Forest Fire_Content Page_Preparing

Preparing Your Property

A unique wildfire danger is growing where homes and other buildings are built in areas of highly flammable vegetation, creating a condition called the wildland urban interface. Homes and cabins in the middle of forests, housing developments on the edge of pine plantations, lake communities surrounded by oak and pine forests or even homes next to grasslands all exemplify this condition. Buildings on sandy soils with an abundance of pine, oak and grass are especially concerning. Having undeveloped woodlands and fields in and around a neighborhood indicates that you, as the property owner, should prepare your home for wildfire [PDF].

At-Risk Homes

Think about your home or vacation property as you go through this checklist. The more items you check, the more likely you have a property at risk to wildfire and should take action to reduce the structural ignitability of your home.

  • I own a home in a rural area.
  • My home is in a wooded area.
  • Outside I see tall grass, oaks or pine trees.
  • Outside, I see more pine needles and leaves than lawn.
  • The soil around my property is sandy.
  • Burning takes place on my property or my neighbor's property (campfires, leaf or brush burning, burn barrel use).
  • I, or my neighbor, dump wood ash outdoors.
  • I have heard about wildfires having occurred in the area.
  • There is a Smokey Bear fire danger sign in my community.

Types Of Wildfire

Most homes do not burn from high intensity fires. Most of the homes lost to wildfire in our area burn either as a result of surface fires in the wake of the main fire front or from the accumulation of windblown embers in advance of the fire. Check out our Wildfire Types page for more information.

Structure Ignition Zone

The structure ignition zone is your home and its surroundings out to 100–200 feet. Research has shown that the characteristics of buildings and their immediate surroundings determine the risk of ignition—that's why preparing your structure ignition zone is so important.

Since you, as the homeowner, are the only one who has authority to make changes around your home, you play a vital role in protecting it. The steps you take to reduce or change the fuels in your structure ignition zone could determine whether or not your home survives a wildfire.

Building Materials

When building a home or updating an existing one, simple adjustments to your design can greatly improve its ability to survive a wildfire. Check out our building materials informational page to learn more about ignition-resistant building materials and construction techniques.

Plant List

If you are in a fire-prone area of Wisconsin, the plants you use around your home to landscape play a critical role in reducing the ignitability of your home. Check out our Plants to Reduce Ignitability page to get ideas for plants to use around your home.

Waterfront Property

Many waterfront homes and cabins in Wisconsin are in areas prone to wildfires. Making your waterfront property ignition-resistant does not mean having to sacrifice your shoreline stability, water quality or wildlife habitat. Oftentimes, the greatest wildfire protection you can offer your home is by removing "the little things" that can ignite, such as the leaves, pine needles and other debris that collects on your roof, in your rain gutters, next to your foundation or under your deck. The same places where this fallen debris gathers are the same places where flying embers will gather during a wildfire.

Remember that these changes to your property are recommendations. They do not surpass covenants, ordinances, regulations or laws, including shoreland regulations. Wherever you own property, you should be aware of all applicable local, state and federal restrictions towards vegetation management.

Download our brochure "Protect Your Waterfront Home from Wildland Fire" [PDF] to learn more.

Driveway Access

If there's a wildfire in the area, firefighters may need to reach your home. If firefighters cannot safely drive a fire truck to your house, they will have to come up with another plan. Perhaps they will park on the street and run hoselines down your driveway to your house or maybe they will send in a smaller truck to assess the situation. They will try to come up with a way to get to your home but it will likely take longer. As you can imagine, the faster a fire is extinguished the lower the risk of damage. As the homeowner, you are the first line of defense when it comes to helping your home survive a wildfire. When you do your part to ensure adequate driveway access.

Check out our driveway access informational page to get tips on how you can help firefighters protect your home during a wildfire.

View our driveway access video [VIDEO exit DNR] for additional tips and information.