A 20-year-old wood-frame home in a high wildfire hazard area was modified and made Firewise by creating a "defensible space" for wildfire protection without losing the "woodsy" look and feel. Treatments performed for this project are identified.

Many people don't realize that creating "Defensible Space" for wildfire protection doesn't necessarily mean losing that "woodsy" look. This is well-illustrated by a Firewise Retrofit House Project completed in Alachua County in 2003. With the cooperation of the homeowner, a 20-year-old wood-frame home in a high wildfire hazard area was modified to make the structure Firewise. The project site was a home with cedar siding on 1.8 acres, surrounded by dense brush and timber. A preliminary survey of the neighborhood yielded a wildfire hazard rating of 117 points (extreme wildfire hazard). The following treatments were performed for this demonstration project:

Landscaping Improvements

• Trees within the area of Defensible Space were thinned (34 were removed, mostly pines) to prevent a wildfire from spreading from the treetops to the roof.
• Highly flammable native plants (saw palmetto and gallberry) were removed within 30 feet of the house and thinned significantly beyond that distance.
• The existing irrigation system was expanded.
• Less-flammable shrubs (azalea, oakleaf hydrangea, and viburnum) were added within the zone of Defensible Space and separated by areas of sod.
• Pine needles, leaves and other natural debris was raked up and removed.
• Asphalt pavement replaced a pine-straw driveway, creating an additional firebreak.

Structural Improvements

• The exterior cedar siding was replaced with non-combustible cement-fibrous siding. This non-combustible, low-maintenance exterior also resists damage caused by extended exposure to moisture, humidity, salt air and termites.
• Class A Fire Resistant and Enhanced Wind Rated Shingles replaced the existing shingles over Moisture Wrap Tape (4-inch wide "peel and stick" tape) installed to provide a secondary moisture barrier. Two plastic skylights were replaced with tempered glass skylights. These are low "E," fire-resistant skylights and are considerably more durable than plastic skylights.
• The existing vinyl window screening was replaced with aluminum fire-resistant screening, to dissipate heat and the prevent entry of firebrands.
• A new spark arrestor was installed in the chimney.
• A wooden fence extending from a corner of the house to perimeter brush and shrubs was replaced with an attractive, fire-resistant aluminum fence.
• The street address was made more visible to enable emergency service vehicles to quickly locate the house.

As you can see from the "Before" and "After" pictures below, Defensible Space does not need to be a grassed expanse, devoid of all trees and shrubs. Homeowners can create Defensible Space and still have a beautiful landscape, shade trees for lower energy bills, food and cover for wildlife, and the feeling of being close to nature.