Firewise Generation - Contact Us

In this lesson, you'll learn how to conduct Firewise maintenance work around homes.

Take a look at your house. What can be done to help make it safer? Are there dry leaves and pine needles on the ground? What other plants and other items could become light fuels in the event of a wildfire? Consult an adult about improving the 30 feet surrounding your home. Even spending an hour will help greatly reduce its wildfire risk!

Here are some helpful hints to get you started:

Create a "fuel-free" zone extending three feet from all sides of the structure by trimming vegetation and removing flammable materials in that area.
Going out 30 feet, identify and remove branches that a brushing/overhanging the structure, or are within 6'-10' off the ground
Rake or otherwise remove leaves and pine needles that have collected at the baseline of the structure, or under porches
Prune shrubs and other vegetation to remove excess growth, dead branches and leaves. Move woodpiles to at least 30' from the structure
Check for tall grass around the structure
Check the roof and gutters to see if cleaning is required.

Play the 30-feet game to figure out how far thirty feet really is. That is the size of the safety buffer you need on all sides of your house and anything (like a deck or a fence) that is attached to it. In order to play, gather as many friends and family members as you can. Next figure out which members of your group can lay head to toe to make a human chain 30 feet long (hint: remember--30 feet is 360 inches). You should do this on a lawn or similar comfortable surface. The chain will probably require five or six of you. The person at each of the human chain should stand up and stay in position at his or her end of the chain; these people are the "markers." Next, all the other players should count the number of steps it takes to pace between the 30-foot "markers." Remember how many paces it takes you--you can use this knowledge to pace off a 30-foot mitigation zone on all sides of your house now!