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Wildfire Risk Assessment for SOUTHERN HOMEOWNERS

Wildfires are an important and necessary occurrence in many natural areas of the southern United States, but they also present a risk to homes constructed in, or next to, such areas. All homes are not equally at risk for a variety of reasons.

For homeowners, risk is based on nearby land use, vegetation near homes, and building design and materials. If you live in a subdivision surrounded by other homes or developments with abundant green lawns and open space, or in the middle of an urban area, then your wildfire risk is likely low and this risk assessment may not apply to you. However, if your home if located adjacent to or near undeveloped, shrubby or wooded land, then you could be at risk if a wildfire occurs.

This risk assessment will allow you to determine your particular risk to fire as well as the critical factors that increase your risk and how you can reduce them.

Before beginning this risk assessment you may want to read the first 5 pages of the Wildfire Risk Assessment Guide (click here to view) for additional background information.

This risk assessment is organized into two major components: A. The Fuel Component and B. The Structure Component. The fuel component assesses the vegetation around a home. The structure component identifies hazardous characteristics of a home's design and building materials. During a wildfire, the fuel and structure components work together to affect the home's survivability. That's why both components must be assessed to determine the wildfire risk of a particular home.

A. Fuel Component Select the most appropriate for each of the two fuel factors (major plant community and defensible space) which best describes the vegetation surrounding your home.   1. Ratings for the major plant communities of the southern United States: Refer to plant community descriptions or click on an individual name below if you need clarification about which plant community surrounds your home.   Very Low Fire Hazard Cultivated agricultural lands Low Fire Hazard Hardwood forest (e.g. oaks, hickories, maples poplars) Mature pine plantations that are open underneath trees (few shrubs) Seasonally flooded swamps Moderate Fire Hazard Pine savannas (low density pines with grasses underneath) Grasslands Seasonal marshes High Fire Hazard Pine forests with shrubs less than 6 feet tall Young hardwood forests with dense shrubs Recently logged forests with downed woody debris Other plant communities dominated by shrubs < 6 feet tall Very High Fire Hazard Dense shrubs greater than 6 feet tall; may or may not have trees above the shrubs   2. Defensible Space* (Click each option for examples) Greater than 100 feet of defensible space 60-100 feet of defensible space 30-60 feet of defensible space Less than 30 feet of defensible space * Defensible space is an area of modified vegetation around a home or other structure. This not only breaks up the fuel source around a home, helping its survivability, but it also makes it easier for fire fighters to do their job. This is because defensible space frees up more area around the home, making it easier to maneuver vehicles and other fire-fighting equipment. Defensible space also helps prevent a structure fire from igniting an adjacent wildland area. B. Structure Component Check all factors that apply to your structure and surrounding landscape.   1. Firebrand Ignition Factors: Wood shingles or shakes on roof (Class C or not rated) Wood deck Open or combustible soffits, screened or unscreened vents Open space under house without skirting None of the above   2. Other Indirect Ignition Factors: Slopes greater than 30% Wood fence (connected to house) Adjacent house or outbuilding less than 50 ft. from house Stacked firewood and/or propane tanks less than 30 ft. from house None of the above   3. Heat-Related or Direct Ignition Factors: Wood siding Vinyl siding or soffits Single paned, non-tempered glass None of the above

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