Tag: wildfire

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Wildfire Retardants

Usually seen on the evening news as red cloud being sprayed out of an airplane, fire retardants have been widely used since the late 1950s and are extremely helpful in suppressing wildfire.

There are three classes of fire retardants. Long-term retardants are usually applied with a rotary or fixed-winged aircraft. They are 85 percent water, with 10 percent fertilizer and 5 percent coloring, usually iron oxide. The retardant is dyed for higher visibility over the drop zone. Long-term retardants can …

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eWIN Articles on Before Fire Building Materials & Home Design


Photo source: Slworking2, “This house burned to the ground, while the one next door survived with just a few scorch marks.” October 28, 2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution.

Home survival in wildfire prone areas depends on a combination of choices regarding building materials and design decisions for the home or building combined with adequate vegetation management in the area surrounding your home (i.e., your “defensible space”). The resources listed below provide more information regarding the performance of materials and …

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How Wildfire Threatens a House

Article Written by:

  • Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA
  • Ed Smith, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Reno, NV
  • Stephen L. Quarles, Insurance Intitue for Business & Home Safety, Richburg, SC

Knowing how wildfire threatens a home can effectively reduce the wildfire risk. Wildfire can threaten a home in three ways:

  • Wind-blown embers (firebrands)
  • Contact by flames
  • Radiant heat.

Wind-blown Embers

Embers are the leading cause of home loss during wildfire. Embers are burning pieces of vegetation …

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"If in Doubt, Throw it Out" – What to do With Food and Medication After a Wildfire

When should food and medications be discarded after a wildfire? The rule of thumb is if in doubt, throw it out. When you return to your home, you should discard any food, beverages, or medications exposed to heat, smoke, or soot. The potency of some medications can be altered by exposure to heat, so check with your doctor before using any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Canned goods that are dented, bulging, or rusted or that have been charred or exposed …

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Ladder Fuels

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Ladder Fuels
Fuel that can carry a fire burning in low-growing vegetation to taller vegetation is called ladder fuel. Examples of ladder fuels include low-lying tree branches and shrubs and trees under the canopy of a large tree. In areas prone to wildfire, creating a separation in vegetation by removing ladder fuels is an important task. The recommended separation distance may vary by community and vegetation type, so check with your fire marshal or state division of forestry. Proper removal
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Wildfire and Its Effects on Streams and Rivers

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Wildfire affects streams and rivers in a multitude of ways, and the health and wealth of a stream environment are reflections of the condition of the surrounding watershed. Stream ecosystems are constantly changing and are often altered by episodic floods and droughts. Erosion is a natural process. Its effects on a stream are highly variable. Add a high-intensity wildfire, and conditions in the stream or river at the bottom of the hill can change rapidly. All of these naturally occurring …

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Wildfire Information Network Contents

Wildfire Information Network Community (eWIN)

Before Fire

During Fire

After Fire

Additional Information

Webcast Series

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Firescaping – Landscape Design for Wildfire Defensible/Survivable Space

Fire safety must be a major factor in landscape design when homes are built in wildfire-prone areas. Appropriate landscapes can make a significant contribution toward wildfire survival.

What Is Firescaping?

Firescaping is landscape design that reduces the vulnerability of your house and property to wildfire. The goal is to develop a landscape with a design and choice of plants that offer the best defensible, survivable space and enhance the property. The ideal is to surround the house with things that …

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