Defensible Space: Build a Wildfire Buffer Zone

As drought conditions give way to increased wildfire season, taking steps to safeguard ministry property should become a part of your overall risk management strategy.

While evacuating is often the safest option for your people, small and proactive measures can help your property withstand flying embers, flames, or radiant heat. Creating a defensible space—a buffer zone around your structures—can significantly reduce the risk of ignition.

Get in the zone: Carving out a defensible space

According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety^® (IBHS), the time to prepare for a wildfire is long before you feel the heat. Creating and maintaining a zone of defensible space significantly reduces the potential for ignition by removing potential fuel sources that become kindling for a wildfire from wind-borne embers, heat, and flames.

Create at least a 5-foot noncombustible buffer around each structure on your property. Start by visualizing a buffer zone around each building, garage, and shed. This becomes your defensible space to keep wildfire from reaching structures. Then do the following:

• Clear the area. Remove plants, shrubs, trees, decks, covered porches and awnings, wood/rubber mulch, pine straw, vines, and groundcover in the zone.
• Install hardscaping to replace the vegetation, like river rocks or pavers.
• Trim tree branches that hang over or near your roof.
• Remove wood or plastic fencing. Keep debris from gathering around metal fencing and under stairs.
• Replace combustible outdoor benches or other furniture with metal versions.
• Store garbage bins away from structures and outside the zone.
• Block embers from flying into vents. Install ember-resistant vents or cover existing vents with 1/8-inch metal wire mesh.

At least annually, walk your zone. Make note of what needs attention. Get rid of “fire fuel” anywhere on your property—like dried or dead vegetation or trees and debris piles—even if it’s not in your defensible zone.

Finally, clear roofs and gutters seasonally, since leaf litter acts like kindling for wildfire embers in these areas, too.

Play offense: Strengthen your response

Now that you have a defensible space, it’s time to switch to creating an offensive plan designed to facilitate an escape, if necessary.

• Know how to manually open garage doors. If the power is out, vehicles trapped in a garage become a life-threatening barrier to evacuation. Train employees and volunteers that would have regular access.
• Train staff to use fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and hoses.
• Update your property inventory annually. File a copy with your insurance agent.
• Gather important documents. Compile a list of emergency contacts of leadership, volunteers, and your insurance agent. Create a packet of important ministry documents that you can quickly grab and go in an evacuation.

The information provided in this article is intended to be helpful, but it does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice from a licensed attorney in your area. We strongly encourage you to regularly consult with a local attorney as part of your risk management program.

 

Back to Safety Library