Clearing vegetation close to houses is the best way to reduce impacts of severe wildfires, according to a team of scientists from Australia and the U.S., said an article published in Science Codex. The researchers examined house loss after a series of fires raged across the Australian state of Victoria in February 2009, killing 173 and injuring 414.

However, fuel reduction close to houses is only a partial solution. Other measures - such as early evacuation, safer places and architectural solutions - should also be considered by residents in fire-prone areas.

"These are findings that are probably important internationally," said Max Moritz, UC Cooperative Extension specialist at UC Berkeley, a co-author of the research.

CalFire in California provides detailed information on creating a home defense zone. See UC publication Home Landscaping for Fire