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L I V I N G W I T H

IN SONOMA COUNTY

A GUIDE FOR THE HOMEOWNER

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Much of Sonoma County is considered ahigh hazard fire environment. Based onpast experience, this area possesses all

the ingredients necessary to support large, intense,and uncontrollable wildfires.

Within this hazardous environment, there areindividual houses, subdivisions, and entire com-munities. Many homes, however, would beunable to survive an intense wildfire. Since it isnot a question of “if” wildfires will occur but“when,” they will occur, the likelihood of humanlife and property loss is great and growing.

Our ability to live more safely in this fireenvironment greatly depends upon our use of“pre-fire activities.” Pre-fire activities are actionstaken before a wildfire occurs which improve thesurvivability of people and homes. They includeproper vegetation management around the home(known as defensible space), use of fire resistantbuilding materials, appropriate subdivisiondesign, and other measures. Research clearlydemonstrates that pre-fire activities save lives andproperty.

In 1999, Fire SafeSonoma adopted The LivingWith Fire program forSonoma County. Fire SafeSonoma is a non-profit501(c)3 corporation com-prised of fire preventionprofessionals, public agencyrepresentatives, businessowners and concernedresidents who recognize theurgent need to deal with theissue of catastrophic wildfirein Sonoma County. Ourmission is to raise publicawareness of wildfire relatedproblems, such as loss of lifeand property, and devastationof wildlife habitat and thenatural environment andprovide education thatpromotes fire safety andprevention. For more infor-mation about Fire SafeSonoma call (707) 565-1152.

LIVING IN A HIGH HAZARDFIRE ENVIRONMENT

Fire is anatural part

of our environ-ment. Ourforests andrangelands

were burninglong before

there was aSanta Rosa,Petaluma,Sonoma orGlen Ellen.

+ +With more

people usingour wildlands,

there is agreaterchance

of fire starts.

+Today’s

wildfires canburn

intensely andbe difficult to

control.

Many homesare built andmaintained in

this fireenvironment

withoutregard towildfire.

Potential for:• Greater loss

of life• Increased

propertylosses

• Moredamage tonaturalresources

• More moneyneeded forfirefighting.

=

L I V I N G W I T H

The pre-fire activities implemented by this homeowner included a green and well maintainedlandscape, reduction of wildland vegetation around the perimeter of the property, a fire resistantroof, and a good access road with a turnaround area. The charred surroundings of the homeshow that these pre-fire activities effectively protected it when wildfire hit.

THE “WHY WE’RE WORRIED ABOUT WILDFIRE” EQUATION

THE “LIVING WITH FIRE” PROJECT

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Cover photograph courtesy of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

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THE FIRE ENVIRONMENTThe “fire environment” is defined as the “surrounding conditions, influences, and modifying forces that determinewildfire behavior.” Firefighters recognize three componentsof the fire environment: weather, topography, and fuel. These three components affect the likelihood ofa fire start, speed and direction at which a wildfire will travel, intensity at which a wildfire burns, and the ability to control and extinguish a wildfire. Although weather and topography cannot be changed, the fuels (or vegetation)can be modified. Consequently, many of our opportunitiesto reduce the wildfire threat lie in proper managementand manipulation of wildland vegetation.

WEATHER: Dry, hot and windy weather increases the likelihood of a major wildfire. These conditions make ignition easier, allow fuels to burn more rapidly, and increase fire intensity. High wind speeds, in particular, can transform a small, easily controllable fire into a catastrophic event in a matter of minutes.

TOPOGRAPHY: Of topographic features, steepness of slope most influences fire behavior. As the steepness of slope increases, the fire spreads more quickly. Other important topographic features include aspect (south and southwest slopes usually have more fires) and steep, narrow drainages (chimneys) which can significantly increase the rate of firespread.

FUEL: Fuel is required for any fireto burn. With regard to wildfire, fuelsalmost always consist of living vegetation (trees, shrubs, grass, andwildflowers) and dead plant material(dead trees, dried grass, fallen branches, pine needles, etc.). Houses, when involved in a wildfire, becomea source of fuel. The amount, size,moisture content, arrangement, and other fuel characteristics influenceease of ignition, rate of fire spread,length of flames produced, and other fire behaviors.

THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT: When peopleare living in high hazard fire environments, the human built environment becomes an important factor in predicting the loss of lifeand property. Untreated wood shake and shingle roofs, narrow roads, limited access, lack of fire-wise landscaping, inadequate water supplies, and poorly planned subdivisions are examples of increased risk topeople living with the threat of wildfire.

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Flame Length 6 feetFlame Length 4 feet

EXAMPLES OF LOCAL FIRE BEHAVIORPresented below are five types of vegetation common to our region with estimates of how they wouldburn under certain conditions. These predications assume a wind speed of 20 mph, flat terrain, typicalmoisture contents of living and dead vegetation for summertime, and normal August weather for our area.

GRASSLAND: Annual grasses, 1 to 3 feet in heightdominate with brush and tree reproduction less thanone third of the area.

COASTAL SCRUB: Generally shorter brush oftenless than four feet in height.

OAK SAVANNA: Open sparse stands with grassas predominant ground fuel. Brush and trees coverless than 2/3 of the area.

DENSE CONIFER FOREST: Thick stand of maturepine, fir, or other conifers. There are mixed layers ofvegetation among young trees, seedlings and shrubs.There is a large amount of dead or down woodymaterial, needles and organic matter on the forestfloor.

THE LIMITATIONS OF WILDLANDFIREFIGHTINGA lot of people assume that when a wildfire starts, it will be quickly controlled and extin-guished. This is an accurate assumption 97% of the time. Firefighters have the ability,equipment, and technology to effectively suppress most wildfires. But 3% of the time wildfiresburn so intensely that there is little firefighters can do. Presented at right are firefighter tacticsas they relate to wildfire flame length. Compare this to the flame lengths shown in “Examplesof Local Fire Behavior.”

When wildfire flame lengths exceed 11 feet, direct firefighting efforts are ineffective. Under theseconditions firefighters use roads, streams, and other barriers to control the wildfire.

FLAMELENGTH

Less than 4 feet

4 to 8 feet

8 to 11 feet

More than11 feet

EFFECTIVE SUPPRESSION TACTICS

Where accessible, suppression by fire engines usinghoselines is the method of choice. Fireline constructedwith hand tools, such as shovels, pulaskies andMcLeod’s (specialized fire fighting hoe) can also beeffective.

Fire engines with water and hoselines will be needed toknock down the fire. Air tankers, helicopters andbulldozers may be required.

Air tankers with fire suppressing retardant or helicopterswith water are required to reduce the fire’s rate ofspread before firelines with engines, fire crews, orbulldozers can be effective.

Direct fire suppression efforts will be ineffective. Firewill need to be fought using roads, streams or othernatural barriers. Burning out of vegetation between thefireline and the advancing fire front may be necessary.

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CHAPARRAL: Dense, tall brush more than 4 feet talland typically old and decadent containing dispropor-tionate amounts of dead material.

CROWN FIRES: Crown fires occur when a ladderof vegetation allows fire to climb to the tops of pine,fir, or other trees. Flames can jump 100+ feet highand send burning embers more than a mile away.

Flame Length 100 feet

Flame Length 7 feet

Flame Length 19 feet Flame Length 9 feet

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THE THREE R’s OF DEFENSIBLE SPACEThis technique involves the elimination of entire plants, particu-larly trees and shrubs, from the site. Examples of removal arecutting down a dead tree or cutting out a flammable shrub.

The removal of plant parts, such as branches or leaves, consti-tute reduction. Examples of reduction are pruning dead woodfrom a shrub, removing low tree branches, and mowing driedgrass.

Replacement is substituting less flammable plants for morehazardous vegetation. Removal of a dense stand of flammableshrubs and planting an irrigated, well maintained flower bed isan example of replacement.

Removal

Reduction

Replacement

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DEFENSIBLE SPACE

More and more homes are being built in high fire hazardenvironments.

HOW DO I CHANGE THE VEGETATION ON MYPROPERTY TO REDUCE THE WILDFIRETHREAT?

The objective of defensible space is to reducethe wildfire threat to a home by changing thecharacteristics of the adjacent vegetation.Defensible space practices include:• Increasing the moisture content of

vegetation.• Decreasing the amount of flammable

vegetation.• Shortening plant height.• Altering the arrangement of plants.This is accomplished through the “Three R’s ofDefensible Space.” The article “Creating AnEffective Defensible Space” provides detailedinformation about changing vegetation charac-teristics for defensible space.

In the 1980’s, the term “defensible space” wascoined to describe vegetation management practicesaimed at reducing the wildfire threat to homes. Thisarticle responds to some of the commonly askedquestions about defensible space.

WHAT IS DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Defensible space is the area between a house and anoncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modifiedto reduce the wildfire threat and to provide an opportunityfor firefighters to effectively defend the house. Some-times, a defensible space is simply a homeowner’s properlymaintained backyard.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEENVEGETATION AND WILDFIRE THREAT?Many people do not view the plants growing on theirproperty as a threat. But in terms of wildfire, the vegeta-tion adjacent to their homes can have considerableinfluence upon the survivability of their houses. Allvegetation, including plants native to the area as well asornamental plants, is potential wildfire fuel. If vegetation isproperly modified and maintained, a wildfire can beslowed, the length of flames shortened, and the amount ofheat reduced, all of which assist firefighters in defend-ing the home against an oncoming wildfire.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSEDTO PROTECT MY HOUSE, SO WHYBOTHER WITH DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Some individuals incorrectly assume that afire engine will be parked in their drivewayand firefighters will be actively defendingtheir homes if a wildfire approaches. Duringa major wildfire, it is unlikely there will beenough firefighting resources available todefend every home. In these instances,firefighters will likely select homes they canmost safely and effectively protect. Even withadequate resources, some wildfires may beso intense that there may be little firefighterscan do to prevent a house from burning.The key is to reduce fire intensity as wildfirenears the house. This can be accomplishedby reducing the amount of flammablevegetation surrounding a home. Consequently, the mostimportant person in protecting a house from wildfire is nota firefighter, but the property owner. And it’s the actiontaken by the owner before the wildfire occurs (such asproper landscaping) that is most critical.

DOES DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIRE A LOT OFBARE GROUND IN MY LANDSCAPE?No. Unfortunately, many people have this misconception.While bare ground is certainly effective in reducing thewildfire threat, it is unnecessary and unacceptable due toappearance, soil erosion, and other reasons. Many homeshave attractive, well vegetated landscapes that also serveas effective defensible space.

DOES CREATING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIREANY SPECIAL SKILLS OR EQUIPMENT?No. For the most part, creating a defensible spaceemploys routine gardening and landscape maintenancepractices such as pruning, mowing, weeding, plantremoval, appropriate plant selection, and irrigation.Equipment needed includes common tools like a chainsaw, pruning saw, pruning shears, loppers, weed-eater,shovel, and a rake. A chipper, compost bin, or a largerented trash dumpster may be useful in disposing ofunwanted plant material.

HOW BIG IS AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SPACE?Defensible space size is not the same for everyone, butvaries by slope and type of wildland vegetation growingnear the house. See the article entitled “Creating AnEffective Defensible Space” for specific information.

DOES DEFENSIBLE SPACE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?Yes. Investigations of homes threatened by wildfireindicate that houses with an effective defensible space aremuch more likely to survive a wildfire. Furthermore, homeswith both an effective defensible space and a nonflam-mable roof (composition shingles, tile, metal, etc.) aremany times more likely to survive a wildfire than thosewithout defensible space and flammable roofs (woodshakes or shingles). These conditions give firefighters theopportunity to effectively and safely defend the home.

DOES HAVING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE GUARAN-TEE MY HOUSE WILL SURVIVE A WILDFIRE?No. Under extreme conditions, almost any house canburn. But having a defensible space will significantlyimprove the odds of your home surviving a wildfire.

WHY DOESN’T EVERYONE LIVING IN A HIGH WILD-FIRE HAZARD AREA CREATE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE?The specific reasons for not creating a defensible spaceare varied. Some individuals believe “it won’t happen tome”. Others think the costs (time, money, effort, loss ofprivacy, etc.) outweigh the benefits. Some fail to imple-ment defensible space practices simply because of lack ofknowledge or misconceptions.

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30feet 100feet 100feet

100feet 150feet 150feet+

30feet 100feet 150feet+

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SPACE*...A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you worried about the wildfire threat to your home, but aren’t sure how to get startedin making your home defensible? Follow these six steps to an effective defensible space...STEP ONE: HOW BIG IS ANEFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SPACE?

The size of the defensible space area is usuallyexpressed as a distance extending outward from thesides of the house. This distance varies by the type ofwildland vegetation growing near the house and thesteepness of the terrain.

On the “Recommended Defensible Space Dis-tance” chart presented below, find the vegetation typeand percent slope (see “Homeowners Guide toCalculating Percent Slope”) which best describes thearea where your house is located. Then find the

recommended defensible space distance for yoursituation.

For example, if your property is surrounded bywildland grasses, and is located on flat land, yourrecommended defensible space distance would extend30 feet from the sides of the house. If your house ison a 25% slope and the adjacent wildland vegetationis dense tall brush, your recommended defensiblespace distance would be 150 feet or more.

If the recommended distance goes beyond yourproperty boundaries, contact the adjacent propertyowner and work cooperatively on creating a defen-

1) Find the percent slope which best describes your property.2) Find the type of vegetation which best describes the wildland plants growing on or near your property.3) Locate the number in feet corresponding to your slope and vegetation. This is your recommended defensible space distance.

Please note the recommendations presented in this article are suggestions made by local firefightersexperienced in protecting homes from wildfire. They do not take precedence over local ordinances.CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL FIRE AGENCY FOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.

Wildland grasses, weeds, and widelyscattered shrubs with grass under-story.

Includes shrub dominant areas of man-zanita, chaparral, or coastal scrub.

Includes forested areas. If substantial grassor shrub understory is present, use thosevalues shown under “shrubs”.

DEFENSIBLE SPACERECOMMENDED DISTANCES—STEEPNESS OF SLOPE

VEG

ETATI

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TYP

E

30-50feet 100feet 100feet+

sible space. The effectiveness of defensible spaceincreases when multiple property owners worktogether. The local assessor’s office can provideassistance if the owners of adjacent properties areunknown. Do not work on someone else’s propertywithout their permission.

Temporarily mark the recommended distancewith flagging or strips of cloth tied to shrubs, trees, orstakes around your home. This will be your defen-sible space area.

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STEP THREE: IS THERE A CON-TINUOUS DENSE COVER OF SHRUBS OR TREESPRESENT WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED DEFEN-SIBLE SPACE AREA?

Sometimeswildland plants canoccur as an uninter-rupted layer of vegeta-tion as opposed tobeing patchy or widelyspaced individualplants. The morecontinuous and densethe vegetation, the greater the wildfire threat. If thissituation is present within your defensible space area,you should “break-it-up” by providing a separationbetween plants or small groups of plants.

Not only are steep slopes often considered highwildfire areas, they are also highly erodible. Whenremoving shrubs and trees from steep slopes, keep soildisturbance to a minimum. Also, it may be necessary toreplace flammable vegetation with other plant materialsto prevent excessive soil erosion.

Remove all standing dead trees from within the defensiblespace area.

Remove all down dead trees within the defensible spacearea if they have recently fallen and are not yet embeddedinto the ground. Downed trees that are embedded into soiland which cannot be removed without soil disturbanceshould be left in place. Remove all exposed branches froman embedded downed dead tree.

Remove all dead shrubs from within the defensible spacearea.

Once grasses and wildflowers have dried out or “cured,”mow to 3 inches within the defensible space area.

Reduce thick layers of pine needles to a depth of twoinches. Do not remove all needles. Take care not to disturbthe “duff” layer (dark area at the ground surface whereneedles are decomposing) if present. Remove dead leaves,twigs, cones, and branches.

Remove all dead leaves, branches, twigs, and needles stillattached to living trees and shrubs to height of 15 feetabove ground. Remove all debris that accumulates on theroof and in rain gutters on a routine basis (at least onceannually).

Locate firewood and other combustible debris (woodscraps, grass clippings, leaf piles, etc.) at least 30 feet uphillfrom the house.

DEAD FUEL TYPE

STANDING DEAD TREE

DOWN DEAD TREE

DEAD SHRUBS

DRIED GRASSES ANDWILDFLOWERS

DEAD NEEDLES, LEAVES,BRANCHES, CONES(ON THE GROUND)

DEAD NEEDLES, LEAVES,BRANCHES, AND TWIGS(OTHER THAN ON THE GROUND)

FIREWOOD AND OTHERCOMBUSTIBLE DEBRIS

RECOMMENDED PRACTICE

TYPES OF DEAD VEGETATION AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICE

Note: Separation distances are measured betweencanopies (outermost branches) and not between trunks.

For example, if your home is located on a 10% slopeand the brush is four feet tall, the separation distancewould be two times the shrub height or eight feet.The recommended separation distance can be accom-plished by removing plants or through pruning thatreduces the diameter or height of shrubs (shorterheight means less separation is needed).

Recommended SeparationDistances for Shrubs

For areas with dense brush, the recommended sepa-ration distance is dependant upon shrub height andsteepness of slope. Specific recommendations arepresented below.

Homeowner's Guide to Calculating Percent Slope

Hold this line parallel to the ground PunchholehereThread string

through the holeand tie a knot.

Very

Ste

ep

Mod

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ely

Stee

p

Flat

to

Gen

tly

Slop

ing

40%(18º)

20%(9º)

0%(0º)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Enlarge this diagram using a photocopying machine.

2. Mount photocopy on a piece of cardboard.

3. Punch a hole through photocopy and cardboard at the designatedspot.

4. Thread a 12 inch piece of string through the hole and tie a knot in theend of the string on the backside of the cardboard.

5. Tie a one inch or larger washer to weight the other end of the string.

6. Hold the designated line parallel to the ground, sighting up slopealong the edge of the cardboard.

7. The weighted string will indicate the percent of the slope steepness.For convenience, steepness of slope in degrees is presented inparenthesis.

STEP TWO: IS THERE ANY DEADVEGETATION WITHIN THE RECOMMENDEDDEFENSIBLE SPACE AREA?

Dead vegetation includes dead trees and shrubs,dead branches lying on the ground or still attached toliving plants, dried grass, flowers and weeds, dropped

leaves and needles, and firewood stacks. In mostinstances, dead vegetation should be removed from therecommended defensible space area. A description ofthe types of dead vegetation you’re likely to encounterand the recommended actions are presented below.

Continuous, denseuninterruptedvegetation.

Patchy vegetationor widely spacedindividual plants.

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Note: Separation distances aremeasured between canopies (outermost branches) and not betweentrunks. For example, if your house issituated on a 30% slope, the separa-tion of tree canopies within yourdefensible space should be 20 feet.Creating separation between treecanopies can be accomplishedthrough tree removal.

STEP FOUR: ARE THERE LADDER FUELS PRESENT WITHIN THERECOMMENDED DEFENSIBLE SPACE AREA?

Vegetation is often present at varying heights, similar to the rungs of a ladder.Under these conditions, flames from fuels burning at ground level, such as a thicklayer of pine needles, can be carried to shrubs which can ignite still higher fuelslike tree branches. Vegetation that allows a fire to move from lower growingplants to taller ones isreferred to as “ladder fuel.”The ladder fuel problemcan be corrected byproviding a separationbetween the vegetationlayers.

Within the defensiblespace area, a verticalseparation of three timesthe height of the lower fuellayer is recommended.

For example, if ashrub growing adjacent toa large pine tree is threefeet tall, the recommendedseparation distance wouldbe nine feet. This could beaccomplished by removingthe lower tree branches,reducing the height of theshrub, or both. The shrubcould also be removed.

For forested areas, the recom-mended amount of separationbetween tree canopies is deter-mined by steepness of slope. Thespecific recommendations arepresented here. Separationdistances are measured betweencanopies (outer most branches)and not between trunks.

Recommended Separation DistancesBetween Tree Canopies

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THE LEAN, CLEAN, AND GREEN CHECKLIST❏ Emphasize the use of low growing herbaceous (non-woody) plants that are kept green during the fire season

through irrigation if necessary. Herbaceous plants include lawn, clover, a variety of groundcovers, beddingplants, bulbs, perennial flowers, and conservation grasses.

❏ Emphasize use of mulches, rock, and non-combustible hard surfaces (concrete sidewalks, brick patios, andasphalt driveways).

❏ Deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs are acceptable if they are kept green and free of dead plant material,ladder fuels are removed, and individual plants or groups of plants are arranged so that adjacent wildlandvegetation cannot convey a fire through them to the structure. Shorter deciduous shrubs are preferred.

❏ Minimize the use of ornamental coniferous shrubs and trees such as juniper, monterey pine and tall exoticgrasses such as pampas grass.

❏ Where permitted, most wildland shrubs and trees should be removed from this zone and replaced with moredesirable alternatives (see first box). Individual specimens or small groups of wildland shrubs and trees canbe retained so long as they are kept healthy and free of dead wood, are pruned to reduce the amount of fueland height, and ladder fuels are removed.

❏ For some areas substantial removal of wildland vegetation may not be allowed. In these instances, wildlandvegetation should conform to the recommendations presented in steps 2 through 4. Please become familiarwith local requirements before removal of wildland vegetation.

❏ Tree limbs within 10 feet of a chimney, encroaching on powerlines, or touching the house should be removed.

STEP FIVE: IS THERE AN AREA ATLEAST 30 FEET WIDE SURROUNDING YOURHOUSE THAT IS “LEAN, CLEAN, AND GREEN”?The area immediately adjacent to your house is particu-larly important in terms of an effective defensible space.It is also the area that is usually landscaped. Within anarea extending at least 30 feet from the house, thevegetation should be kept....

• LEAN—small amounts of flammable vegetation,• CLEAN—no accumulation of dead vegetation or

other flammable debris, and• GREEN—plants are healthy and green during the

fire season.

The “Lean, Clean, and Green Zone Checklist” will helpyou evaluate the area immediately adjacent to yourhouse.

STEP SIX: IS THE VEGETATIONWITHIN THE RECOMMENDED DEFENSIBLESPACE AREA MAINTAINED ON A REGULARBASIS?Keeping your defensible space effective is a continualprocess. At least annually, review these defensible spacesteps and take action accordingly. An effective defen-sible space can be quickly diminished through neglect.

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Fire-Wise Plant Material for Sonoma County

weather, local fire history, and characteristics of nativevegetation surrounding the site are additional importantconsiderations.

The 30 feet closest to a structure will be the highestwater use area in the fire safe landscape. This is an areawhere highly flammable fuels are kept to a minimumand plants are kept green throughout the fire season.Use well-irrigated perennials here. Another choice islow growing or non-woody deciduous plants. Lawn issoothing visually, and is also practical as a wildfiresafety feature. But extensive areas of turfgrass may notbe right for everyone. Some good alternatives include

Although there are no fireproof plant materials, the following is a list of some firewise plants that can be used in landscapingfor fire prevention. Landscape maintenance is far more important to fire prevention than the selection of plant materials.When planning your landscape, use the characteristics of firewise-plants along with site characteristics such as slope, aspect,hardiness zone and amount of precipitation to choose plant material for your site.

FIRESCAPE - FIRE SAFELANDSCAPE DESIGN

“When a wildfire comes through your neighbor-hood, could your house survive on its own?” A dramaticquestion, but one we need to consider when living in anenvironment where wildfire is a threat. Firescaping islandscape design that reduces house and propertyvulnerability to wildfire. The goal is to develop alandscape with a design and choice of plants that offersthe best fire protection and enhances the property. Theideal is to surround the house with things that are lesslikely to burn. It is imperative when building homes inwildfire-prone areas that fire safety be a major factor inlandscape design. Appropriate manipulation of thelandscape can make a significant contribution towardwildfire survival.

Firescape integrates traditional landscape functionsand a design that reduces the threat from wildfire. Itdoes not need to look much different from a traditionaldesign. In addition to meeting a homeowner’s aestheticdesires and functional needs such as entertaining,playing, storage and erosion control — firescape alsoincludes vegetation modification techniques, planting forfire safety, defensible space principles and use of firesafety zones.

Through proper plant selection, placement andmaintenance, we can diminish the possibility of ignition,lower fire intensity, and reduce how quickly a firespreads, increasing a home’s survivability.

In firescaping, plant selection is primarily deter-mined by a plant’s ability to reduce the wildfire threat.Other considerations may be important such as appear-ance, ability to hold the soil in place, and wildlife habitatvalue. The traditional foundation planting of junipers isnot a viable solution in a firescape design. Minimize useof evergreen shrubs and trees within 30 feet of astructure, because junipers, other conifers and broadleafevergreens contain oils, resins and waxes that makethese plants burn with great intensity. Use ornamentalgrasses and berries sparingly because they also can behighly flammable. Choose “fire smart” plants. Theseare plants with a high moisture content. They are lowgrowing. Their stems and leaves are not resinous, oilyor waxy. Deciduous trees are generally more fireresistant than evergreens because they have a highermoisture content when in leaf, but a lower fuel volumewhen dormant.

Placement and maintenance of trees and shrubs is asimportant as actual plant selection. When planning treeplacement in the landscape, remember their size atmaturity. Keep tree limbs at least 10 feet from chim-neys, power lines and structures. Specimen trees can beused near a structure if pruned properly and wellirrigated.

Firescape design uses driveways, lawns, walkways,patios, parking areas, areas with inorganic mulches, andfences constructed of nonflammable materials such asrock, brick, or cement to reduce fuel loads and createfuel breaks. Fuel breaks are a vital component in everyfirescape design. Water features, pools, ponds orstreams can also be fuel breaks. Areas where wildlandvegetation has been thinned or replaced with lessflammable plants are the traditional fuel break. Remem-ber, while bare ground is an effective fuel break, it isnot recommended as a firescape element due toaesthetic, soil erosion, and other concerns.

A home located on a brushy site above a south orwest facing slope will require more extensive wildfiresafety landscape planning than a house situated on a flatlot with little vegetation around it. Boulders and rocksbecome fire retardant elements in a design. Whether asite can be irrigated will greatly influence location ofhardscape (concrete, asphalt, wood decks, etc.), plantselection and placement. Prevailing winds, seasonal

TREES common nameValued nativesAcer macrophyllum Big Leaf MapleAlnus rhombifolia White AlderCornus nuttalli Pacific DogwoodPlatanus racemosa OaksSequoia sempervirens Coast RedwoodQuercus spp. Oak

Ornamental Garden Trees:Acer spp. MapleArbutus unedo Strawberry BushCercis occidentalis Western RedbudCercocarpus betuloides Mountain IronwoodCitus ssp. CitrusFagus spp. BeechFeijoa sellowiana Pineapple GuavaFraxinus spp AshGleditsia tricanthos Honey LocustMacadamia hybrids Macadamia NutMetrosideros excelsus New Zealand XmasMyoporum spp. MyoporumPistacia chinensis Chinese PistachePittosorum spp. Mock OrangeRhus lancea African SumacRobinia pseudoaccacia Locust, BlackSchinus molle California PepperSchinus terebinthifolius Brazilian Pepper

SHRUBSNative Wildland PlantsPunus lyonii Catalina CherryCeonothus (some) spp. Wild LilacDendromecon rigida Bush PoppyGarrya app. Silk TasselHeteromeles arbutifolia Toyon, Christmas BerrySolanum umbellifeum Nightshade, Blue WatchRhamnus spp. Buckthorn/CoffeeberryRhus integrifolia Lemonade BerryRibes sanguineum Red Flower CurrantCarpenteria californica Bush AnenomeLavatera aassurgentiflora Malva RoseMahonia repens Creeping Mahonia

Domestic Garden ShrubsBrugmansia spp. Angel’s TrumpetBuddlein spp. Butterfly BushConolvus cneorum Bush Morning GloryCotoneaster congestus LikianoCotoneaster horizontalis Rock CotoneasterCotoneaster microphyllus Rockspray CotoneasterCotoneaster dammeri Bearberry CotoneasterEchium spp. Echium or PriedrotEscallonia spp. EscalloniaLigustrum japonicum Japanese PrivetLigustrum lucidum Glossy PrivetLigustrum texanum Texas PrivetNerium oleander Oleander

Excerpted in part from “Pyropytic Vs. Fire Resistant Plants”by Ray Moritz & Pavel Svhra

clover, groundcovers, and conservation grasses that arekept green during the fire season through irrigation.Rock mulches are good choices. Patios, masonry orrock planters are excellent fuel breaks and increasewildfire safety. Be creative with boulders, riprap, drystreambeds and sculptural inorganic elements.

When designing a landscape for fire safety remem-ber less is better. Simplify visual lines and groupings. Afiresafe landscape lets plants and garden elements revealtheir innate beauty by leaving space between plants andgroups of plants. In firescaping, the open spaces aremore important than the plants.

SHRUBS common nameDomestic Garden ShrubsNolina spp. Nolina (related to Yucca)Pittosoum crassifolium Dwarf KaroOsteospermum fruiticosum Trailing African DaisyPyracantha “Santa Cruz” FirethornThymus praecox arcticus Creeping ThymeVinca spp.* Periwinkle

*Not recommended for riparian areasPittosorum tobira Mock OrangePunica granatum PomegranateRhapiolepis spp. India HawthornRhamnus alaterus Italian BuckthornRhodoendron (Azalea spp.) Rhododendrons & AzaleasSimmondsia chinensis JojobaTrachelospermum jasminoides Star JasmineYucca spp. Yucca

PERENNIALSAchillea spp. YarrowAgapanthus spp. Lily of the NileBergenia spp. BergeniaCentaurea cineraria Dusty MillerCentranthus rubber Red ValerianCoreopsis spp. CoreopsisDietes bicolor African IrisDietes vegeta Fortnight LilyErigeron karvinskaianus Mexican DaisyGeranium spp. GeraniumHemerocallis hybrids DaylilyHesperaloe Red YuccaHeuchera parviflora Island Alum RootIris spp. IrisKniphofia Red Hot PokerLantana montevidensis LantanaLavandula perzil Sea LavenderMimulus spp. Monkey FlowerSisyrinchium spp. Blue-Eyed GrassesStachys byzantina Lamb’s EarStrelitzia reginae Bird of ParadiseTulbaghia violacea Society GarlicZanteedeschia aethiopicca Common CallaZauschneria californica California Fuchsia

GROUND COVERSSucculentsDelosperma “Alba” White Trailing IceplantEcheveria spp. Hens & ChicksSedum confusum Stonecrop

Non-SucculentsAchillea tomentosa Woolly YarrowAjuga reptans Carpet BugleArmeria maritime Common ThriftCoprosma kirkii Creeping CoprosmaDuchesnea indica Mock StrawberryFestuca rubra Creeping Red fescueLiriope gigantean Giant Turf LilyMyoporum parvifolium Myoporum

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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS INMAKING YOUR HOME DEFENSIBLE

How a house is designed, where it is built, materials used in its construction and landscape, and access to the home all influence survivability during wildfire. Presented below are recommen-dations and an illustration modified from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s publication “How to Make Your Home Fire Safe.” These recommendations will make a homemuch easier to defend and will improve its chances of surviving a wildfire.

1. ROOF• Remove dead branches hanging over your roof.• Remove any branches within 10 feet of your chimney.• Clean all dead leaves and needles from your roof and

gutters. Install a roof that meets class “A” ratingrequirements.

• Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with anonflammable screen of one-half inch or smallermesh.

2. CONSTRUCTION• Build your home away from ridge tops, canyons and

areas between high points on a ridge.• Build your home at least 30 feet from your property

line.• Use fire resistant building materials.• Enclose the underside of balconies and above-ground

decks with fire resistant materials.• Limit the size and number of windows in your home

that face large areas of vegetation.• Install only dual-paned or triple-paned windows.• Consider sprinkler systems within the house. They

may protect your home while you’re away or preventa house fire from spreading into the wildlands.

3. LANDSCAPE• See “Creating An Effective Defensible Space” and

“Firescape - Fire Safe Landscape Design.”

4. YARD• Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures

and clear away flammable vegetation within 10 feetof woodpiles.

• Locate LPG tanks (butane and propane) at least 30feet from any structure and surround them with 10feet of clearance.

• Remove all stacks of construction materials, pineneedles, leaves and other debris from your yard.

• Contact your local fire department to see if openburning is allowed in your area; if so, obtain a permitbefore burning debris.

5. EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY• Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire

department standards through one of the following:— a community water/hydrant system— a cooperative emergency storage tank with

neighbors— a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on

your property• Clearly mark all emergency water sources and notify

your local fire department of their existence.• Create easy firefighter access to your closest emer-

gency water source.• If your water comes from a well, consider an emer-

gency generator to operate the pump during a powerfailure. Check with local utility regarding properinstallation of an emergency generator.

FIRE BRANDS AND THE WOODSHAKE ROOF HAZARD

Firebrands are burning embers produced bywildfire which are lifted high into the air and carriedbeyond the fire front. Firebrands are one of themajor causes of homes burned due to wildfire.

Typical firebrand materials include pine cones,bark, and if houses are involved, wood shakes andshingles. Depending on wind speed and size ofmaterials, firebrands can be carried more than one-half mile ahead of the fire front.

A shower of thousands of firebrands can beproduced during a major wildfire event. If thesefirebrands land in areas with easily ignited fuels,numerous spot fires can start. Homes located blocksaway from the main fire front can be threatened.

A house can be threatened by a wildfire in threeways: direct exposure from flames, radiated heat,and airborne firebrands. Of these, firebrands accountfor the majority of homes burned by wildfire. Theroof of the house is the most vulnerable to firebrands.

Because of its angle, the roof can catch and trapfirebrands. If the roof is constructed of combustiblematerials such as untreated wood shakes andshingles, the house is in jeopardy of igniting andburning.

Not only are combustible roofing materials ahazard to the structure on which they are installed,but they also pose a threat to other houses in thevicinity. Burning wood shakes can become fire-brands, be lifted from the burning roof, and carriedblocks away, and land in receptive fuel beds such asother combustible roofs.

Unfortunately for homeowners with existingcombustible roofs, there are no long-term reliablemeasures available to reduce roof vulnerability towildfire other than re-roofing with fire resistantmaterials.

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6. ACCESS• Identify at least two exit routes from your neighbor-

hood.• Construct roads or provide turnouts that allow two

way traffic.• Design road width, grade and curves to allow access

for large emergency vehicles.• Construct driveways to allow large emergency

equipment to reach your house.• Design bridges to carry heavy emergency vehicles,

including bulldozers carried on large trucks.• Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such

as dead-end roads, and weight and height limitations.• Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have

turnaround areas wide enough for emergencyvehicles. Construct turnouts along one-way roads.

• Clear dry grass and flammable brush up to 10 feetfrom roads and five feet from driveways. Retention ofmature trees along roadside OK.

• Maintain overhanging tree branches 14’ above roads.• Construct fire barriers, such as greenbelts, parks, golf

courses and athletic fields.• Make sure that your street is named or numbered, and

a sign is visibly posted at each street intersection.• Make sure that your street name and house number

are not duplicated elsewhere in the county.• Post your house address at the beginning of your

driveway, or on your house if it is easily visiblefrom the road.

7. OUTSIDE• Designate an emergency meeting place outside your

home.• Practice emergency exit drills regularly.• Make sure that electric service lines, fuse boxes and

circuit breaker panels are installed and maintained asprescribed by code.

• Contact qualified individuals to perform electricalmaintenance and repairs.

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Fire Safe Sonoma565-1152

Sonoma County Departmentof Emergency Services

California Department of Forestryand Fire Protection

SOROPTIMISTSINTERNATIONALOF SANTA ROSA

Rincon Valley FPD

THANK YOU! The printing of this

publication was made possible by funding fromthe following:Should homes be threatened by wildfire, occupants may be advised to evacuate to protect

them from life-threatening situations. While we do not advocate it, homeowners, however, dohave the right to stay on their properties if they so desire and so long as their activities do not hinderfire fighting efforts. If occupants are not contacted in time to evacuate or if owners decide to staywith their homes, these suggestions will help them protect their properties and families.

WHEN WILDFIRE APPROACHES

❏ Evacuate, if possible, all family members not essentialto protecting the house. Evacuate pets as well.

❏ Contact a friend or relative and relay your plans.❏ Make sure family members are aware of a prearranged

meeting place.❏ Tune into a local radio station and listen for instructions.❏ Place vehicles in the garage, have them pointing out,

and roll up windows.❏ Place valuable papers and momentos in the car.❏ Close the garage door, but leave it unlocked. If appli-

cable, disconnect the electric garage door opener so thatthe door can be opened manually.

❏ Place combustible patio furniture in the house or garage.❏ Shut off propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter.❏ Wear only cotton or wool clothes. Proper attire includes

long pants, long sleeved shirt or jacket, and boots. Carrygloves, a handkerchief to cover face, water to drink, andgoggles.

❏ Close all exterior vents.❏ Prop a ladder against the house so firefighters have easy

access to the roof.❏ Make sure that all garden hoses are connected to faucets

and attach a nozzle set on “spray.”❏ Soak rags, towels, or small rugs with water to use in

beating out embers or small fires.❏ Inside, fill bathtubs, sinks, and other containers with

water. Outside, do the same with garbage cans andbuckets. Remember that the water heater and toilet tankare available sources of water.

❏ Close all exterior doors and windows.❏ Close all interior doors.

If a fire should occur within the house, contact the fire department immediately. Continue to inspectyour house and property for embers and smoke.

Most importantly, STAY CALM!

❏ Open the fireplace damper, but place the screen over thehearth to prevent sparks and embers from entering thehouse.

❏ Leave a light on in each room.❏ Remove lightweight and/or non-fire resistant curtains

and other combustible materials from around windows.❏ If available, close fire resistant drapes, shutters, or

venetian blinds. Attach pre-cut plywood panels to theexterior of windows and glass doors.

❏ Turn off all pilot lights.❏ Move overstuffed furniture (e.g. couches, easy chairs,

etc.) to the center of the room.❏ Keep wood shake or shingle roofs moist by spraying

water. Do not waste water. Consider placing a lawnsprinkler on the roof if water pressure is adequate. Donot turn on until burning embers begin to fall on theroof.

❏ Continually check the roof and attic for embers, smoke,or fire.

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Community Service Area 40Volunteer Fire Departmentsc/o Sonoma County Dept. ofEmergency Services - 565-1152

AnnapolisBloomfieldBodegaCamp MeekerFort RossKnights ValleyLakevilleMayacamasMountainSan AntonioThe Sea RanchSotoyomeTwo RockValley FordWilmar

Fire Protection DistrictsCity Fire Departments:

Bennett Valley FPD - 578-7761Bodega Bay FPD - 875-3700California Department of Forestry

and Fire Protection - 576-2285Cazadero CSD - 632-5390Cloverdale FPD - 894-3545Fire Safe Sonoma - 565-1152Forestville FPD - 887-2212Geyserville FPD - 857-3535Glen Ellen FPD- 996-9266Gold Ridge FPD - 823-1084Graton FPD - 823-5515Healdsburg FD - 431-3360Kenwood FPD - 833-2042Monte Rio FPD - 865-2856Occidental CSD - 874-3800Petaluma FD - 778-4390Rancho Adobe FPD - 795-6011Rincon Valley FPD - 539-1801Rohnert Park DPS - 584-2650

Roseland FPD (Santa Rosa) - 543-3500Russian River FPD - 869-9089Santa Rosa FD - 543-3500Schell-Vista FPD - 938-2633Sebastopol FD - 823-8061Sonoma County Department

of Emergency Services - 565-1152Sonoma Development Center - 938-6333Sonoma FD - 996-2102Timber Cove FPD - 847-3368Two Rock Coast Guard FD - 765-7355Valley of the Moon FPD - 996-1002Windsor FPD - 838-1170

This publication provided by:

Fire Agencies of Sonoma County