Vancouver, WA (RealEstateRama) July 15, 2008 – With the Mt. Adams wildfire so close, Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway is reminding homeowners to create defensible spaces before homes or neighborhoods are actually threatened.
“We are seeing stark reminders throughout the West of the potentially disastrous effects of fire near wooded areas,” he says. “If you have not already done so, I urge you to complete your fire prevention activities.”
All vegetation is potential wildfire fuel. One of the best ways to give your home a fighting chance is the creation of a 30-foot clear area around your house called a “defensible space.” This is the area between the house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified or removed to reduce the fire threat, giving firefighters an opportunity to defend the house effectively.
Creating a defensible space can include substituting less flammable plants for more hazardous vegetation — for example, removing a dense stand of flammable shrubs and planting an irrigated, well-maintained flowerbed. Or it may mean eliminating plants entirely from the space, particularly trees and shrubs.
The Fire Marshal also recommends developing an evacuation plan for your family. Identify and gather priority items to take with you should you have to evacuate on short notice, and make sure that your family knows where to reunite in case the evacuation occurs when family members are in separate locations.
“Wildfires are fast-moving and very dangerous,” Dunaway says. “During a wildfire emergency, you and your family should be ready to evacuate immediately to an area of safety.”
Preparing your home and property to reduce fire hazards
Prepare your home and property to help reduce the chance of fire damage. One of the best ways is to create a 30-foot clear space around your house, called a “defensible space.” Below are some tips:
Removal – eliminating plants entirely, particularly trees and shrubs.
• Remove tall, dry grasses and leaves that can provide a path for fire to your home.
• Remove leaves, needles and other debris from your roof and gutters.
• Remove “ladder fuels,” which allow fire to move from lower vegetation to taller fuels. This can be done by providing a separation between vegetation layers (brush and trees).
• Relocate firewood and other combustible debris (wood scraps, grass clippings, leaf piles, etc.) at least 30 feet uphill from your home.
Reduction – removing plant parts, such as branches or leaves.
• Remove dead or overhanging branches near your house.
• Prune bushes and shrubs to remove excess growth, dead leaves and branches. Once grasses and wildflowers have dried out or “cured,” cut and remove them from the defensible space.
Replacement – substituting less flammable plants for more hazardous vegetation.
• Removing a dense stand of flammable shrubs and planting an irrigated, well-maintained flower bed is an example of replacement.
(See Oregon State University’s Web site for fire-resistant plants for home landscapes at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw590/).
If your property has surface water, wetlands, or seasonal streams or slopes, vegetation removal could have significant and long-term environmental impacts. The “Maps Online” tool at http://gis.clark.wa.gov/imf/imf.jsp?site=mapsonline will help identify areas to avoid. Contact the staff of Clark County’s Community Development Department for advice on protecting the environment while creating defensible space.
In the city of Vancouver, removal of vegetation may require a tree removal and/or critical areas permits. Contact the City of Vancouver’s Development Review Services at (360) 487-7800 to determine any permitting requirements that apply.
Contact:
Jon Dunaway, County Fire Marshal , Community Development
Phone: (360) 397-2186 ext. 3324
jon.dunaway (at) clark.wa (dot) gov
