Be fire smart during wildfire season
ORLANDO, Fla.Each year, thousands of acres of wild land and many homes are destroyed by fires that can erupt at any time of the year, but especially from April through June in Florida.

A variety of causes provoke this costly disaster, including arson, lightning and debris burning. Adding to the fire hazard is the growing number of people living in new communities built in areas that were once wild land, which places even greater pressure on the state's firefighters.

As our communities have expanded into these wild lands, fire protection becomes everyone's responsibility.

"It is advisable to maintain defensible perimeters around our homes, remove flammable brush and rigorously comply with announced burn bans," said Larry Koslick, recovery manager for the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

State and federal officials urge residents to create a landscape that will make homes less vulnerable to wildfire. The primary way to do that is to reduce fuel close to the home and implement preventive measures that can include lean, clean and green landscaping, fire resistant exteriors, and fire resistant attachments.

"Make your home fire safe and make sure you are adequately insured. Although it may not seem a logical priority,

also consider buying flood insurance, because burned areas are more susceptible to flooding," said Scott Morris, FEMA director of Long Term Recovery in Florida. Landscape Planning for Fire Resistance

Think of the area around your home in zones.

Zone 1 is closest to the structure; Zone 4 is the farthest away.

Zone 1. This well-irrigated area encircles the structure for at least 30 feet on all sides, providing space for fire suppression equipment in the event of an emergency. Plants should be limited to carefullyspaced fire-resistant tree and shrub species.

Zone 2. Fire-resistant plant materials should be used here. Plants should be low-growing and the irrigation system should extend into this section.

Zone 3. Place low-growing plants and well-spaced trees in this area, remembering to keep the volume of vegetation (fuel) low.

Zone 4. This furthest zone from the structure is a natural area. Thin selectively here and remove highly flammable vegetation.

Also remember to:

Carefully space the trees or thin them. Take out the "ladder fuels" vegetation that serves as a link between grass and tree tops. These fuels can carry fire from vegetation to a structure or from a structure to vegetation.

Ways to maintain a safe landscape:

Keep trees and shrubs pruned. Prune all trees up to 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

Mow your lawn regularly

Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations

Be sure your irrigation system is well maintained

Try to landscape with lessflammable plants such as Dogwood, Viburnum, Redbud, Sycamore, Magnolia, Beautyberry, Oaks, Red Maple, Wild Azalea, Sweetgum, Coontie, Winged Elm, Black Cherry, Persimmon, Wild Plum, Sugarberry, Florida Soap-berry, Fringetree, Ferns, Wild Olive, Blue Beech, Hophornbeam, and Sparkleberry.

Remember that the primary goals are fuel and exposure reduction.

Use construction materials that are fire-resistant or noncombustible whenever possible.

Consider using materials such as Class-A asphalt shingles, slate or clay tile, metal, or cement and concrete products for roof construction.

Construct a fire-resistant sub-roof for added protection.

Use fire-resistant materials such as stucco or masonry for exterior walls. These products are much better than vinyl which can soften and melt.

Consider both size and materials for windows; smaller panes hold up better in their frames than larger ones; double

pane glass and tempered glass are more effective than single pane glass; plastic skylights can melt.

Prevent sparks from entering your home through vents by covering exterior attic and under floor vents.

Keep your gutters, eaves, and roof clear of leaves and other debris.

Clear dead wood and dense vegetation within at least 30 feet from your house, and move firewood away from your house or attachments like fences or decks.

Any structure attached to the house, such as decks, porches, fences, and sheds should be considered part of the house. These structures can act as fuses or fuel bridges, particularly if constructed from flammable materials. Therefore, consider the following:

If you wish to attach an all-wood fence to your home, use masonry or metal as a protective barrier between the fence and house.

Use non-flammable metal when constructing a trellis and cover with high-moisture, fireresistant vegetation.

Prevent combustible materials and debris from accumulating beneath patio deck or elevated porches; screen under or box in areas below ground line with wire mesh.

For more information on wildfire preparedness, visit www. f l o r i d a d i s a s t e r. o rg , www.firewise.org, and www.fema.gov/hazards/ fires.