Keith Hawkins, Area Extension Forester
News accounts regularly report about wildfires in the western United States, and those reports usually include the loss of homes. But California and other western states are not the only places where rural homeowners are at risk to wildfire.
A few weeks ago a large wildfire in North Carolina threatened improved property. Last year in rural parts of south Georgia and north Florida an historically large wildfire impacted numerous citizens and required resources from other states for weeks. Even in this decade, the Oakdale fire burned 13,000 in Allen Parish with the loss of structures.
What is a rural homeowner to do? There are strategies available to help homeowners protect their most personal investment, their homes. The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry have partnered to bring the Firewise program to our citizens. Take this quiz to see how “Firewise” you are.
1. What is the best Web site for rural fire safety?
a. www.bugwood.org
b. www.lsuagcenter.com
c. www.firewall.com
d. www.firewise.org
e. www.smokeybear.com
f. www.ldaf.state.la.us
2. Which year witnessed a record wildfire season in Louisiana? (Hint: What year did the Oakdale fire occur?)
a. 2003
b. 2002
c. 2001
d. 2000
3. What causes the most wildfires in southwest Louisiana?
a. Careless trash burning
b. Catalytic converters
c. Forest arsonists
d. Arcing power lines
4. Ladder fuels are what?
a. Discarded wooden ladders on a burn pile
b. Ladders used for firefighting
c. Vegetation that enables fire to climb to tree tops or roofs
d. None of the above
5. Which activity will NOT protect your rural home from wildfire?
a. Pruning trees and shrubs
b. Mowing grass and weeds
c. Building a gazebo
d. Planting trees
6. What is the least defensible space a home needs to be “lean, clean, & green”?
a. 50 feet
b. 40 feet
c. 30 feet
d. 20 feet
e. 10 feet
7. A Firewise home would NOT have what?
a. Metal roof
b. Stucco siding
c. Wooden shingles
d. Double pane glass windows.
e. Masonry
8. Which landscape plant is more fire resistant?
a. Arborvitae
b. Yaupon holly
c. Red cedar
d. Oakleaf hydrangea
9. Which is the most UNLIKELY ignition source of wildfires threatening homes?
a. Forest arson
b. Careless trash burning
c. Firebrands or lofted embers
d. Lightning
10. What is the minimum size for street address numbers?
a. 1 inch
b. 2 inches
c. 3 inches
d. 4 inches
e. The bigger, the better
Scoring and Answers: The standards for scoring this quiz are high to prompt readers into a sense of urgency about rural fire safety. If you scored 10 correct answers, then you are “Firewise." Don’t stop there; look at your home to see where it may need some shoring up for surviving a wildfire. Scoring an 8 or 9 is merely OK. Scoring less than 8 is risky, so get to work making your home into a “Firewise” home.
1. What is the best Web site for rural fire safety? Several answers are good, but the best answer is www.firewise.org. This Web site has information for: homeowners, firefighters and educators. In fact, this Web site inspired most of the questions for this quiz.
2. Which year witnessed a record wildfire season in Louisiana? In this year, Louisiana had 4,738 wildfire incidents burning 92,573 acres, and September endured 41,786 burned acres. More than 30 homes have been destroyed since 1990. The worst year on record was 2000.
3. What causes the most wildfires in southwest Louisiana? All of these causes have resulted in wildfires. However, forest arson is the biggest cause in southwest Louisiana, and if you have information about forest arson, contact your local law enforcement officer.
4. Ladder fuels are what? A wildfire is easier to control when it stays on the ground while a crown fire in the tops of trees is much more dangerous and difficult to control. Ladder fuels enable wildfire to climb to tree tops and roofs.
5. Which activity will NOT protect your rural home from wildfire? Pruning and mowing would reduce the amount of ladder and other fuels, and planting hardwood trees and shrubs would reduce flammability of fuels near your home because their leaves do not carry fire as well as pine straw. The gazebo will probably add to fuels available to a wildfire and will NOT protect your home.
6. What is the least defensible space a home needs to be “lean, clean, & green”? If you had all the time and money in the world, your home’s defensible space could be extremely huge. However, 30 feet will make your home “Firewise.”
7. A Firewise home would NOT have what? A Firewise home would use construction materials that are fire-resistant or noncombustible and would not use wooden shingles, except if those were treated for fire resistance. Here are two more important ways to make your home Firewise: prevent sparks from entering through vents with wire mesh, and keep gutters clean.
8. Which landscape plant is more fire resistant? Within your defensible space, avoid flammable plants with resins, oils and waxes that readily burn. The first three plants in the answer list are evergreens and highly flammable, and the hydrangea is not an evergreen and would be more fire resistant than the evergreens.
9. Which is the most UNLIKELY ignition source of wildfires threatening homes? Most of our wildfires in Louisiana are due to either arson or carelessness, both of which involve people. Firebrands or lofted embers from a wildfire can travel hundreds of yards and farther, and are a threat to rural homes. Lightning is unlikely to threaten us, but it causes the most fires in the western United States.
10. What is the minimum size for street address numbers? There is probably a standard, but the bigger the better is a safe bet. Good visibility of your street address and good access are important for fire and emergency vehicles to assist you. Also, is your home’s entrance wide enough for a fire engine?
How to become a Firewise Community: The purpose of this quiz is to make rural homeowners aware of the possible vulnerabilities of their rural homes. If you or your community has a need for a Firewise inspection, please contact: Alan Small, Firewise Coordinator, LDAF, at (318) 471-5718 or email.