Spring has arrived with the promise of milder days and blooming flowers — and the potential threat of wildfires. Since wildfires keep getting more frequent and more destructive, it pays to do all you can to keep your home safe.

Fortunately, you can do a lot to reduce fire risk that doesn’t require much physical exertion. If you can trim a tree or move a trash container a few feet, it can keep your property safe. There is even a new Red Cross initiative that aims to teach homeowners all the basics of defense from wildfires.

There’s no question the fire danger is real – driven by climate change, which is making our region warmer and drier. Washington experienced 1,884 wildfires in 2023 – second in number only to the more than 2,000 fires reported in 2015. 

Last year’s wildfires burned more than 160,000 acres and destroyed 400 homes, and there is no reason to think this year’s fire season will be more benign. 

Furthermore, wildfires can spring up anywhere, from wooded areas to urban parks, which means a fire could roar up to your doorstep.

No one in Washington should consider themselves safe from wildfires. 

Sheer prudence suggests that everyone in Washington should initiate a wildfire-safety program. The time to start is today. Begin by removing anything that can burn from anywhere near your dwelling. Put your fire defense strategy in place well before the hotter days of summer bring on fire season in full force.

Defensible space

In keeping your home safe, the phrase you want to keep in mind is “defensible space.” That means doing all you can to keep fire away from your home and the land that surrounds it. 

Remove anything combustible from within 100 feet or so from your home so fire won’t find anything to feed on.

Fires spread rapidly with wind-driven embers flying great distances to set distant trees or homes ablaze. 

The area where you need to do the most to fireproofing is within 5 feet or so of your home – including decks and other attachments. To professional firefighters, this is known as zone 0, which is now being called the ember resistant zone. As much as you can, sweep the ember resistant zone clear of anything that can burn.

So how do you fire-proof an ember resistant zone? Start by limiting vegetation next to your house to grass and flower beds. 

If you have shrubs, make sure none touch your house. Keep garbage cans outside the 5-foot zone. Move woodpiles, compost heaps, building materials and anything else that could burn from the zone.

Never put propane tanks close to your home. Move anything flammable outside this zone, including gasoline for your generator or lawnmower.

Replace broken roof shingles that might let a burning ember sneak into your home. Cover all vents with metal screening to keep embers out. Similarly, use screening to keep embers out of the chimney or the space under a deck.

Sweep this zone regularly to clear out leaves and twigs. If you have shrubs near the house, keep them trimmed. Keep plants and shrubs spaced apart so fire does not spread.

Beyond that 5-foot ember resistant zone lies zone 1, the intermediate zone which extends from 5 feet to 30 feet. Concentrate your spring gardening on making this zone as burn resistant as possible.

Clean out leaves, dead grass and plants, pine needles and anything else burnable. Mow grass to just 4 inches. Remove any dead branches and trim all branches so none are hanging over your roof. 

Fire can spread from one tree to another in a twinkling so make sure that all trees are at least 10 feet apart. Trim all branches so none are within 6 feet of the ground. Use gravel paths to break up your lawn, so fire doesn't spread. 

Trim out any ladder fuel. That would be a lower plant growing next to a taller plant next to a tree. It gets its name because fire can climb from the lowest plant up to the crown of the tree. Keep wood piles and piles of debris or construction material outside this zone as well as propane and gasoline. 

In all things related to wildfires, let common sense be your guide. If it can burn, keep it as far from your house as you can. Invest in a garden hose long enough to cover your house and grounds. You could use it to extinguish any flying embers that land inside your defensive perimeter. If you have any questions about defending against fire, your fire department should be able to answer them.

Red Cross program

The American Red Cross has an obvious concern about the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires.

Even a small fire will bring disaster workers to the scene to house and feed families forced from their homes. When fires spread out and burn hundreds of acres, the Red Cross may have to care for hundreds of people. This requires the efforts of Red Cross volunteers and eats up many thousands of donated dollars.

The Red Cross response has been to launch a wildfire safety program to empower communities to protect themselves against the threat of wildfire. The program began in 2023 and involves wildfire safety visits by Red Cross workers and local fire control officials. It also provides for Red Cross assistance in developing community fire prevention programs.

The program began as a pilot and will be rolled out more extensively this year. Roll out dates are still being worked out. Watch for updates from your local chapter.

Make the most of a Red Cross safety visit by requesting a free smoke alarm installation in your home. The phone number for the Red Cross Central and Southeastern Washington chapter headquartered in Kennewick is 509-783-6195.

Gordon Williams is a volunteer with the American Red Cross Northwest Region Communications Team.