Natural disasters including wildfires are unpredictably beyond human control. Even if best preventative practices are applied – there are no guarantees about the outcome. So, it must be understood that under extreme conditions, fire can destroy anything. Structures can catch fire by flames, radiant heat of a fire in close proximity or from embers that land and ignite flammable environments. About 90% of structures lost by wildfires are ignited by embers.
During a wildfire, thousands of burning embers, or “firebrands”, generated by heat and wind, can be carried great distances and rain down on buildings. Embers can be parts of twigs or branches, pine cones, or wood shingles torn from burning roofs. They are the leading cause of home ignitions during wildfires. Embers present extreme danger because they can ignite spot fires and flammable debris or components of vulnerable structures. Inspect shingles or roof tiles.
Replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration. Cover exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the home. Enclose under-eave and soffit vents or screens with metal mesh to prevent ember entry.
Debris on roofs, in gutters, under decks, dried out turf, dead plant matter; Close by volatile vegetation, firewood stacked on building walls, deck furniture, floor mats and unprotected attic vents all prove flammable to embers. Screen-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
Close proximity fires within communities generate intense ember storms that attack anything in their path. Ember accumulations result in immediate flames consuming anything flammable that is unprotected. Even though flammable, deciduous trees and shrubs can act as barriers to slow down the spread of fire and shield structures from ember storms. Modern landscapes with nothing but rocks are completely exposed to destructive embers reaching and possibly entering buildings.
Embers blown in from distant or nearby fires cannot be prevented from landing on a landscape. Embers that land on non-flammable surfaces like pavement or bare soil will still burn. If there is no organic surface debris, such as needle litter adjacent to walls, in the rain gutters, or next to roof dormers, embers are typically not sufficient to ignite structures. Keep your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire. Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.
Whether a fire is sweeping across the landscape with dramatic flames or spotting from embers, the key to preventing home ignition is to manage available fuels. This includes plants and organic debris, attached structures like decks and fences and the home itself. Landscape plants should not include evergreens as their resins are extremely flammable.
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