You can lower fire risk at your home this summer in Western Washington. Here’s how
Like it or not, wildfire season is upon us. While fire isn’t new to Washington’s landscape, recent years’ devastating blazes have strained wildland firefighting resources.
This fire season, fire officials are encouraging residents and communities to be active and early partners in mitigating the risk of fires.
A wildfire’s behavior is caused by a trifecta of factors: weather, topography, and fuel load. Wind – particularly high winds from the east side of the Cascade Mountains – can inflame a small spark. Historically, Western Washington has wetter fuel loads. But in recent years, hotter summers have caused surface fuel, like underbrush and shrubs, to dry and die out.
When surface fuel catches on fire, it can carry flames to taller vegetation, called ladder fuel. This includes low-lying tree branches and trees under the canopy of larger trees. From there, the fire climbs higher, into the crowns of trees, and can quickly engulf an entire forest and any homes surrounding it.
Reducing fuel load is an important way homeowners and community members can protect themselves, and their homes, from wildfire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed the Firewise program as a national initiative for residents to reduce wildfire risks.
They stress that if homeowners have a defensible space around their homes, fire officials have a better foothold for fire suppression and focusing their resources.
The program emphasizes home hardening through three zones.
Zone one is landscaping closest to a home, in the 0-5 feet range. Think of branches hanging over a roof, leaf litter in gutters, or wood piles next to the home.
Zone two is made up of intermediate landscaping, approximately 5-30 feet away from a home. Areas that can break up a spreading fire, called fuel breaks, are naturally created here with driveways, walkways, patios and decks. However, homeowners can also be strategic in tree and shrub placement and limiting ladder fuel.
Finally, zone three is the extended area around a home from 30-100 feet away. The NFPA notes that the goal is not to eliminate fire, but rather “interrupt fire’s path and keep flames smaller on the ground.” This includes disposing of heavy accumulations of ground litter, as well as dead plant and tree material.
Fire mitigation cannot be a one-person effort – it takes a community. This goes beyond focusing on the “why” of our intensifying fire seasons and division when it comes to climate change.
Municipal fire districts are quickly evolving their responses to wildfire, but resources are often limited. Proactive and collaborative communities who are working on fire safe solutions will help fire officials have a more effective response to wildfires.
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 5:00 AM.