Wildland Urban Interface Fire Prevention (Ready, Set, Go!)
Wildland Urban Interface Fire Prevention (Ready, Set, Go!)
In Flower Mound, there are multiple Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zones. These zones are a transition between unoccupied land and developed land. While we love living close to nature and having plenty of greenspace in Flower Mound, these zones are especially susceptible to catching fire. WUI fires are a serious threat to life and property, as well as a strain on the Fire Department's resources. Flower Mound uses the Ready, Set, Go (RSG)! program to educate residents on how to be proactive and prepared for the threat of WUI fires.
Click on each of the tabs below to learn more about each step of the RSG program.
Defensible space is the area around your home in which vegetation, debris, and other combustible fuels have been removed to slow the spread of fire to and from your home. Creating defensible space can better protect your home from igniting due to direct flame contact and radiant heat. Defensible space is essential to help protect a structure and create a safer area for firefighters during a WUI fire. You should create defensible space by removing weeds, brush, and firewood, and by spacing out vegetation around your property. While this may seem like a daunting task, the RSG program has separated the defensible space around your home into three zones. Zone 1 is the 0 to 5 feet of space around your home or to your property line. Zone 2 is the 5 to 30 feet around your home or to your property line. Zone 3 is the 30 to 200 feet around your home or to your property line. Follow the considerations below for each zone that applies to your property. Your home will become safer with each step.
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Use hard scape such as concrete or noncombustible rock mulch around your home.
Create vegetation groups or islands to break up continuous fuels around your home.
Create and maintain a minimum of 10 feet between the tops of trees.
Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris, and pine needles.
Remove ladder fuels to create a separation between low-level vegetation and tree canopies to keep fire from climbing trees. See the section on tree pruning below for more information.
Safely remove ladder fuels up to a height of 10 feet, while retaining at least 75 percent of the foliage, to create separation between the ground and tree branches. This keeps fire from climbing into the tree canopies.
Store firewood and other combustible materials away from your home, garage, or attached deck.
Remove leaf and needle debris from the yard.
Store firewood in this area, keeping it a safe distance from your home.
Prune away touching or over-hanging branches from the roof to a distance of at least 10 feet. See the section on tree pruning below for more information.
Keep lawns, native grasses, and wildflowers less than four inches in height.
Create space between shrubs and trees to eliminate a continuous fuel bed at the ground level. See the section on tree pruning below for more information.
Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.
Store firewood and other combustible materials away from outbuildings such as a shed or barn.
Remove dead trees, shrubs, and all other dead or dry vegetation.
Rake and remove flammable vegetation, such as leaves and needles or wood mulch, from underneath your deck and away from your home.
Move trailers, recreational vehicles, storage sheds, and other combustible structures out of this zone and into Zone 3. If unable to move, create defensible space around them as if they were part of your home.
Create separation between your property and your neighbors' property. Consider that your trees may pose a greater risk to your neighbors' homes than to your own.
Use non-wood, low-growing herbaceous vegetation. Succulents, or other fire-resistant plants, are recommended choices.
Tree Pruning
While preparing each of the three zones around your property to protect against WUI fires, make sure you're following the best practices when it comes to tree pruning. This will help create space that could prevent fire from spreading from the ground to overgrown trees, and eventually to structures on your property. Proper tree pruning is also great for the health and vitality of your trees, and we suggest utilizing the 3-cut method when pruning your trees. To learn more about the 3-cut method, watch the video below.
To learn more about how to properly care for and prune your trees, visit www.arborday.org/trees/tips/. If you prefer to leave pruning your trees to the professionals, view this Tree Service Provider list of local companies who provide a variety of tree services. Finally, once you've pruned your trees, you'll likely have brush waste to dispose of. Flower Mound residents enjoy weekly, curbside brush collection from Republic Services. To learn more about that collection process, visit the Town's Bulk and Brush Collection webpage.
Get Ready
Other ways you can prepare before a WUI fire starts, include:
During this portion of the Ready, Set, Go! program, there's like a WUI fire in the area and property owners are on notice that they may soon need to evacuate their homes. During this time, you should work through the following checklist to best prepare your property and yourself for evacuation.
Personal Checklist
Inside Your Home Checklist
Outside Your Home Checklist
Monitor fire weather conditions and fire status. Check the Flower Mound Fire Department's social media (Facebook, Twitter) accounts for WUI fire updates. Stay tuned to your TV or local radio stations for updates, including Red Flag Warnings in your area.
Close all windows and doors.
Make sure combustible items, such as patio furniture, children's toys, door mats, and more, are a safe distance from the exterior of the house. If you have time, place the items inside your garage or home where they will not become a hazard.
Alert everyone in your household and your neighbors to the situation.
Remove all shades and curtains from windows and ensure all blinds remain open, unless you have metal blinds. Close all metal blinds.
Turn off propane tanks and other gas at the meter.
Dress in appropriate clothing (i.e., clothing made from natural fibers, such as cotton, and work boots). Have goggles and a dry bandana or particle mask handy.
Move furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
Don't leave sprinklers on or water running. They can affect critical water pressure.
Ensure your Go Kit includes all necessary items, including prescription medication, emergency supplies, important documents, and other essential items.
Turn off pilot lights and air conditioning units.
Leave exterior lights on.
Stay close to your house, drink plenty of water, and ensure your household members and pets are accounted for and ready to leave.
Leave the lights in your home on so firefighters can see your house in smoky conditions.
Back your car into the driveway to facilitate a quick departure. Shut your car doors and roll up windows.
Have a ladder ready to use to cover attic vents. Use pre-cut plywood or commercial seals. Use the same for ground vents. Do so in a safe manner, and only if time permits.
Patrol your property and extinguish small fires, if you can do so safely, until you leave.
During this portion of the Ready, Set, Go! program, local officials have told you to evacuate your property. Leaving early gives you and your family members the best chance of surviving a WUI fire. You also help firefighters by keeping roads clear of congestion, enabling them to move more freely and do their job in a safer environment.
When to leave:
Do not wait to be advised to leave if there is a possible threat to your home or evacuation route. Leave early enough to avoid being caught in fire, smoke, or road congestion. If you are advised to leave by local authorities, do not hesitate!
Where to go:
Go to a predetermined low-risk area, such as a relative's house, a Red Cross shelter or evacuation center, motel, etc.
How to get there:
Have several travel routes in case on route is blocked by the fire or emergency vehicles. Choose the safest route away from the fire.
What to take:
Take your Go Kit containing your household members' and pets' necessary items. Remember the eight P's!
People and pets
Prescriptions and medications (for your pets, too!)