5 Things to Consider When Buying a Home on the Wildland-Urban Interface

The Wildland-Urban Interface is where the unmanaged natural vegetation of the wildland that acts as the fuel for forest fires meets homes, ranches, businesses or any other human structures. The WUI brings along a unique set of challenges for homeowners because of the unpredictable nature of wildfires and the difficulty fire engines have accessing remote properties. Firewise Communities greatly reduce the risk of fire by creating a fuel-free “barrier” around the property to keep fire at a distance (known as a defensible zone) and by taking measures to ensure the home is impenetrable to the threat of airborne embers.

What’s the roof made out of?

Wood shake roof is a giant red flag – not only are wooden roofs the main reason a home catches fire when flying embers rain down, replacing an old roof could cost tens of thousands of dollars! Unless the house is specially priced to factor in that extra re-roofing expense, it may be best to avoid the problem by not buying that house to begin with.  Metal, concrete, asphalt and tile are all great roofing choices, and, with routine clearing of leaves from the rooftop and gutters, can ensure that your home is safe from flying embers.

Does the property have enough space for a defensible zone?

The best way to stay safe from fire is by creating a fuel-free zone around your home that stops the progress of wildfires – this is known as a “Defensible Zone”.  Defensible zones are fairly easy to create and closely resemble the average backyard - islands of raised plant beds surrounded by trim green turf. If a defensible zone is not yet in place, it’s not a deal breaker. They are cheap and easy to create – the important thing is that there is enough space to hold at least a 100ft defensible zone. Neighboring homes closer than 100 feet from your house that aren’t Firewise are also a real danger because you can’t control your neighbor’s willingness to prepare for fire, and if they go up in flames there is a good chance the fire will spread to your home.

Can this home be accessed by firefighters in an emergency situation?

Most wildfires threaten many homes at the same time, so firefighters don’t waste their time trying to save a home unless it can be located quickly from a main road, safely accessed by big fire trucks, and has enough water available for the fire engines to suppress the flames. When you drive up to that house for the first time, think to yourself, “Is the house address easily visible? Are these roads wide enough for a fire truck, and could it turn around? Will I have enough water during an emergency?”

Is there anything that could act as a bridge to carry flames right up to the house?

If you have a wooden fence, porch, or deck the answer is yes. Dead vegetation dries and piles up underneath decks and up against fences, and as you already know, it only takes one spark to burn down a house. Although it is perfectly fine to have fences and outbuildings on your property, you must always be aware of anything that can burn and transport fire up to the house. While you shop around for houses keep in mind that any flammable structure must be regularly maintained, whether that means clearing accumulated vegetation or installing a metal screen underneath decks to stop embers.

What is the risk level of the environment?

Are you considering a home that lies in the middle of a dense coniferous forest? Next to a lake? Surrounded by grassy fields? It wouldn’t be appropriate to prepare for wildfires the same way for each of these environments. You have to take into consideration how the local weather, plants, and land dictate how wildfires behave. For example: fires burn quickly uphill, so homes on a slope must compensate with a bigger defensible zone. It could be a good idea to contact your local fire department or federal land agency (Forest Service, BLM, etc.) to get information on local fire behavior patterns and how they may affect your home, because you will want to know ahead of time if there are any wind or drought patterns that could bring powerful or unexpected fires.