Is Your Home Protected?
There is a trend that is spreading like wildfire across our country. Simply put, the growing trend is wildfire. Every year, wildland fires consume trees, vegetation, businesses, and homes. The occurrence of the fires is nothing new to our country, but the magnitude of these incidents is increasing. In the last decade, every year there has been at least one major incident where people have had to evacuate, several homes have been burned, and firefighter's lives have been at risk attempting to protect the lives of community members and their property.
There are several theories that attempt to explain the increase in fire sizes and levels of devastation. The most common and accepted concept is called the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The wildland urban interface refers to areas or zones where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.
One of the biggest hurdles that communities must overcome is the attitude that “It will never here”. There is a program that provides solutions and techniques to help minimize the threat that wildfires pose to homes and property.
The program is called FIREWISE. It is a multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in efforts to protect the people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildfire - before a fire starts. This approach emphasizes community responsibility for planning in the design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping and maintenance.The program emphasizes creating a defensible space around your home through landscaping techniques, using fire resistive building materials, and by keeping up with maintenance such as mowing, clearing brush and leaves, and by moving firewood away from your home.
The Firewise organization provides free resources that include pamphlets, videos, books, and checklists to individuals, homeowners associations, and any other group who wants to become proactive in making their community a safer place to live. The only obligation that the organization asks for is that you to pay for the amount of shipping costs. Information can also be accessed at their website http://www.firewise.org/.
They have an interactive website where you can find information on what steps you can take as a homeowner to help minimize the threat to your home and property.
The Firewise plan will only be successful if everyone within the community gets involved. The Asheville Fire Department is working hard to get the word out to our communities and citizens. You do not have to sit by and wait for this disaster to happen to you. Get Involved! Help make your home and community a safer place to live. If you have any questions, or would like more information about the FIREWISE organization, please contact the Asheville Fire and Rescue Department at (828) 259-5532.