Create a fire buffer zone around your home

From 2005 to 2020, wildfire destroyed almost 90,000 structures, including homes and businesses, or 62% of all structures lost over a 15-year period.

• In 2018 alone, wildfire burned 9 million acres in the United States, including more than 18,000 homes.
• Preparing your home to guard against wildfires may have the extra benefit of making it more visually appealing.
• Even if you’ve ‘hardened’ your home against a potential wildfire, some plants, landscape, and mulch may actually invite wildfires.

Create a fire buffer zone around your home

1. Clear space. Using gloves and a mask for safety, clear out dry material and dead plants around the perimeter.
2. Check clearance. Keep a 6-inch space between the ground and siding.
3. Clear gutters. Using a ladder, climb to roof level and access your gutters. Clean your gutters of leaves and debris. Load debris into garbage bags and contact your town for the best way to remove.
4. Check your plantings. Using your rake or mower. be sure to create space between plants so potential fires wouldn’t be able to spread.
5. Check vegetation. Pruning tools, lawn mowers, and rakes can all help you stay on top of the vegetation around your property. Maintaining the vegetation around your home is essential for reducing the risk of wildfires. Reduce the available fuel for a fire by trimming and removing any brush, trees, and other vegetation near your home.
6. Create a green zone. When you plant, consider low flammability plants. These include plants that have supple moist leaves and water-like, thin sap, little or no accumulation of dead vegetation on the plant, or open and loose branching structure.

Source: Liberty Mutual Insurance