Firewise
Wildfires pose a persistent threat across the United States, especially in areas with increasing residential development. Though these fires are inevitable, proactive measures can safeguard homes, neighborhoods, and families. The Firewise USA® program offers guidance on adapting to wildfire risks. This program empowers communities through education, organization, and collaborative action, promoting defensible space practices to create fire-resistant environments.
Creative Outdoors LLC, a leading landscaping company in Prescott, AZ, supports these efforts by providing landscape maintenance services to reduce wildfire hazards. Implementing preventive strategies, as outlined by Firewise USA®, is crucial for minimizing potential wildfire damage and enhancing community safety.
Steps To Reduce Wildfire Risk on Your Property
Studies reveal that embers and minor flames, rather than direct fire fronts, are the primary culprits in home ignition during wildfires. To protect your property, prioritize preventative measures across three key outdoor zones.Immediate Zone
The Immediate Zone encompasses the home and the surrounding 0-5 foot radius, measured from the house's outermost points. This area should be treated as a non-combustible zone, as scientific evidence indicates it is exceptionally susceptible to ember ignition. Focus on the house, then extend preventative measures into the Immediate Zone’s landscaping.The area extending 5-30 feet from the home's exterior requires strategic landscaping and hardscaping to disrupt and mitigate fire behavior. Specifically:
- Clear vegetation beneath stationary propane tanks.
- Construct fuel breaks using driveways, walkways, patios, and decks.
- Maintain lawns and native grasses at a maximum height of four inches.
- Eliminate ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) to prevent surface fires from reaching tree crowns. Prune trees to a height of six to ten feet, or no more than 1/3 of the tree's total height for smaller trees.
- Space tree crowns at least eighteen feet apart, with greater distances on slopes.
- Ensure mature tree canopies are at least ten feet from the home's edge.
- Plant trees and shrubs in small, dispersed clusters to minimize continuous vegetation.
Extended Zone
The Extended Zone, spanning 30-100 feet and potentially extending to 200 feet, focuses on landscape management to disrupt fire progression, keeping flames low and contained. Key actions include:- Removing substantial ground litter and debris
- Eliminating dead plant and tree matter
- Clearing small conifers growing among mature trees
- Removing vegetation near storage sheds and other outbuildings
- Spacing tree canopies at least 12 feet apart for trees 30-60 feet from the home
- Spacing tree canopies at least 6 feet apart for trees 60-100 feet from the home
Our team also follows the suggested landscape maintenance guidelines in their work. This way, you benefit from our targeted approach to mitigating wildfire risk on their properties.
For more information on the USA Firewise program and our landscape design, installation, and maintenance, contact Creative Outdoors LLC via this Online Form. One of our representatives will get back to you shortly. Alternatively, call us at 928-445-1096, and we will help you with the information you need.