FireWise

Homeowners Can Increase the Survivability of their Home From Wildfire!

Wildfires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres in the United States, forced evacuations, burned structures, and claimed lives. Fire fighting agencies will do all they can in the event of wildfire but can become quickly overwhelmed in a large blaze.

Only you, the homeowner, can guarantee your safety and increase the ability of your home to survive a wildfire. For Wyoming homeowners, there are many things that can be done during a weekend to increase the survivability of structures. Defensible space generally refers to the area between a structure and an oncoming wildfire in which vegetation and the structure have been modified to reduce the threat of wildfire. Defensible space allows firefighters to operate more safely and efficiently. Some key concepts include vegetative management, increasing structure survivability, and promoting firefighter safety.

Homeowners are responsible for creating defensible space. Waiting until a wildfire threatens your property is too late.

TAKE THESE SIX STEPS FOR EFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME

    1. Determine the size of an effective defensible space for your situation – typically 100 to 200 feet radius.

Then within this zone:

    1. Remove all dead vegetation.

    2. Create a separation between trees and scrubs. Thin dense pockets of trees. Try for an average of 10 feet between tree crowns.

    3. Reduce the ladder fuels. Create a 5 to 8 feet vertical separation

between tree branches and ground plants (shrubs and grasses) by pruning trees and or removing shrubs and grasses, and/or small trees.

    1. Create a “LEAN, CLEAN, GREEN” area extending at least 30 feet from structures:

    • Include a 3’ – 5’ noncombustible area around each structure. Remove all combustible material from under decks and porches. [THIS STEP MAY TAKE LESS THAN AN HOUR TO ACCOMPLISH AND COULD MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE!]

    • Cut dry grass to 3 inches or less

    • Remove tree limbs that are within 10’ of structures.

    1. Maintain steps 2-5 annually or as needed!

    2. Consider seeking professional forestry assistance to thin the forest and shrub lands near your home, outside of 100 feet, to provide more protection and greatly improve the overall health of your land.

    3. Think about helping a neighbor with these projects, if they are interested and unable to do the work themselves. Wild fires do not stop at property lines.

Laramie County and Wyoming State Forestry Division is offering a federal assistance grant program to homeowners to identify and mitigate the risks of wild fire on their property. You can greatly improve the survivability of your home!

For additional assistance please call visit www.firewisewyoming.com for general information.

Wyoming State Forestry Division (WSFD) has been offering technical assistance to landowners for 60 years in Wyoming in the areas of forest products, forest health, Urban and Community Forestry, and wildland fire mitigation and suppression. WSFD works with local county agencies to deliver the assistance to landowners throughout the state of Wyoming.

Firewise Communities are a great way to pull neighborhoods together for a common purpose! Wildland fires do not start at a property line! Becoming a Firewise Community develops an awareness of how to mitigate fuels around your home and neighborhood. To read more about developing this positive direction for a community or sub division go to: www.firewise.org You can also contact Betsey Nickerson, Laramie County Firewise cooperator.