How to Prevent Landscape Fires

There are specific steps that can be taken to fight the start of a landscape fire. One important step is to create a “safety zone” (also known as a “defensible work space”) outside of your home. A “safety zone” is an area of at least thirty feet or greater that is free of debris, dry brush, tall grass, and flammable vegetation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. It is important to make sure that your lawn is in top condition. Having you grass trimmed and raked (about one hundred feet around your home), along with pruning trees and bushes, will help reduce the risk of your lawn catching fire.
2. Being extra careful when hosting outdoor activities is another key step in preventing a landscape fire. If you grill, make sure that your grill is never left unattended.Cigarette butts must be disposed in a proper fashion rather than thrown into the lawn.
3. If you have children present, it would be wise to prep them on outdoor fire safety.
4. Having fire extinguishers on hand and knowing how to use them is also a good idea in case of an emergency.
5. Making sure to store flammable materials in metallic containers outside and away from any flammable items such as firewood will also help.
6. Spark Arresters would be a wise purchase to make that would reduce the risk of a landscape fire caused by vehicles and /or equipment.
7. Another obvious product that greatly reduces the risk of injury and or death from any kind of fire is smoke alarms. It is crucial to test their function and batteries on a monthly basis. There are also new lines of life-long smoke alarms, which require less maintenance. It is also important to install them on every level of your home.

Tips & Warnings

• For a more detailed checklist of what you can do to prevent landscape fires you may visit the website for the U.S. Fire Administration/F.E.M.A. at: www.usfa.dhs.gov. There are more safety tips and fire programs located on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website: www.nifc.gov.
• Certain species of plants can be planted that are actually fire resistant. Keep in mind there is no such thing as a “fire-proof” plant but if you would like to own plants that are somewhat fire resistant, make sure that the plants are high in moisture. These plants include: rockrose, aloe, and ice plant. If shrubs are more up your alley then fire-resistant shrubs are available as well. These species include: hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac, and shrub apples. There are also species of trees that are less likely to catch fire. These species include: hardwood, maple, poplar, and cherry trees.