Wildfire Reduction Strategy
WILDFIRE REDUCTION STRATEGY
The Fire Smart program divides the area around a home into three priority zones, similar to advice from the U.S. Fire Administration:
Priority Zone 1 (0-10m from the house):
This is the most critical area. This zone should be free of all materials that could easily ignite from a wildfire.
Trees should be thinned and pruned, and any shrubs in this area should be low flammability species.
Regularly clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves and pine needles.
Priority Zone 2 (10-30m from the house):
In this zone, you'd want to reduce materials that might help a fire spread towards your home.
Trees should be spaced at least 3 meters apart and shorter plants should be situated under trees to prevent a vertical "fire ladder."
Priority Zone 3 (30-100m from the house):
While this is the farthest zone from the house, it's still essential to manage it to reduce wildfire threats.
While you don't need to clear out all vegetation in this zone, removing the densest areas of trees or shrubs can make a significant difference.
Manage this zone to reduce the volume of vegetation and break up continuity. This can be done by spacing trees at least 10-20 feet apart, depending on the slope and size of the trees.
Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 6 to 10 feet from the ground. Remove dead plants, leaves, and vegetation.
Building Construction
Property owners are encouraged to use fire retardant cladding and roofing on structures close to any forest perimeter.
