Due to the high fire risk that is expected this summer, the Park City Fire Department is recommending property owners take easy, proactive steps in their own backyard to reduce the risk of fires spreading or engulfing their home.
According to Park City Fire Chief Scott Adams, the goal of fire-wise landscaping is to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation and materials that surround a house, which will limit the amount of fuel for a fire.
“If homeowners use preventive maintenance in the landscaping of their home, it makes it easier for firefighters to protect it,” Adams said. “When we come to a residential fire, we look at what homes we can save and which ones we can’t. These landscaping ideas help homes fall into the can-save category.”
According to Adams, some yard fire hazards include errant tree branches and clogged gutters.
“If tree limbs get too close to the roof that can be really dangerous or if the trees are too close together,” he said. “Also, if there is a buildup of dry leaves in the rain gutter those can be highly combustible.”
Even if a homeowner already has landscaping in place, Adams said there are easy ways to make a yard safer.
“Trees should be trimmed of branches up to six feet from the ground,” he said. “That way if a fire is on the ground it is less likely to ignite the trees. This summer the ground is so dry that once fires start they take off every quickly. We are especially concerned with cabins in the woods that are surrounded by trees.”
Adams said the fire district recommends homeowners follow the “zone concept” when landscaping their yards.
In zone one, which encompasses everything within a 30-foot perimeter of the home, residents should consider fire-resistant patio furniture and avoid propane tanks or firewood stacks. Trees should be watered regularly and plants should be carefully spaced and free of resins, oils and waxes.
In zone two, which includes everything within 100 feet of a house, residents should leave 30 feet in between tree clusters and encourage a mixture of deciduous and coniferous pine trees. “Fuel breaks” such as driveways and gravel walkways should also be considered.
Zone three extends up to 200 feet away from a house and should be sparse with little accumulation of wood debris.
Adams said with smart and fire-wise landscaping, homes will be better protected from fires that begin within a house and fires that could spread from a neighboring area. Adams added that residents should remove excess branches in the next few weeks so the fire district can dispose of them during its annual free wood-chipping service in June. Check www.parkrecord.com for more information on the service as it becomes available.
For more information on how to landscape visit www.firewise.org .
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Maintaining the Firewise Landscape
Keep trees and shrubs pruned six to 10 feet from the ground.
Remove leaf clutter and dead and overhanging branches.
Mow the lawn regularly and dispose of cutting and debris promptly.
Store firewood away from the house.
Maintain the irrigation system regularly.
Familiarize yourself with local regulations regarding vegetative clearance, debris disposal, and fire safety requirements for equipment.
-Tips provided by the Park City Fire District
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