Protect Your Home From Wildfires

 

Protecting your home from wildfires has become a top priority for local home owners. Last year alone was a bad wildfire season for us.

While we had a couple of great snow days, we're still below our annual averages for moisture. This poses a threat.

As summer approaches, now is good time to start preparing your home for the wildfire season.

We've had our share of wildfires over the past several years - especially in the areas surrounded by pine trees. Most of them were caused by lightning. But some were caused by human carelessness.

As such, firefighters recommend that you create a safe-zone around the outside of your home.

A wildfire can't burn without fuel, so the goal is to remove as much burnable material as possible. The best strategy is to create different perimeter zones around your home.

Protecting a 30 foot perimeter around the outside of your home is the most critical. Be sure to follow the guidelines below.

If your property is large enough, a second perimeter extending 60-100 feet will offer even better home protection. Your landscaping should be different for each perimeter.

You want to use smaller plants that are spaced out more closer to the home. Using plants with high concentrations in moisture is also recommended.

As you move further away from the house, you can use larger plants.

Planting in small clusters or islands which are separated by rock and flagstone walkways adds another layer of protection. It also looks good.

Below are some general guidelines to use as a checklist which will help you protect your home from wildfires.

1. Store Firewood Away from Your Home
   
   
2. Don't plant trees within 30 feet of your home.
   
3. Make sure all trees and shrubs are well pruned and watered.
   
4. Lower tree branches 6-10 feet from the ground should be removed.
   
5. Remove dead leaves, pine needles, etc. around the house
   
6. Choose plants high moisture plants for areas closest to the house.
   
7. Remove plants that contain oils, wax, and resins around the house.
   
8. Use Rock or decomposed landscaping around the house (especially between vegetation). Grass is good too - but it rarely grows well in Arizona.
   
9. If building your home, Tile or slate roofs are more fire resistant then shingles.
   
10. If you live on a hill or slope, make sure to create a good firebreak at the edge of the hill. Fire travels quickly up hills.
    
11. Plant high moisture pants closes to the house for added protection.
    
12. Small plants that are spaced far apart should be closest to the house. Larger plants should be placed further from the house.
    
13. Use mulch (not pine bark) to protect against moisture loss and reduce weed growth.

 

 

Protect Your Home from Wildfires with Regional Alert Information in Yavapai County

Protect Your Home from Wildfires with this Homeowner's Wildfire Checklist (Inside and Out)

Arizona Wildfire Closures and Restrictions