Fire safety is essential for life safety and property protection in our current climate change environment. It is important to recognize that safeguarding against the risk of fire, fire itself, and the effects of fire in today’s environment is multifaceted.
Defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire – either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.
- Remove long grass, weeds or anything that can burn from around homes.
- Remove limbs that touch buildings or hang near the roof.
- Remove dead plants or bushes as soon as possible and clear roof and gutters of pine needles and leaves.
- Move trash, recycling, and yard waste bins away from the home.
- Be aware that sparks from lawn mowers can start fires, so avoid mowing when its dry or windy. Keep your yard green if you can and when it’s safe to mow, mow it down to the lowest level that your lawn mower will allow.
In Willamette Valley we have some high-risk fire hazard areas, such as at the wildland-urban areas. These properties need to create a defensible space between the house and potential wildfire fuels to protect the building from ignition during a wildfire event. The National Fire Protection Association recommends a defensible space around your property—free of leaves, debris, or other flammable materials.
More information can be found at Oregon State Extension Office.
Limbwalker Tree Care Company is available to discuss, recommend and create a defensible perimeter around your home.