- Noncombustible
- A material that isn’t capable of igniting and burning. Metal siding and traditional three-coat stucco are examples of materials that are rated as noncombustible. Given the widespread use of composite materials — that is, a material that is made from a combination of a few different materials, such as a fiber-cement product — it isn’t always clear whether a material is noncombustible. ASTM E-136 is a standard test procedure that is used to determine if a material qualifies as
Taking Care of Residential Trees After Wildfire
After a fire, many homeowners wonder what to do with the trees in their landscape. It is important to determine which trees might recuperate and which will need to be removed. A publication by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension tells how to take care of residential trees after wildfire.
Predicting the Mortality of Conifers After a Wildfire
Article Written by:
Yvonne Barkley, University of Idaho Extension, Moscow, ID
Predicting the mortality of conifers after a wildfire is important for post-fire planning and management. Fire resistance varies greatly with plant species and factors such as age. In general, young, fast-growing trees on good sites will be better able to withstand damage from fire than over-mature, slow-growing trees on poor sites.
Additional general statements that hold true across species are:
- as the percent of crown scorch increases, mortality increases.
Using Mulch to Control Erosion after a Wildfire
Article Written by:
Yvonne Barkley, University of Idaho Extension, Moscow, ID
Using mulch to control erosion after a wildfire is a very common practice. Research has shown that mulching is the only treatment which consistently and significantly reduced erosion rates after a burn by immediately increasing the percent of ground cover, compared to gradually increasing cover by growing vegetation such as grass.
Mulch is used to cover the soil, thereby reducing rain impact, overland flow, soil erosion and the rapid …
The Healthy Forest Restoration Act
Article Written by:
Janean Creighton, Oregon State University Extension, Corvallis, OR
Photo by Andy Perleberg, WSU
The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) was signed into law by President George W. Bush in December 2003. The legislation is intended to reduce the threat of destructive wildfires while upholding environmental standards and encouraging public input early in the planning process. The HFRA strengthens public participation in developing high priority areas, uses the best science available to actively manage public lands, allows for …
Evaluating Damage to Your Home After a Wildfire
Evaluating damage to your home after a wildfire should be done at the first opportunity. Your insurance agent should be the first person you contact. The agent will be able to tell you how to proceed with a claim. Do not start to clean up or throw away anything until your agent has inspected the damage. Do start taking pictures and video as soon as you arrive back home.
It may be necessary for a construction professional to come and …
Safely Returning to Your Home After a Wildfire
Safely Returning to Your Home after a Wildfire
Many homeowners wonder when it is safe to return to their homes after a wildfire. Once you are given the “all clear” to go home, what you should look for outside and inside the home to ensure you and your families safety?
In most states, permission to return home after a wildfire is usually given by a local fire or law enforcement authority such as your county sheriff’s office. They deem it …
Reforesting Your Forestland after a Wildfire
Article Written by:
Yvonne Barkley, University of Idaho Extension, Moscow, ID
One of the first activities most people plan after a burn is reforesting their forestland after a wildfire. Reforestation is the process of establishing a new stand of trees on a previously forested site following a disturbance such as fire. There are two ways to re-establish a stand of trees. Natural regeneration is when you let nature handle the job of revegetating a site with trees, whereas artificial regeneration…
Using Barriers to Control Erosion after a Wildfire
Article Written by:
Yvonne Barkley, University of Idaho Extension, Moscow, ID
Using barriers to control erosion after a wildfire is a common practice. Barriers are installed on hillslopes and in streams to slow water flow, increase infiltration, and trap sediment. There are several types of barriers:
- Log barriers are anchored on the contour of burned slopes to provide immediate protection. They are often used where erosion rates will be high. This treatment is appropriate for slopes of less than 40
How to Determine Burn Severity After a Wildfire
Article Written by:
Yvonne Barkley, University of Idaho Extension, Moscow, ID
It is important to determine the burn severity of a wildfire as many post-fire assessment and management decisions will be based on this information. Plant mortality, regeneration and reproduction are closely tied to how hot and how long a wildfire burns and will determine the make-up of post-fire plant communities. Burn severity also effects wildlife habitat, changes in the soil, erosion potential and many components of aquatic environments.