When constructing, renovating, or adding to a Firewise home, consider the following:

·          Choose a Firewise location.

·          Design and build a Firewise structure with fire resistant materials.

·          Employ Firewise landscaping and maintenance.

To select a Firewise location, observe the following:

·          Slope of terrain; be sure to build on the most level portion of the land, since fire spreads more rapidly on even minor slopes.

·          Set your one-story structure at least 30 feet back from any ridge or cliff; increase distance if your home will be higher than one story.

In designing and building your Firewise structure, the primary goals are fuel and exposure reduction. Therefore:

·          Use construction materials that are fire-resistant or noncombustible whenever possible.

·          For roof construction, consider using materials such as Class-A asphalt shingles, slate or clay tile, metal, cement and concrete products, or terra-cotta tiles. A fire-resistant sub-roof can also add protection.

·          On exterior wall facing, fire-resistive stucco or masonry may be much better choices than vinyl, which can soften and melt.

·          Window materials and size are important. Smaller panes hold up better in their frames than larger ones. Double pane glass and tempered glass are more reliable and effective heat barriers than single pane glass. Plastic skylights can melt.

·          Install non-flammable shutters on windows and skylights.
To prevent sparks from entering your home through vents, cover exterior attic and under-floor vents with wire screening no larger than 1/8-inch mesh.
Provide at least two ground-level doors for easy and safe exit, and at least two means of escape (i.e., doors or windows) in each room so that everyone has a way out.

·          Any structures attached to the house, such as decks, porches, fences, and outbuildings should be considered part of the house. These structures can act as fuel bridges, particularly if constructed from flammable materials.

Therefore, consider the following:

·          If you wish to attach an all-wood fence to your house, use masonry or metal as protective barriers between the fence and house.
Use metal when constructing a trellis and cover it with high-moisture, low flammability vegetation.

·          Prevent combustible materials and debris from accumulating beneath patio decks or elevated porches. Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire screening no larger than 1/8-inch mesh.

·          Make sure an elevated wooden deck is not located at the top of a hill where it will be in direct line of a fire moving up-slope. Consider a terrace instead.