5/11/15 – Every year firefighters put their lives on the line to help protect our lives, homes and businesses. By choosing to live Firewise you can help them in that fight. There are simple yet effective ways to get your home or business ready for fire season.

In a Firewise home the first 30 feet are considered Zone 1.  In Zone 1 the primary goal is to minimize the immediate dangers closest to your home (or business) by reducing the fuels that spread fire. Make sure to clear your property of dead or dying vegetation including under decks and in gutters. Next make sure to trim trees up six to ten feet from the ground. Move firewood away from homes, out-buildings and propane tanks. Consider fire-resistant material for patio furniture, swing sets etc.

Zone 2 is the next 30 to 100 feet from your home, and plants in this zone should be low-growing, well irrigated and less flammable. In this area:

• Leave 30 feet between clusters of two to three trees, or 20 feet between individual trees.
• Encourage a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees.
• Create ‘fuel breaks’, like driveways, gravel walkways and lawns.
• Prune trees up six to ten feet from the ground.

Zone 3 is 100 to 200 feet from the home and this area should be thinned, although less space is required than in Zone 2. NOTE: Because of other factors such as topography, the recommended distances to mitigate for radiant heat exposure actually extend between 100 to 200 feet from the home – on a site-specific basis. In this area:

• Remove smaller conifers that are growing between taller trees. Remove heavy accumulation of woody debris.
• Reduce the density of tall trees so canopies are not touching.

For more tips and information on making your home or business Firewise visit www.firewise.org.