Wildland Urban Interface: Understanding the Overlap Between Nature and Civilization
The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is where houses and wildland vegetation meet or intermingle. It’s the zone where wildfire risk is highest, as homes can ignite from flying embers or direct flame contact.
Factors like climate change, increasing population, and expansion into wildlands are exacerbating WUI fire risk. Understanding and managing this interface is crucial for community safety and wildfire mitigation.
Defensible space fire zones
Areas of landscaping to consider include the 100-foot area around the home, areas of greenspace within, and wildlands surrounding a community. Landscaping around homes and other buildings and infrastructure should be especially well maintained. Research shows that maintaining this area properly can improve home survival.
Zone 1 (0-5 feet)
Includes the structure, deck/patio/balcony or other outside entertaining space as well as fencing that is attached to the home and the immediate landscaping from the home to 5 feet away.
- Remove all combustible materials like wood mulches, dead or dry vegetation, and leaves and pine needles from roofs and gutters.
- Trim tree branches that hang over the roof, eaves and chimney.
Zone 2 (5-30 feet)
Includes the area from 5 feet to 30 feet away from the home, including the property and all outbuildings.
- Keep this area lean, clean and green by pruning and removing dead and dying branches from well-spaced bushes and trees.
- Make sure to keep this area well maintained and watered during a hot, dry summer.
- Stack wood piles on bare or gravel areas or in an enclosed shed at least 30 feet from the home.
Zone 3 (30-100 feet)
This is the area farthest from the home, extending from Zone 2 to your property’s boundary from 30 to 100 feet. Reduce fuels by thinning and spacing vegetation vertically and limbing up trees horizontally to interrupt fire’s path and keep flames small and on the ground.