, now | | | | your best to eliminate the chances of permitting the |
| people and companies are taking a harder look at the | | | | fire to grow and continue. |
| factors that combine to make fire-wise landscaping so | | | | You can very effectively increase the chances that |
| much more practical and desirable. | | | | your home will survive a wildland fire by planning the |
| The principles of fire-wise landscaping are simple ones. | | | | design not only of the home, but also of the |
| The forces of wind, fuel, and the behavior of the fire | | | | landscaping that surrounds it. |
| need to be taken into account in order that maximum | | | | -The basic principles of firewise landscaping are: |
| protection can be given to the homes and buildings | | | | -Reduction of the type of fuel that is available to the |
| that may be in the path of a wildfire. | | | | fire by avoiding mulch and other flammable types of |
| When a wildfire takes place, the natural materials that | | | | plant surround or walkway material. |
| are already in place can interact with the landscaping | | | | -Removal of very flammable plants |
| that has been put into place by the human factor, as | | | | -Removal of dried or dead tree and plant materials |
| well as the buildings in the immediate area. The results | | | | around the home. |
| of this can be devastating to those who lose their | | | | -Reduce the plants or trees that many hang over the |
| homes and property. | | | | top of your home |
| There is no region in the United States or elsewhere | | | | Space trees more apart to prevent fire jumping from |
| that is completely immune to a wildfire. That holds true | | | | one to another. |
| of the western desert states, as well as the eastern | | | | -Add planned fire breaks so that the fire has an area |
| hardwood forest states. The areas of most concern | | | | of no fuel |
| of course are where homes and property sit | | | | -Remove the ladder effect so that fire cannot make |
| side-by-side with forested areas. | | | | the jump from low brush to tree branches. |
| Any fire, regardless of indoors or outdoors will follow a | | | | Each of these methods offers you some chance of |
| given path. The path that the wildfire takes will be | | | | interrupting the path of the fire. In addition, a wide area |
| controlled essentially by three variables. These are fuel | | | | of lawn, a stone or dirt driveway and paths or |
| availability, the terrain on which is it burning, as well as | | | | sidewalks can also offer smaller firebreak areas when |
| the prevalent direction and the speed of the wind. | | | | well planned. |
| A fire that begins in low dried grasses such as the | | | | Selection of the proper plant life, adequate spacing of |
| popular deer grass, will burn rapidly making its way to | | | | the trees and correct placement of the items in your |
| trees that may reside nearby. Fire will climb, from the | | | | proposed landscaping can help to assure that your |
| lowest to the highest fuels. This is called laddering the | | | | home does survive a fire. |
| fuel. It's one means that a wildland fire can take a | | | | Preplanning is a great way to assure that you have |
| significant hold on the terrain and gather power to | | | | the best firewise landscaping possible. Evaluating the |
| keep moving forward. | | | | site, assessing the surrounding area, and working with |
| All fire, whether indoors or out requires oxygen, heat, | | | | an expert in firewise landscaping principles means that |
| and fuel to survive. If you remove just one of those | | | | you and your home have the best chance of being |
| items then the fire loses its chance for increasing the | | | | together for many years to come. |
| power and survival. Landscaping in such a way that | | | | |