Living with Fire -
Creating Defensible Space
In this presentation Todd Lando, Battalion Chief and Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Specialist, discusses defensible space, applicable fire codes and ordinances and busts myths as it relates to creating defensible space. His advice can be used in San Mateo County as well. He shows a photo of homes burned but not Eucalyptus. The Eucalyptus were maintained.
Photo from Marin Fire Chief Webinar above: NY Times reported that 150 homes burned in this wind-driven fire in San Diego in 2003, but the eucalyptus did not burn. NY Times photo
Key Takeaways:
Defensible space around a home gives firefighters time to save your home.
A lush, green garden is defensible space with careful plant selection and hardscaping.
Trees, if maintained, are not fuel for fires - healthy, natural forests can become a barrier for your home.
A defensible space is not harmful to the environment.
Currently, the law is limited to enforcing these fire deterrent recommendations - it is up to us to make our homes safer with defensible space.
Links: Thinning Out Forests
Sierra Club Webinar: Fire Ecologist describes ineffectiveness of thinning forest for fire protection
Lessons from the LA Fires by Fire Ecologist George Wuerthner
How Homes Can Survive Wildfire: Wildfires are inevitable, but home destruction isn’t. - Jack Cohen, Researcher of Forest Service Missoula Fire Sciences Lab
Summary:
Proecting homes doesn’t require controlling wildfires or removing surrounding forests.
Research shows wind-driven embers, not flames, are the main cause of homes catching fire.
Embers ignite debris in gutters or flammable materials near homes.
“Home hardening” (e.g. fire-resistant materials, clearing vegetation, clean gutters) greatly reduces risk.