Wildfire facts: Be smart; be prepared

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), one-third of U.S. homes are located in what fire safety officials call the Wildland Urban Interface, areas that combine housing developments with the natural topography of trees and vegetation. In recent years, homes in these areas have become common casualties of hard-to-control wildfires.

While California annually spends $100 million on fire suppression efforts, $200 million in property damage is reported each year. The 2007 Witch Creek fire in San Diego County was one of the most devastating fires in the state’s history. It caused more than $1 billion in damage, burned an estimated 198,000 acres, destroyed 1,200 homes, and 500 outbuildings.

IBHS research offers the following observations regarding the ongoing threat from wildfires:

• Homes with the highest risk of burning are those situated on the perimeter of housing developments adjacent to wildlands.
• Interior housing development structures situated fewer than 15 feet apart are at high risk from wildfires
• Wind blown embers can travel one mile or more, and were the biggest threat to homes in the Witch Creek fire.
• Homeowners need to retrofit their homes to comply with current California building codes to reduce their vulnerability to wildfire damage.
• Homeowners in threatened areas recognize their risk, but their knowledge about how to reduce that risk is limited and they question if their efforts will pay
  off.
• There is an increased risk for residents whose homes are located in the interiors of densely populated communities, yet the homeowners do not recognize the basic risks, such as:
  • Flammability of the roof
  • Areas of the home where firebrands can collect – e.g. leafy gutters, edges of barrel tile roofs
  • Any path that will allow embers to get inside home – e.g. gable vents, soffits
  • Any fuel that brings flames within 5 ft of the house – e.g. flammable plants, wood piles
  • Any wood structure connected to the house such as a wood deck
  • Fuel sources within 30 feet of the home that will support a high intensity spot fire – e.g. palm tree beards, wood trellises
  • Large fuel source such as a continuous tree canopy
  • Restricted access to the property by fire personnel

The wildfire prevention tips provided on this site can get you started with reducing the threat of damage to your property. Allied also recommends you visit the Institute for Business and Home Safety’s website for more information.