18
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Building defensible space in your landscape
What¾s the science behind defen-
sible space? Why does it work?
The concept of defensible space was
developed by Forest Service fire scien-
tist Jack Cohen in the late 1990s, fol-
lowing some breakthrough experimen-
tal research into how homes ignite dur-
ing large wildfire events. Defensible
space is essential to protect a structure
during a wildland fire. It protects the
home from igniting due to direct flame
or radiant heat. Defensible space is
located in the Home Ignition Zone
(HIZ), which includes the home and
an area surrounding the home within
100 feet.
There are three main ways homes
ignite during a wildfire:
1. Embers
Embers are major culprits: Jack
Cohen¾s work and further analysis and
studies, including experiments spon-
sored by the insurance industry, show
that not only should the radiant heat
exposure be mitigated in the home
ignition zone, but exposure to embers
as well. In fact, all the research around
home destruction and home survival in
wildfires point to embers as the main
way that the majority of homes ignite
in wildfires. For that reason, NFPA rec-
ommends methods to prepare homes to
withstand ember attack and minimize
the likelihood of flames or surface fire
touching the home or any attachments
(fences, decks, porches) as the first
place for homeowners to start working
to prepare their properties.
Homeowners can reduce the risk of
ember ignition by doing a few small
things around their home.
The first item to focus on is the
<fine fuels= around your home. Those
are items such as pine needles, leaves,
and dry grasses directly adjacent
(within 5 feet) or touching your home.
Removing these fine fuels from vul-
nerable areas like the roof and gutters
is especially critical to home survival
during a wildfire.
The second item is removing flam-
mable plant species from within 30
feet of your home. Plant species such
as ornamental juniper, arborvitae, and
bitterbrush are particularly flammable.
They are also susceptible to ember
intrusion and ignition which will ulti-
mately impact the home they are adja-
cent to. For fire-resistant species, visit
FireFree.org for a downloadable guide.
Things such as your patio furniture
cushions, bark mulch touching your
home¾s siding, or doormats can also
provide a receptive ember bed during
a wildfire. Consider moving your bark
mulch away from your home at least
far enough that there is no direct con-
tact between your bark mulch & wood
siding. Cushions and doormats can be
stored away during long summer vaca-
tions and moved quickly during evacu-
ation situations.
2. Radiant heat
Radiant heat is heat transmitted by
CUSTOM FENCES AND DECKS
CRAFTSMANSHIP & ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Residential • Commercial
Custom Ranch & Domestic Privacy Fencing
Decks • Gates • Stain & Paint • Repair
FREE ESTIMATES
COMPETITIVE PRICING
541-588-2062
CCB#215066
www.SistersFenceCompany.com
Metolius Lawn
Maintenance
Your friends in the
spring-cleaning to
weekly lawn-care
and everything-in-
between business.
LCB# 15899
P Prices
i are always reasonable and
satisfaction is guaranteed!
CALL 541-508-9672 TODAY!
radiation as contrasted with that
transmitted by conduction (direct
flame contact). Commonly radiant
el
heat is the same kind of heat we feel
ss-
from the sunshine. When discuss-
main
ing radiant heat, it poses two
ility.
concerns for structural ignitability.
ly to
Windows and siding are most likely
be ignited or impacted by radiant heat
from fires near the home.
The radiant heat from flames that
are within the first 5 feet of the home
can break the glass in a window
and penetrate into the interior of a
home. Having a dual-pane, tempered
glass window offers the best protec-
tion because tempered glass does a
much better job resisting breakage
and even if the outer pane of glass
breaks, the inner pane may remain
intact. Siding is an expensive ele-
ment of any home, and many types
of siding are combustible. If the sid-
ing on your home is combustible it
is vulnerable to direct flame contact
and radiant heat exposure, and there-
fore it is important to keep the area
within five feet of your home free of
combustible items, plants, and debris
that could catch fire and bring flames
dangerously close to the siding. Once
ignited, flames from burning siding
can encroach on windows and eaves
3 potentially endangering the entire
house.
3. Direct flame
The overarching goal of defensible
Purple iceplant is a fire-resistant groundcover.
Look for it at C&C Nursery in downtown Sisters.
space is to prevent direct flame con-
tact from occurring. Once direct flame
contact occurs, it is hard to prevent
damage or the destruction of the home.
Zones
To prevent the above ignition
sources from impacting the built envi-
ronment, think in zones.
Zone 1 is the 0-5 feet adjacent to
the home and its attachments. This
is an area that encircles the structure
and all its attachments (wooden decks,
fences, and boardwalks) up to 5 feet. It
should be comprised of noncombusti-
ble materials, such as pavers, concrete,
gravel or bare dirt.
Zone 2 is 5 to 30 feet from the
home. This area encircles the struc-
ture and all its attachments (wooden
decks, fences, and boardwalks) for
at least 30 feet on all sides. Note: the
30-foot number comes from the very
minimum distance, on flat ground, that
a wood wall can be separated from the
See DEFENSIBLE SPACE on page 19
SISTERS FENCE COMPANY
Whether you are looking for commercial or resi-
dential fencing; horse corrals or a privacy screen;
a custom gate or just a repair — Sisters Fence
Company has the equipment and expertise to do
the job.
“We do a little bit of all types of fencing,” says
owner/operator Pat Burke.
Work is done to customer specifications and tai-
lored to the specific application.
“We really try to match the needs of the home-
owner and ultimately what they want,” Burke says.
Burke, a local raised in Sisters, is committed to
outstanding quality and service for his hometown
folks. Large jobs or small, Sisters Fence is equipped
to do the job. And it’s not limited to fencing. Sisters
Fence also does deck construction, refinishing and
repair.
The busy season is heating up as winter turns to
spring and rolls toward summer. Call Sisters Fence
Company now to get lined up for your project.
METOLIUS LAWN MAINTENANCE
Metolius Lawn Maintenance is ready for every
job — both big and small. You will not find a
friendlier, harder-working, or more reliable busi-
ness anywhere in Central Oregon. It’s a local,
family-owned company that knows that its cus-
tomers are also friends and neighbors. They show
up when and where they are supposed to and
get the job done in a professional and efficient
manner.
Their trailer can haul pine needles, downed
trees, limbs, and other yard debris. Anyone who
has not yet cleaned up his or her property should
contact Metolius Lawn Maintenance as soon as
possible; fire season is only getting closer.
Go fishing, go for a bike ride, or take the dogs
out for a hike, and leave the yard-work to us.
The Metolius Lawn Maintenance crew will
mow, edge, fertilize, rake, or tend to your property
in whatever way needed. They always appreciate
the work, and their prices are reasonable.
