Researchers have concluded that the most effective fire clearance or defensible space around structures, to reduce the chances of them burning in a wildfire, is between 16 and 58 feet.
Below is an excerpt from the abstract of a paper written by Alexandra D. Syphard, Teresa J. Brennan, and Jon E. Keeley, submitted to a journal September 16, 2014.
We analysed the role of defensible space by mapping and measuring a suite of variables on modern pre-fire aerial photography for 1000 destroyed and 1000 surviving structures for all fires where homes burned from 2001 to 2010 in San Diego County, CA, USA. Structures were more likely to survive a fire with defensible space immediately adjacent to them. The most effective treatment distance varied between 5 and 20 m (16–58 ft) from the structure, but distances larger than 30 m (100 ft) did not provide additional protection, even for structures located on steep slopes.
Two of the three authors are public employees, so the taxpayers already paid for this research. However, if you want a copy of The role of defensible space for residential structure protection during wildfires, it will cost you $25.
More about Open Access to research that is paid for by taxpayers.
Most effective treatment 16 to 58 feet from structure. I’m lazy I’ll take the 16 foot plan. Federal grant money at work? How many fires have the researchers been on? I hope that my clients don’t see this article. Not only are we strongly suggesting the limits set by law but landscape for the worst case scenario. It is very hard to “sell” protection to most home owners. Five million dollar home, horse barn, five car garage, yep 16 feet is enough.
Bill – many thanks for continuing to “bang the bell” about Guv-funded research that is being sold by “for profit” publications. When enough folks bitch and complain, things will eventually change. Keep it up!
I tried the following link. No, I am not at a government or school computer. http://www.researchgate.net/publication/267028232_The_role_of_defensible_space_for_residential_structure_protection_during_wildfires
I just downloaded a free pdf copy: http://consbio.org/products/publications/role-defensible-space-residential-structure-protection-during-wildfires
It is available for free, as a pdf here: http://consbio.org/products/publications/role-defensible-space-residential-structure-protection-during-wildfires or actual pdf is here: https://d2k78bk4kdhbpr.cloudfront.net/media/publications/files/Syphard_defensibleSpace.pdf
Ed, the first link, when I checked it, was just the abstract, but the second link was for the full text. Were you at a computer that already has paid access to the International Journal of Wildland Fire?
Bill,
Yes the first link contains the abstract, but the link to the pdf is further down the same page (where I found the second link I provided). No, I do not have paid access to the Journal and it came up no problem.
I googled the title and was able to access the full text of the article online. Here is the link:
http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=WF13158.pdf
Chris, when I checked your link, it was just the abstract, not the full text. Were you at a computer that already has paid access to the International Journal of Wildland Fire?
On a Federal Government computer, so possibly.
Many federal employees don’t know that their agency has already paid thousands of dollars to journals, some of them for-profit, so that they can have instant access to papers written by government (and other) employees, while the taxpayers who funded the research do not. Those journals recognize the IP address when a government employee accesses the website and lets them through, as long as the agency’s subscription is still current.
Sounds like some folks with a lot of extra time on their hands. While most of the country shivers good stop by Cal Fire (ten acres of timber/brush) in San Diego County last night, 35 m.p.h. winds!
Johnny
after the smoke cleared I believe the final acreage was 4.5. Yes great stop by all in the initial attack, including the Julian-Cuyamaca VFD and Forest Service Pine Hills engine crew on 24 hour staffing.
Great site Bill. Happy Thanksgiving
Thanks Chris. We wrote more about the fire near Julian HERE.
Thanks for squaring me away. For some reason my computer sent a sentence about one article imposed with another? An old timer told me this, (circa 1965) at night when you arrive on a wildfire take what you think is the acreage, divide by half, and then divide that number again by half. Example, 10 acres (reported) on the initial, divide by half (5 acres,) again divide (5 acs) by half, 2.5 acres was probably the size prior to suppression action. Good stop by all!