FireWise construction: site design & building materials

Abstract

Two factors have emerged as the primary determinants of a home's ability to survive a wildfire - quality of the defensible space and structural ignitability. Together, these two factors create a concept called the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ), which includes the structure and the space immediately surrounding the structure. To protect a home from wildfire, the primary goals is to reduce or eliminate fuels and ignition sources within the HIZ. This publication addresses both defensible space and structural ignitability.