Trees enhance the aesthetics of your outdoor space and improve the property value. However, if your tree catches fire, it instantly becomes a major hazard. A few proactive measures now can save you a major risk and potentially devastating fire later. Read on as, today on the blog, we examine six tips to reduce tree fire risk in Kingsport.
Create a defensible space
A defensible space is a certain distance established around the perimeter of your home, business, or any structures on your property. This distance separates buildings from the surrounding vegetation: grass, trees, shrubs, etc. A defensible space serves two purposes. First, it slows or stops the progression of any fire, while also providing a safe space for firefighter crews to work. One of the key aspects of creating a defensible space is to reduce potential fire fuel sources that exist in the landscape outside your home.
6 Tips to reduce tree fire risk
Living in East Tennessee, all know about the wildfires that ravaged Gatlinburg and other locations in the Great Smoky Mountains in 2016. Those fires spread and became deadly in very little time, so you need to prepare now. That’s why we composed this guide with tips to reduce tree fire risk for your home.
Tip 1) The 5-foot rule: The 5-foot perimeter around your home should stay clear of any flammable material of any kind.
That includes:
- Any and all organic vegetation
- Any loose wood or piles of firewood
- Garbage cans
- Fences made of wood
- Vehicles
Tip 2) The 30-foot rule: Make sure that the outdoor landscape within 30 feet of any structures on your property is well-maintained. That means the removal of any dead plants, keeping trees trimmed and pruned, keeping your grass mowed low and keeping the space between trees and shrubs clear of debris.
Tip 3) Install plants that are fire resistant: Certain plants, trees and shrubs are more hardy than others when it comes to fire. Opt for species with a high moisture content, which usually translates to low flammability. Succulents, cacti, yarrow, beech trees, live oak trees and the American Mountain Ash tree all are good examples.
Tip 4) Keep your gutters and roof debris-free: Think vertically and horizontally when policing the zone around your structures for potential fire fuel. A fire could start in your gutters or on your roof, then spread to a nearby tree. Dry leaves and sticks easily accumulate in these spaces, and also serve as highly flammable fuel for a fire.
Tip 5) Designate fuel breaks – A fuel break is defined as an area of land with no vegetation growing on it that could provide fuel to a fire. A fuel break can be created by mowing or thinning at-risk vegetation or adding non-organic features such as gravel. Generally speaking, to mitigate your fire risk keep trees spaced 10 feet apart on flat land, 20 feet apart on a moderate slope and 30 feet apart on a steep slope.
Tip 6) Prune trees regularly – A tree that is pruned on a regular basis has a better chance of remaining healthy and strong, with improved resistance to both disease and infestation. Regular pruning also reduces what’s known as “ladder fuel”, which is when a fire burning low to the ground climbs into a low-hanging tree canopy and then spreads.
Professional tree care in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol in Tennessee
Want to ensure your trees are protected against fire and other risks? Schedule a tree health evaluation with one of the experienced and certified arborists at Promier Tree. Just call (423) 765-2626 or visit our website.