FireWise USA & Education

FireWise USA Certification & Education Initiatives for Ellensburg, WA & Beyond

In the Ellensburg, WA, area, Firesmart NW, LLC proudly services commercial and residential clients under the leadership of a third-generation fireman. Being a certified FireWise USA site, we are committed to encouraging fuel mitigation and fire safety in our local communities in the Pacific Northwest.

 

We think that education can improve resistance to wildfires and one's readiness for them. We provide property owners with the information and abilities necessary to successfully reduce the danger of fire through educational workshops, training sessions, and outreach initiatives. Please be aware, these are measures to reduce the likelihood of a wildfire, but there is no 100% fireproofing method. We do our best to reduce chances of damage from a fire.


Come along as we continue to build communities that are fire-adapted. To arrange a time for a free assessment of your house or place of business, contact us right now.

What Is FireWise USA?

Firewise USA

A nationally acclaimed initiative called FireWise USA was created to provide communities with the tools they need to take preventative action and lower their risk of wildfires. FireWise USA, a program created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), promotes cooperation between citizens, landowners, and regional organizations to build communities that are fire-adapted. Firewise USA seeks to improve community resilience and reduce the loss of life and property in the event of a wildfire through outreach, education, and mitigation initiatives.


In order to improve their wildfire readiness, participating communities—including Firesmart NW, LLC—implement techniques like vegetation control, home hardening, and emergency planning. Communities can show their dedication to safety and promote a shared responsibility culture for wildfire prevention and mitigation by earning the FireWise USA certification.

Prepare Your Home or Home & Business for Wildfires

The bulk of homes ignite in wildfires using embers and small flames, according to research comparing home survival to home damage in wildfires. Burning fragments of grass or wood that are in the air and can travel over a mile in the wind can ignite homes, debris, and other items, causing spot fires.


There are ways for homeowners to make their houses more resistant to ember attacks and less likely to be touched by flames or surface fires. The state of the home and everything surrounding it, up to 200 feet from the foundation, can cause a home to catch fire, according to experiments, models, and post-fire studies. The Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) is the term for this.

What Is the Home Ignition Zone?

Jack Cohen, a retired USDA Forest Service fire scientist, came up with the idea of the "home ignition zone" in the late 1990s after doing a ground-breaking experimental study on how radiant heat causes dwellings to burn. There are three zones inside the HIZ.

Immediate Zone

The house and the non-combustible region are between 0 and 5 feet from the external point that is attached to the home’s farthest point. Since this zone is most susceptible to embers, science tells us it is the most crucial one to address right away. Starting with the house, proceed to the Immediate Zone's landscaping area.

 

  • Clear dead leaves, trash, and pine needles that could catch fire from the roof and gutters.
  • To stop ember penetration, replace or fix any missing or loose roof tiles or shingles.
  • Fit 1/8-inch metal mesh screening over vents in the eaves to stop embers from getting through.
  • To lessen embers, clean the trash from the outside attic vents and add 1/8-inch metal mesh screening.
  • Fix or swap out any broken windows and loose or damaged window screens. To stop waste and flammable items from building up, use wire mesh to screen or box in the spaces beneath patios and decks.
  • Anything that can catch fire should be moved away from the outside of walls, including mulch, flammable plants, leaves, needles, and piles of firewood. Take anything out from under porches and decks.

Intermediate Zone

5 to 30 feet away from the house's farthest exterior point. Careful landscaping or the creation of breaks can have a significant impact on influencing and reducing the behavior of fires.

 

  • Remove any undergrowth from the massive, fixed propane tanks.
  • Use patios, decks, walks, and driveways to provide fuel breaks.
  • Mow natural grasses and lawns to a height of four inches.
  • Eliminate vegetation beneath trees or ladder fuels to prevent surface fires from spreading to the crowns. Trees should be pruned from six to ten feet above the ground; for smaller trees, don't go over one-third of the total height of the tree.
  • Treetops should be spaced apart by at least eighteen feet, with the amount of space increasing with the slope's percentage.
  • When placing trees, it is important to make sure that the mature canopy is at least ten feet away from the building's border.
  • In order to break up the continuity of the vegetation over the landscape, trees, and shrubs in this zone should only be planted in small clusters of a few apiece.

Extended Zone

30 to 100 feet to 200 ft. With landscaping, the objective is to obstruct the route of fire rather than completely put it out and keep the flames contained to the ground.

 

  • Get rid of large amounts of debris and/or ground litter.
  • Get rid of the dead tree and plant matter.
  • Eliminate little conifers that are sprouting out between larger trees.
  • In this area, remove any vegetation that is close to storage sheds or other outbuildings.
  • The minimum distance between the canopy tops of trees 30 to 60 feet from the house should be 12 feet.* The minimum distance between the canopy tops of trees 60 to 100 feet from the house should be 6 feet.*


*The recommended crown spacing distances are based on NFPA 1144. However, according to slope, the species of trees involved, and other site-specific factors, the crown spacing required to lessen or prevent crown fire hazard could be much greater. To find out what is suitable for your property, consult a local forestry professional.

Helpful Websites

Want to Know More About FireWise USA or Fire Safety?

Share by: