Applying fire mitigation efforts similar to those undertaken in some San Diego County communities could help save homes in wildfire-prone areas, according to a new study by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
The study, "Mega Fires: The Case for Mitigation," analyzed the damage caused by the Witch Creek Wildfire in late October 2007, and found that none of the homes built in communities using San Diego County's "Shelter-in-Place" (SIP) mitigation approach burned.
California's 2007 building codes "include provisions for ignition resistant construction standards in the wildland urban interface," according to information provided by IBHS.
Updated "fire hazard severity zones" will determine the appropriate construction materials for new buildings in the wildland urban interface, the institute said. It advised that property owners will also use the updated zones to comply with natural hazards disclosure requirements at time of property sale.
SIP communities, IBHS said, go above and beyond California's 2007 building codes, and require:
o Residential fire sprinklers.
o A well-maintained, fire-resistive landscape with a minimum 100-foot defensible space surrounding all structures.
o Adequate roadway and driveway widths, designed to accommodate two-way traffic and large firefighting apparatuses.
o Adequate water supply and water flow for firefighting efforts.
o Vegetation-modification zones surrounding the entire community.
IBHS noted that three of these communities were threatened by the Witch Creek Wildfire, and while "there were several close calls," according to IBHS, no homes in these communities burned.
IBHS recommended that new home construction in wildfire-prone areas be built using the SIP standards. "These standards must be accompanied by routine inspections and strict, ongoing enforcement to be successful," the IBHS study states.
The study also recommended that the financial services and real estate industries "recognize the value of making [SIP] improvements to existing homes" and market homes for their ability to resist wildfires.
Consumers should also be proactive in protecting their homes, IBHS said. "Homeowners must become familiar with the affordable options available to retrofit their existing homes to increase their protection against wildfire, and local and state government leaders should encourage this education.
The study lists a number of mitigation efforts consumers can pursue, and also lists a cost range for the improvements from "free" to "over $5,000."
Some of the free options include removing vegetative debris from roofs and gutters and pruning back branches from the home. Some of the costlier measures include upgrading to a Class A fire-rated roof covering, installing double-pane windows, and re-siding the house with non-combustible material.
The study also called on government officials to evaluate firefighting costs and implement effective mitigation efforts before wildfires strike.
Some key findings by the IBHS study with respect to housing fire risks include:
o Wind-blown embers, which can travel one mile or more, were the biggest threat to homes in the Witch Creek Wildfire. IBHS added, "There were few, if any, reports of homes burned as a result of direct contact with flames."
o Homes with the highest risk of burning are those adjacent to wild land situated on the perimeter of housing developments;
o Interior homes situated less than 15 feet apart are at high risk from wildfire. These houses, IBHS said, were more likely to burn in clusters, whereas homes situated more than 45 feet apart were less likely to burn in this way.
The IBHS study is online at www.DisasterSafety.org/megafire.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.