What is ?

Firewise is a program to help YOU keep your family and your property safe from wildfires.  Firewise provides a toolbox approach for YOU to implement practices and measures that reduce your risk of becoming a wildfire victim.  The ultimate goal of this program is to reduce the susceptibility of homes, buildings and communities to wildfire through cooperative education and mitigation techniques.

Link: Firewise.org

The Firewise Program is a multi-organizational approach that applies to
Homeowners Business owners Renters Fire safety professionals	Community leaders Planners & developers Others that have homes and possessions within fire prone area

Firewise provides you with tools that create survivable space for your home and outbuildings. It can also be used to protect pets and livestock.  Firewise can help you prepare your family and property for a wildfire event before it occurs.  It can also guide you in preparing disaster/emergency plans for your family. 

Firewise addresses the risk of homes in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). WUI is that portion of the landscape where homes meet or are within the forest or grasslands. A home in a woodland or prairie setting, surrounded by flammable vegetation (otherwise known as fuels) is in the WUI. You can help minimize a wildfire threat to your home and family by becoming Firewise.  As more homes are built in rural areas of Oklahoma and North Texas, existing firefighting resources are less able to protect everyone's property while trying to control wildfires. Through education, prevention, and supportive mutual effort, property owners can take steps that may reduce the risk of property loss due to wildfires.

How do you Firewise your home or property?

• Keep a clearing of at least 30 feet around your house and other structures for survivable space.
• Carefully space tree plantings to avoid creating pockets of fuel.
• Remove "ladder fuels". They link ground fuels such as grass, leaves, and twigs to larger shrubs and trees – and your home.
• Create "fuel breaks" – such as driveways, gravel walkways, or green lawns.
• Maintain existing irrigation systems in working condition.
• Prune trees so the lowest limbs are 6' - 10' from the ground.
• Remove leaves and debris from your roof and yard.
• Mow your yard regularly.
• Store firewood at least 50 feet from your house or other buildings.
• Refuel garden and yard equipment carefully so as to avoid igniting fuels on hot surfaces.
• Maintain garden and yard equipment regularly – check spark arrestors to ensure they are working.
• Use your ashtray if you smoke.
• Store flammable liquids in proper containers and away from buildings.
• Dispose of yard cuttings and debris promptly, in accordance with local regulations.
• Observe any applicable ordinances that require vegetative clearances and fire-fighting equipment access.
• Don't keep combustible materials under decks or elevated porches.
• Construct trellises out of non-flammable material.
• Have at least two ground-level doors designated as safety exits.
• Keep at least two means of escape (either a door/window) in each room.
• Make your driveway and other access roads visible to emergency vehicles.
• Establish access for emergency vehicles:
  • Two-way roads with parking lanes allow fire trucks and emergency vehicles to get in and out.
  • Any bridges leading to your home should accommodate width and weight of fire-fighting vehicles.
  • If you live on a cul-de-sac, make sure the radius is a minimum of 45 feet--wide enough for a fire truck to turn around without having to back up.  Do not park vehicles in a cul-de-sac, as they will restrict emergency vehicle access.
• Prevent sparks and embers from entering your house by covering exterior vents with 1/8" “wire mesh” – this would include gable, eave, and basement/crawlspace vents.
• When possible, use construction materials that are fire-resistant or non-combustible.  This includes roofing, siding and veneer materials. The number one cause of home loss in wildland fires is from untreated wooden shake shingles.
• Create escape routes and safety zones for your pets and livestock.
• Create a family disaster plan

Firewise Vegetative Landscaping

When heat intensifies in Oklahoma and North Texas and our lush green lawns turn a crisp brown, consider how safe your landscape is in the event of wildfire.
First, remember this: All plants burn! However, some are more resistant to fire than others. For example, if wildfire embers (or charcoal embers from a cooking grill) land in your yard, dry grass will quickly ignite and can carry fire to other vegetation. Some landscape vegetation, such as pines, junipers, cedars and other evergreens will ignite and burn more quickly than other trees, shrubs, and ground cover (privet, crapemyrtle, oak or maple trees).  Hardwoods, like oaks and maples have higher moisture content in their leaves and are thus less flammable. They have an open, loose branching pattern and less sap in the foliage. Therefore, you may place hardwood trees closer to your home than evergreens. Here is a list of trees recommended to Firewise your landscape. An added benefit of these trees is the food, shelter, and nesting sites they provide for our birds and other wildlife. These trees and shrubs are more easily maintained because they are drought-resistant, as well as being fire-resistant.

When you are planting new vegetation or maintaining your existing landscape, consider using the three zones of defense against wildfire.  Maintain a minimum distance of 100-150 feet around your house.  Greater distances are recommended for homes on steep slopes or windswept exposures.  The transition between zones creates breaks in the path to slow advancing flames.  Plants in each zone have a distinct function.

Transition Zones

• Zone One has a 30-foot minimum from the perimeter of the house. Plant low-growing, fire resistant plants including perennials, annuals, groundcover and grasses. Water regularly, especially during droughts and burn bans. Remove all dry plant litter.
• Zone Two (30-60 feet from the house) includes slow growing drought tolerant shrubs and ground covers to keep fire near ground level.
• Zone Three (60-150 feet from the house) requires removing over-growth and major pruning every three to five years. Native trees should be thinned. Specimen trees can be planted at the edge of the zone if they are well tended. Keep an eye on any limbs that may come in contact with power lines. If you are not equipped to trim them, call the power company and let them know about the hazard.