|
FireSmart ™
is a proactive program of Kootenai County and the National Fire Plan. Its purpose is to increase awareness of the hazards
associated with wildfire in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas of Kootenai County and to mitigate those hazards wherever possible.
Funding is provided through grants from our state and federal agencies.
The program is two-fold:
1. Provide property owners with information and educational tools to make them a full partner in protecting their home or business from
wildfire. FireSmart ™ helps landowners learn how to create a fire safe zone around their home, reduce the ignitability of structures and create safe access for firefighters and other emergency personnel. Your local Fire Districts are also available to help with home assessments.
2. Assists property owners in creating fuel breaks designed to protect themselves and their community from wildfire. For landowners whose
property qualifies for treatment as a fuel break, the initial hazardous fuel treatment work is paid for through the FireSmart ™ program.
Participants agree to maintain the work for a period of 10 years, or until they sell the property, whichever comes first.
 Vegetation state prior to hazardous fuel reduction.
 After hazardous fuel reduction work is complete. |
|
| |
FireSmart ™ Tips
- Create a lean, green, and clean area 30 feet around your home
- Create and maintain "defensible" space at least 100 feet from this lean, green, clean area
- Keep the area free of dead vegetation (grass, leaf litter, limbs, etc.)
- Prune tree limbs up to 10 feet or 30-50 percent of tree height, whichever is less
- Dispose of slash (materials smaller than 3 inches in diameter)
- Clean needles and leaves from gutters, roof, and inside corners of house
- Water and mow your lawn regularly
- Store firewood away from structures
- Screen chimneys and under porch or deck
- Identify and control noxious weeds
- Prune vegetation over driveway to a minimum height of 13.5 feet for clearance
- Provide an escape route
- Keep your address visible
- Establish turn-outs to allow passage of vehicles, including fire engines, at a minimum width of 50 feet.
- Avoid road grades over 10%
- Choose "Fire-Resistive" plants and landscape materials
- Do not plant flammable junipers next to your home
- Maintain your defensible space each year
|
|
|
|
