If you live in the western United States, the threat of wildfire is real. If you live anywhere else near a forest, you have to think about the possibility of a forest fire someday. Right now there are thousands of people who are facing decisions about how to replace a home that was destroyed by fire. Most will rebuild on the same land, but will do it differently to mitigate the danger of losing another house. And there are practical steps you can take to reduce the danger.
Fast Company looks at fire safety considerations from three directions. The first is to consider where you home is, and what's outside. A home surrounded by trees may be pleasant, but it's not the safest strategy.
Depending on the fire risk, each house should have a perimeter of defensible space extending out at least 30 feet and as much as 100 feet from the home. Within this area, landscapes should be maintained in a way that reduces the chances of a wildfire spreading to the house and adjacent structures. That means keeping trees and shrubs separated from structures like the house, barn, or garage, as well as from other landscaping. It’s best to avoid more combustible landscaping like conifer trees, and grass should be mowed and kept free of debris such as dead leaves and branches that could catch fire.
The second group of strategies deal with the construction and materials that go into a house. And the third deals with protection strategies that must be prepared ahead of time to use when a fire is imminent. There are also ways communities and governments can plan future land use with wildfires in mind. Read all this at Fast Company.
#wildfire #homeconstruction #fireprevention