nfpa firewise briefing info oct 11

Wildfire Safety: Resources from NFPA’s Firewise Communities®

Program

Michele Steinberg | Wildfire Safety Briefing October 11, 2011

Saving lives and property from wildfire:• Acting Now• Understanding Wildfire• Taking Ownership• Working Together


Saving lives and property from wildfire:• Acting Now


NFPA and the WUI

• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) founded 115 years ago

• Wildfire safety standards date back to the 1920s

• Modern involvement in “the WUI” came 25 years ago


What is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)?• Nonprofit life safety codes and standards

organization• 80,000+ members worldwide• 300+ consensus codes and standards

documents• Administers the Firewise program

– Partner with USDA Forest Service, US DOI, US Fire Administration on WUI Fire Protection since 1986

1985 Wildfires – A Call to Action

FL

1,400 homes lost!

400 in ONE day!!CA

Data from NIFC; Image from NOAA National Climatic Data Center – State of the Climate 2010


Saving lives and property from wildfire:• Understanding Wildfire


Firewise.org is a resource


Firewise.org visitors learn:

• How homes ignite• How to protect homes• How to order

informational materials• Who to call

– NFPA Firewise Staff– State forestry liaisons– Firewise Regional

Advisors


Saving lives and property from wildfire:• Taking Ownership


A private property problem• Homes ignite in wildfires due to conditions at

– The home itself– Home’s surroundings within a maximum of 200 feet


Early Research Models


Breakthrough Research• 1998: International Crown Fire Modeling

Experiment – Northwest Territories– Big crown fire flames burn out in about 50

seconds– Crown fire must be less than 100

ft to ignite a wood wall• 33 ft: heavy char; few ignitions• 66 ft: no char or scorch

It’s often the little things that burn homes

EmbersSurface fire


Focusing on the Home Ignition Zone


Firewise Strategies: Home Ignition Zone• The Home Ignition Zone includes

the home, in addition to its immediate surroundings up to 200 feet.

If it’s attached to the house, it’s part of the house.

Firewise Strategies: Keep flames from touching the house and attachments

• Create a ‘fuel free’ area around your house that runs one yard out on all sides.

• When preparing your home ignition zone, start with the house and work out

Firewise Strategies: Keep flames from touching the house and attachments

• Wood fences and mulch should not touch structures • Keep mulch and pine needles away from house, fence and

deck

Firewise Strategies: Landscaping with Fuel Breaks in Mind

• Plan your Firewise landscape!

• Careful selection of fire-resistant plants can slow the spread of a wildfire and reduce its intensity

Firewise Strategies: Keep radiant heat sources away from the home

• During fire season, store fire wood at least 30 feet from your house if possible

• Vehicles (cars, ATVs, boats) are also heat sources

Firewise Strategies: Keep radiant heat sources away from the home

• Thin trees and remove dead branch and stem wood under and between trees.

• Within 30 feet of a home limb trees up eight feet above the ground.

Firewise Strategies: Address Ember Danger in Nooks and Crannies

• Pine needles are unwelcome in your gutters or on your roof

Firewise Landscaping: Maintenance is Important

• A clean, healthy garden is not a receptive surface for embers

• Keep plant debris to a minimum…– Rake– Mow– Dispose of debris

promptly

What else can we do?• Work with our

neighbors!• Where homes are

close enough to ignite one another, neighbors must work together to modify overlapping home ignition zones


An example from Bastrop


Bastrop County Complex Fire

Cola Vista Neighborhood

Fire Spread



Fire Spread



Metal Roof

Noncombustible Siding

Noncombustible Trim



Double-Paned Windows

Metal Framework

Noncombustible Decking


Saving lives and property from wildfire:• Working Together


Firewise Communities/USA® Recognition Program


Firewise Communities/USA Criteria

1. Community wildfire risk evaluation

2. Local committee creates an action plan

3. Conduct a Firewise Day annually

4. Document Firewise work at least $2/capita

5. Submit documentation and renew annually


• 700+ Firewise communities• 40 states throughout the U.S.• Goal of 1,000 by 2013

Today: Firewise Communities/USA®

New York Wisconsin


Firewise Communities/USA - Results• Residents are accepting

their role in mitigating wildfire hazards

• Communities have invested $77 million+ since 2003

• 230 sites involved 5+ years

'03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 $-

$5,000,000

$10,000,000

$15,000,000

$20,000,000

$25,000,000

Firewise Community Investments


Community Ignition Zones Are Appearing

• Florida, 2007. Mitigated home ignition zones kept a wildfire at bay so that firefighters could save homes

Florida


Firewise “Saves” Documented

• 2010-2011– Idaho– Georgia– Florida– Virginia– Colorado– Texas

Colorado

Michele [email protected]

www.firewise.org | www.nfpa.org

THANK YOU!

nfpa firewise briefing info oct 11

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