Firewise landscaping helps reduce fire threat

By Donna Cuin
Extension horticulture program associate
UW Cooperative Extension Service

            Keeping in mind Wyoming’s fire danger is now moderate to very high, one hazard rural residents face is the potential of wildfires burning forested and prairie lands. 

            Wildfires not only can attack the land but can impact homes and buildings. A great way to minimize or prevent damage is to incorporate Firewise plantings around homes and outbuildings.

            With recent years of drought and a focus on homeland security issues, many communities are putting more emphasis on preventing potential hazards or developing methods of minimizing damage from potential disasters. There is more home construction in the urban-wildland interface areas in the last 10 years, and more Wyomingites are venturing out into life in the country. 

            Whether a home is in the forest or on the high plains, there are landscape-design concepts that can help ensure the house survives a fire. 

            Plant selection is an important step in successful Firewise protection. Since there are no fireproof plants, landowners will want fire-resistant plants near their homes and outbuildings. Plants that help in slowing down or stopping a fire have high moisture content and have a low content of volatile sap or resin.

            There is a push for people to plant drought-resistant species, but there are also higher water-using spring bloomers that are Firewise plants. They utilize the naturally occurring spring moisture.

            In a Firewise planting, plants that are short and grow close to the ground are recommended near buildings. Choose species that grow slowly, need little or no frequent pruning or maintenance, and do not accumulate large amounts of combustible dead branches, leaves, or needles. (See accompanying list of suggested Firewise plants). 

The inner zone of defensible space is called zone 1 and should be at least 30 feet from surrounding buildings. 

Zone 2 is the next 40 feet of space surrounding zone 1, and zone 3 is the outermost space – usually 70 to 100 feet from structures. 

The suggested Firewise plants will help in any of the three zones of defensible space, but the focus will be on the area right around the home – zone 1. 

There are many native plants that slow fire advancement, and some residents may want to focus on creating a native-looking or Wyoming feeling in their landscapes.

Others may be more comfortable using traditional horticultural plantings for which there are many well-suited, non-native plants available. 

With a focus on short plants with little or no pruning, the best suggestions for zone 1 will be ground covers and flowering plants. 

            No matter where in the state, landowners can check with local fire districts, the local Wyoming State Forestry Division offices (http://slf-web.state.wy.us/forestry.aspx) under the Offices & Contacts link, or local University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service offices (www.uwyo.edu/UWces/Counties.asp) for resources to develop a defensible space around their homes and outbuildings.    

            For more information on Firewise, see www.firewise.org.

            Donna Cuin is a horticulture program associate for the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service’s Natrona County office. She can be reached at (307) 235-9400 or dcuin@natronacounty-wy.gov

Suggested Firewise plants

Natives
Aster   
Beebalm                      
Blanket flower
Columbine       
Delphinium      
Dotted gayfeather
Monkshood
Native iris
Northern bedstraw      
Pearly everlasting                     
Prairie coneflower                    
Prairie smoke
Pussytoes                                
Scarlet gilia                              
Sulphur flower             
Western wallflower
Wild blue flax                          
Yarrow

Non-native plants

Black-eyed Susan                    
Common harebell                    
Coral-bells
Creeping grape holly                
Daffodil                                   
Hardy geranium
Hyacinth                                  
Ice plant                                  
Iris                              
Jacob’s ladder                         
Lupine                         
Monkey flower            
Pink                                        
Primrose                      
Sedum             
Skullcap                                  
Sunflower                                
Tulip

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