Wildfires are a normal part of forested ecosystems, occurring at different magnitudes from small, frequent fires in drier areas to large, rare fires in wetter regions. Yet as people and homes have moved into the forest, these fires pose a risk to human health and livelihoods.
The intensity and frequency of fires today has increased due to lack of forest management, human-caused ignition, and climate change.
There are actions that forest landowners can take to improve the health of their forests, and that everyone can take to increase their home’s chances of surviving a wildfire.
Do Now
- Clean your roof and gutters of flammable leaf litter
- Remove flammable debris and items within 5 feet around your house and deck, such as mulch, cardboard boxes, and fallen leaves and needles
- Relocate your wood pile to at least 30 feet away from your house
Do Soon
- Remove or reduce fire-prone vegetation within 5 feet of your home
- Screen all gap openings and vents with 1/8th-inch metal mesh to prevent entry of wind-blown embers into the home
- Keep your lawn mowed to 4 inches or less
- Remove invasive plants (they crowd out native plants and are often flammable
Do When You Can
- Connect with your conservation district forester for a free site assessment
- Remove lower tree branches to reduce ladder fuels
- Request a wildfire home risk assessment
- Thin overcrowded trees for forest health
- Plant a diversity of native trees and shrubs
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J89501 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
