A home can survive a wildfire, with or without the assistance offirefighters, if built with fire prevention in mind, according tofire officials.

“There are certain steps a homeowner, developer or builder cantake to greatly increase the odds of a home surviving an encounterwith a wildfire,” said Dale Brown, information and safety officerwith the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

Three major steps by a homeowner or developer can make a housemore defensible against a wildfire, Brown said, although one wouldrequire extensive remodeling once a house is already built.

The first is the creation of “defensible space” by reducing theamount of fuel between the house and the wildlands. Brownrecommends an area of about 30 feet surrounding the home withsparse, well-watered vegetation. A second safety zone about 20 feetin width of low-growing plants and trees spaced at least 10 feetapart will further the safety factor.

Another factor is firescaping, he said. A firescaped home is onewith orderly, green fire resistant plants.

“There is no such thing as a plant that will not burn, but someare more resistant to fire than others,” Brown said.

A landscaper should know which plants are most fire resistant,but generally fire resistant plants retain a lot of water or areoil-based, he said.

Housing additions also need to be considered in making a home”firewise,” he said. Fences and patios should be constructed ofnon-combustible materials and should “not lead a fire to thehouse.” A fence running from the woods to the home and railroadtimbers along a walkway “are an open invitation to a fire. You cando everything else right, but if you leave a fire a trail to followfrom the woods to your house you haven’t really accomplishedmuch.”

Another consideration to preventing the loss of a house to fireis access.

“This is just simply good advice whether for a wildfire or aregular fire,” Brown said.

Homes, and especially housing subdivisions, should have morethan one way in or out. Wildfires are fast-moving and may close theaccess road, trapping people. More ways in and out simply reducethat risk, he said. In addition, the driveways should be wideenough to allow access to a fire truck.

“You would be surprised at how many homes in our area are notaccessible to a fire truck,” Brown said. “And, in many cases, ifthey did get in there is no where for them to turn around, and theywould also be trapped if the fire got around them.”

Building materials also play a large role in making a house fireresistant, he said. Fire resistant materials are readily availableon the open market, but are generally a little more expensive.

“Eighty percent of homes lost to a wildfire burn from embersfloating onto the roof or vegetation next to the home and ignitingthem,” Brown said.

Aside from making a “firewise” home, there are things homeownerscan do regularly to help reduce fire risk, he said. Homeowners canmow grass, clean gutters, inspect chimneys at least twice a year,rake up leaves and other debris, remove dead branches that extendover the roof, stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphillfrom the house, and clear a 10-foot space around propane tanks orbarbecues.

Other tips, and games for children that teach fire preventionand safety, can be found on the Web site at www.firewise.org.