Homeowners Communities And Wildfire

Recommendations for protection against wildfires.

The 9th Internat. Symp. on Society & Resource Mgmt. provided one of the first opportunities to bring together managers & social scientists conducting research or developing projects supported by the Nat. Fire Plan (NFP). The NFP was a response by Fed. land mgmt. agencies, States, & local communities to the devastating fires of the last decade. The goal of the NFP is to reduce the impact of wildfires on rural communities & ensure sufficient firefighting capacity in the future through research, mgmt., & community assistance. The theme Choices & Consequences: Natural Resources & Societal Decision-Making,Ó was especially germane to wildfire as we now respond to the consequences of wildfire mgmt. choices made decades ago. Illustrations.

This guide, based on a literature review and personal contacts, offers recommendations and standards for procedures in reducing losses of residences from wildfires. Possible solutions to the problem of fire protection are discussed in the broad areas of land-use planning and zoning, property development, structural design and construction, landscaping, accessories, occupant activities, and financial incentives. The problem of reducing fire losses in undeveloped areas is also discussed and solutions proposed. The guide is intended for homeowners, lawmakers, and members of the building, planning, and financial communities.

Presents key social science findings from three National Fire Plan-sponsored research projects. Articles highlight information of likely interest to individuals working to decrease wildfire hazards on both private and public lands. Three general topic areas are addressed: (1) public views and acceptance of fuels management, (2) working with homeowners and communities, and (3) tools that can help us understand social issues.

This is a manual that helps homeowners and neighborhoods prepare their areas and their homes for wildfire. A fire-adapted community is a community located in a fire-prone area that requires little assistance from firefighters during a wildfire. Residents of these communities accept responsibility for living in a high fire-hazard area. They possess the knowledge and skills to prepare their homes and property to survive wildfire; evacuate early, safely and effectively; and survive, if trapped by wildfire.

"Covers what to do before, during, and after wildfire disasters. Advice for homeowners includes advance preparations for land, home and family; evacuation essentials and survival strategies when wildfire threatens; understanding insurance; and rebuilding and recovery"--

Once a major wildfire is burning, it's too late for fire prevention and sometimes beyond the efforts of firefighters. That's why the most important person preventing a house from burning is the homeowner. If you live in an area threatened by wildfires, here are the most important steps you can take to preserve your home. Install an automatic gas shut off valve. Ember-proof your home. Keep decks clear. Create and maintain a non-ignition zone adjacent to your house. Remove junipers from your property. Take advantage of the wet season for vegetation management. Provide both vertical and horizontal spacing between plants and trees. Your fire insurance will not replace the time, anguish, valued personal items, or loss of community that occurs when your house burns down. The Homeowner's Guide to Fire Prevention provides information that may save your home.

A practical guide for living with wildfire, including essential history and science, actions you can take to protect your home, and guiding principles for life in an increasingly fiery future. Wildfires are getting more destructive than ever before. Flames in forests are scorching about twice as many trees as they did two decades ago, and nearly 100,000 homes, barns, and other structures have been incinerated. “Fire seasons” are now fire years. Tens of millions of people live in areas vulnerable to fire, and more keep moving in. Driven in part by climate change, the areas burned and prevalence of smoke in the skies is expected to skyrocket in the decades to come. At the same time that wildfires leave swathes of the country in ash, they also renew. Wildfire is crucial for ecosystems to function and flourish. We're putting out many of the fires our landscape needs, and the ones that escape our control are devastating for forests and communities. It's clear what we're doing isn't working. Wildfire is inevitable, and we need to learn to live with it. The first of its kind, This Is Wildfire is required reading for our new reality. It offers everything you need to know about fire in one useful volume: reflects on the history of humanity's connection to flames; analyzes how our society arrived at this perilous moment; and recounts stories of those fighting fire and trying to change our relationship with it. It also offers practical advice: choosing your insurance and making your home resilient to burns; packing an emergency go-bag; rebuilding after a fire; and so much more.