Mill Creek Tree Care
Fire-Proofing
|
Fire-proofing your landscaping is one of the best preventative safety measures for homeowners. Here are some tips.
|
|
Fires can be devastating.
In fact, they can kill, and completely ruin lives. Fortunately, it's easy to mitigate fire risk, and have a plan on hand. Your landscaping is a vital part of this process, and through some reading and yardwork, you can make you, your house, and your loved ones safer. We've gathered some of our favorite fire-proofing resources here. Take a look, and put your fire-proofing plan into action. The single best recommendation we have is to review the infographics at the right and below, and take a survey of your yard. Walk your property regularly. Know what your yard looks like. Are your trees green, and lean? Are your plants dried out? Is excess tinder and fuel stacking up on the ground? Head outside to see if this is the case, and if so, put a plan together to remove excess material from your property. Consider fire-resistant plants. Some plants burn easier than others. Consider choosing plants that don't burn easily. This guide from the Oregon State University, Washington State University, and University of Idaho is packed is insightful information: Fire-resistant Plants for Home Landscapes: Selecting Plants that May Reduce Your Risk from Wildfire, PNW 590 (Oregon State University Extension Service) (ashland.or.us) Have a hose connected. This simple step can help a lot. Have a long hose (preferably at least 100 feet) connected to a water spigot and readily available in your yard. If you encounter a fire, this hose will allow you to quickly place water on a growing fire - if you deem it safe. Ensure your address is properly displayed. If a fire gets out of control, your local fire department will arrive (if you or someone calls them) but they need to be able to find you. Ensure your home is properly marked, to include your house number in a visible fashion - and ensure that it can be seen at night. This will allow fire crews to quickly arrive on scene and put out a fire without wasting time. |
Landscaping Guidelines - Fire - City of Ashland, Oregon
Accessed 4 July 2020 |
|
The guide at right, borrowed from the West Region Wildfire Council, is useful at further articulating what should and shouldn't be near your home. They call it "defensible space" - the idea that you can protect your home through this "buffer zone."
|
|
Locate flammables and wood as far away as possible.
Have a firewood pile or shed with combustibles? Do what you can to locate these things as far away from your home as possible. That way if they ignite, you won't have burning pile of debris adjacent to your home.
Smart campfire/cookstove placement.
We love fire pits/rings and cookstoves, to include barbeques. We also love safety. When placing fire rings (or anything that burns) in your yard, be smart. Place them as far away from structures and trees as possible, and ensure there's a plan in case something should ignite. While BBQs are relatively safe, things can still go wrong. Have a plan, and be safe.
Watch your mulch.
You may have heard horror stories about mulch combusting and burning homes. While this can happen, it isn't exceptionally common. Regardless, do some research and understand what could go wrong. We don't normally think about this one, but it can prove majorly problematic in the wrong circumstances!
Have a company conduct an audit and cleanup.
One of our specialties is assessing trees and yards for fire risk. We're experienced at looking for issues, and applying appropriate solutions. Have us out today, or bundle this service with other work you may need completed. We'll be happy to help.
Have a firewood pile or shed with combustibles? Do what you can to locate these things as far away from your home as possible. That way if they ignite, you won't have burning pile of debris adjacent to your home.
Smart campfire/cookstove placement.
We love fire pits/rings and cookstoves, to include barbeques. We also love safety. When placing fire rings (or anything that burns) in your yard, be smart. Place them as far away from structures and trees as possible, and ensure there's a plan in case something should ignite. While BBQs are relatively safe, things can still go wrong. Have a plan, and be safe.
Watch your mulch.
You may have heard horror stories about mulch combusting and burning homes. While this can happen, it isn't exceptionally common. Regardless, do some research and understand what could go wrong. We don't normally think about this one, but it can prove majorly problematic in the wrong circumstances!
Have a company conduct an audit and cleanup.
One of our specialties is assessing trees and yards for fire risk. We're experienced at looking for issues, and applying appropriate solutions. Have us out today, or bundle this service with other work you may need completed. We'll be happy to help.
