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SPECIAL REPORT ..... . Preventing Lrbari Vadfires Urban Forests often reports on the many aesthetic, economic, and environmental benefits that healthy trees and forests provide. But to protect these benefits, use must better understand the potential fire risks of enviromnentally stressed trees and forests. B f you're going to live with nature, high. This risk has been compounded by associate wildfires with remote Dennis Bell you have to understand it. It's an a century of fire suppression that landscapes, including range grasses, often - overlooked fact, and this year succeeded in preventing fire but allowed chaparral, shrubs, and forests. But there it's an especially dangerous one. Fire an abundance of dead trees and brush to are also communities mixed into these hazard in the West this year hit an accumulate, providing fuel for wildfires. "wildlands," and the area where the two all -time high as drought hit a 10 -year Those living in urban areas may meet is called the "urban - wildland Wildfires in northern FJREDEFENSEFOR HJGH-R[SKARBAS California and f you live in a forest ecosystem a slope. If they do, make sure you • Remove tree limbs within 15 feet of Idaho area subject to wildfire —like the dry cover them with either' /, -inch your chimney. warning sign forest areas of the West, as opposed tempered or double -pane glass, or • Trim trees that encroach on power to the moist forests of the East —you plywood cutouts. lines. for communi- should follow these guidelines to • If you have a fireplace, install a • Prune dead wood from living ties on the protect your home. You may want to chimney -spark arrestor over the plants in your yard. adapt the list if you live somewhere in flue. • Make sure your driveway allows edge of urban between. In general, the most important • Keep trash contained and away from simultaneous access and exit, as areas. Here thing you can do to protect your home your house. well as space for emergency from fire is remove fuel sources a fire • Clear away dead brush and wood 30 vehicles to turn around. are some tips would need to survive. Removing to 100 feet from your home, • Display clear, large house numbers for saving vegetation to defend against fire always depending on the incline (the greater and street signs. should be done in accordance with state the incline, the wider the clearing • Keep vegetation around your fire your home— and local laws. should be). hydrant low enough that the and your life. Here are some specifics: • Leave only specimen trees within 30 hydrant is clearly visible from the • Install a fire- retardant roof. feet of your home. Make sure road. • Create a 30 -foot dearance between crowns of trees are 10 to 20 feet • Allow for stream, pond, or wildland fuels and wood piles, apart, depending on the incline, swimming pool access for a decks, furniture, wood fences, and that there is no potential fuel supplemental water supply. trellises, gas or propane tanks, and under the tree. • Make fire-friendly tools accessible; outbuildings. • Vegetation should get lower —not keep shovels, spades, axes, and a • Wood decks should not face slopes; higher —as it approaches your ladder in one place. Keep a garden open space under decks should be home. hose hooked up in case your water fitted with' /, -inch wire mesh to • Remove tree canopy shelf over system still has pressure during a prevent sparks from entering and roof. If you have to keep a tree fire. (Every little bit helps.) spreading the fire. within foliage - blowing distance, be • Have phone numbers available for Dennis Bell is a • All exterior louvers should be sure to remove leaves and needles local, state, and federal fire - Fellow in the urban backed with 7 /, inch wire mesh. from the roof and gutters on a protection officials. Find out which forestry department • Large glass windows should not face regular basis. one is responsible for your area. at AMERICAN FORESTS. . 20 URBAN FORESTS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1992