Defensible space around structures should have limited combustible materials, including pruned trees and shrubs. Fire departments may offer assistance in creating this space, which can reduce fire damage and increase firefighting effectiveness. Firescaping can include plants to prevent soil erosion. Regional fire departments may have specific advice.
Defensible space is the area immediately around a structure where vegetation should be reduced to limit fuel sources for fires. In regions prone to bushfires, there may be legal defensible space requirements that homeowners must follow, while in others it may be strongly recommended. Clearing an area around a home can reduce the chance of a nearby fire affecting the building and can make firefighting easier in the event of an accident. In some regions, fire departments may offer assistance with brush removal and other tasks if people are physically unable to create the necessary space.
Within this zone, which may extend from 30 feet (about 9 meters) to 100 feet (30 meters) around the structure, combustible materials should be limited. Dead leaves, branches and other organic debris can be removed and stacked for later disposal by burning or mulching. Stacks of wood should be repositioned, while patio furniture and accessories should be spaced out to make it more difficult for the fire to pass between them. The land does not have to be barren, but trees and shrubs should be pruned to create space between them and the house.
If the trees and shrubs are particularly dense, they may need to be thinned out to create a defensible space, especially if the house is on a steep slope. This eliminates the “fire escape”, the path a fire can take to jump between combustible objects in the environment. In addition to reducing the risk of fire damage, this can have other benefits, such as letting more light into a home, which can reduce mold and mildew. Pruning plants away from your home can also eliminate paths used by insects and pests.
Firescaping, as landscaping is known to address fire concerns, can include a variety of plants, including ground covers to prevent soil erosion. The goal is not to create a sterile zone around a house, but to limit fuel sources as much as possible. Creating a defensible space also makes it easier to maneuver firefighting equipment and approach a structure during a fire, which can increase your chances of saving property or preventing major damage.
Regional fire departments may have specific advice on defensible space, considering vegetation common to the area and issues such as narrow roads that could limit access in an emergency. People concerned about their physical ability to clear the area around a home can get assistance from the community. Preventing facility fires not only benefits property owners, but other people in the area as well, by eliminating fuel sources that can fuel a fire.
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