Firewise Landscaping

A Technical Report from The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

Wildfires (also known as forest or brush fires) are both naturally and accidentally occurring fires that can pose a significant threat to human health and property. Unlike the prescribed burns used by some natural resource managers to maintain forest and grassland habitats, wildfires are unplanned and uncontrolled fires that typically begin in rural areas and can spread into human developments. While some regions of the United States are more prone to wildfires than others, many areas throughout the country face a degree of risk at different times throughout the year. By properly designing and maintaining the landscape 30 feet or more around a house, homeowners can separate natural fuel sources from the house and create a defensible space.