Many of us live in Idaho because of the scenic beauty that is easily accessible in and from our communities. By living in a Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) area, you accept the good and not so good aspects of what nature has to offer. Fire suppression teams do everything possible to save threatened structures, but we have all heard stories on the news where human intervention was not enough. Wildland fires are the greatest natural hazard in Idaho, and a little preparation may go a long way in preserving your home in case the worst happens. It is commonly thought that the majority of homes are destroyed by direct flame contact from wildfires. The truth is that just as many are destroyed because of flying embers that land in the yard or on the structure and radiant heat from a nearby fire. By taking steps to mitigate easily ignitable areas around your home, you may prevent the worst from happening.

There is a concept that called “survivable space”. This is a perimeter around your home that has easily ignitable sources removed or reduced which accomplishes multiple goals. The first and most obvious is that it reduces the threat that wildfire presents to your home. The second is that it gives firefighters room to put out the fire and give them a safer environment with which to work. Firefighter safety is one of our primary concerns, and you can help with that safety effort.

Landscaping isn’t the only way that you can make your home safer in the event of a wildfire. There are steps that you can take to make your structure more resistant to the threat of wildland fire. We also have suggestions for access to your home that will make it easier for firefighters to reach your home in the event of a wildfire.

If a wildfire threatens your home, we have suggestions that you can follow to make yourself and your home safer.