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Agricultural Experiment Station Faculty (AES) and UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Specialists and Advisors collaborate across the UC ANR network and the entire UC system to bring research-based solutions to local communities.
Three basic "ingredients" Fire is a dynamic process that requires three elements: fuel, oxidizer, and heat. Plants, artificial materials, and even buildings can be considered fuels, and are often classified based on their fire hazard and flammability.
The garage is often overlooked when assessing wildfire vulnerabilities, despite being one of the most hazardous parts of the house. Generally, garages are not well sealed since they are not heated or cooled.
All plants will burn under the right conditions, regardless of how they are classified (fire resistant, fire safe, firewise, etc). Growing conditions and maintenance can have a greater impact on the flammability of plants than the species itself.
Mulch plays an important role in your landscape. Proper mulch application provides benefits to water retention, soil temperature, weed inhibition, and soil erosion. These qualities can help reduce fuel risk in fire prone areas, but also introduces a new combustible material into your landscape.
Prescribed fire is the use of fire under predetermined conditions to achieve specific objectives. Prescribed fire is incredibly versatile, and can be used under different weather conditions and during different times of year to accomplish a wide range of land management objectives.
Fire is both a physical and ecological process. Physical processes include the heat produced, rate of spread, and direct impacts on other ecosystem components. Ecological processes involve the indirect impacts fire has on soils, vegetation, watersheds, and wildlife.
Follow all verified local emergency instructions for evacuation to help fire crews protect our communities. If a wildfire is approaching, follow these steps to minimize risk to yourself and property: Do not rely solely on emergency services.
Fires require fuel to spread, and any combustible materials, including vegetation, wooden fences, or sheds can serve as fuel. Once ignited, these materials can create a direct fire path toward a house. There can be both horizontal and vertical paths.
