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FIREWISE site selection and preparation can play an important part in improving the chances of your home surviving a wild land fire. Following the guidelines below will reduce the risk of a fire igniting the house, and allow firefighters to safely defend your home. |
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Steep slopes, canyons and draws may channel a fire and increase its intensity. A new home should be built more than 150 feet from these topographic features. |
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Existing houses should increase their DEFENSIBLE SPACE to compensate for these features. The building site should have at least two routes of entry and egress. Roads should be accessible for fire trucks or emergency equipment. |
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South facing slopes have the least vegetation because they dry out fast and have less available moisture. Since there is less fuel, fire burns with less intensity. East and west slopes generally have more vegetation than south slopes. They are more prone to drying out in the summer, so the fire potential increases during summer months. North slopes typically have the densest vegetation and higher moisture content. Fires occur there less frequently, but when they do they burn with more intensity because there is so much more fuel. |
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