Find out how firescaping can help protect your family and property from wildfires.
Edwards and Schleiger are co-authors ofFirescaping Your Home: A Manual for Readiness in Wildfire Country.
What Is Firescaping?
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Edwards defines firescaping as the practice of creating fire-resilient landscapes by reducing fire hazards andsupporting wild ecosystems.
Sometimes insurance inspectors dont understand the landscape and how wildfires work, Edwards says.
Flying embers are the number one ignition source for structures.
If there isnt one yet, start one.
Install an emergency sprinklerfacing your deck and porch and turn it on before evacuating your home.
Designing a Fire-Smart Landscape
Think of your landscape in defense zones radiating out from your home.
Research shows the first two zones have by far the greatest impact onfire safety.
During fire season, there should be no combustible materials in this zone.
Just double-check to rake away any remaining biomass before fire season, Edwards advises.
This area could be as large as 90 feet in a high fire-prone spot.
This is where your planting begins.
Plants should be kept lean and spaced with plenty of air circulation and fire breaks.
Keep the area clean of debris and the plants pruned high.
Water the plants to keep them healthy and stress-free.
Look for those eddies by seeing where leaves collect in fall, and ensure they are cleared.
Keep fencesa common fire pathclear of debris and spider webs.
Keeptrees under 15 feet highand positioned so they would fall clear of the noncombustible zone.
In addition, your landscape becomes much richer visually.
Its not all jammed up against the house.
(Rubberized barkwas the worst, burning both hot and fast.)
She recommends using wood mulch judiciously in the LCG zone, broken up by noncombustible sections.
In addition, many non-natives have become invasive, removing crucial habitat.
Non-native grasses have overwhelmingly contributed to increased wildfires in the West.
Use flammable plants with care, isolated from other fuels.
Non-native grasses have overwhelmingly contributed to increased wildfires in the West.
Maintenance
Watering properly fosters healthier, less vulnerable plants.
Edwards recommendsadjusting irrigation with the weather.
Smart timers can help with this.
Overwatering can promote weak leafy growth that dries out quickly in the heat.
(Drought-stressed plants dry out, creating more potential fuel.)
Watering deeply and less frequently encourages deep rooting that can better withstand drought.
Pruning is key to promoting air circulationand breaking up potential fire pathways.
You want to find ways to disconnect the fuels both vertically and horizontally, Edwards says.
In cool, wet seasons, the authors recommend leaving seedheads and stalks in place for wildlife habitat.
In dry times, clear away dead vegetation regularly.
Accessed August 5, 2024. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9428-wildfire-strikes-guide-improving-wildfire-preparedness-living-fire-hood-river.
