Hardening your home is just as important as creating defensible space around it. This article covers some good things to consider when you make changes to your home and landscape in an effort to mitigate wildfire risk. The devil is in the details.
From the Source:
"When you think about mitigation to protect against wildfire, the first thing that might come to mind is cutting down trees.
But for those who live in areas prone to fire, how you landscape around your home can play an important role in keeping the structure safe.
'When we look at a home for mitigation, we also consider part of the structure of the home, meaning is it hardened against fire,' said Scott MacDonald, a lieutenant with the Black Forest Fire Department.
Hardening your home means checking everything from the chimney, which needs a well-made spark arrester, so you don’t start a fire, to the roof and siding. Textures like stucco can help protect against the flames.
We all love the look and smell of mulch, but something as simple as a flower bed could put your home at higher risk to fire.
Placing a 5-foot border of rock between the house and flowerbeds can offer an added layer of protection for keeping flames at bay.
When planting, consider things like the type of vegetation and its placement. Low-level, well-spaced plants provide less fuel for a fire.
Keeping flowerbeds away from windows will keep the heat away if a fire breaks out. The intense heat could actually cause the glass to shatter, allowing flames a quick and easy way inside."
Above: "The placement and materials used in a flowerbed can make a big difference in your home’s vulnerability to wildfire." Credit: CBS Denver