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Fences (and walls) are both decorative and functional (for security and privacy) and come in many materials and configurations. While we have no laboratory fire test data on fences,there are a number of observations that indicate fences like vegetation are a much greater hazard close to a house.
When houses are surveyed for wildfire vulnerabilities, quite often the garage is not considered even though it could be the most hazardous aspect of the house. Garages are typically not well sealed since they are generally not heated or cooled.
The general surroundings of your home and any detached buildings can have a major impact on vulnerability to wildfire. The first step to take is to contact your local fire station get their help in identifying problems in both your neighborhood and on your parcel.
While plants close to a building can be a major fire hazard, those farther away can also serve as buffers against radiation and convective heat, and fire brands. Trees, in particular, can block many of these hazards by diverting wind flow away from the house.
Introduction to Roof Covering When considering wildfires, your roof is arguably the most vulnerable part of your home. It represents a relatively large horizontal surface where embers can land.
Siding (cladding) is an important aesthetic attribute for houses, but it also has a key role as part of a protective enclosure to help shed rain, while permitting excessive vapor to move through and out of the house.
Trees often get a bad rap because of the potential to spread fire in the crown, but that is seldom a hazard to structures. There are exceptions, however. Major concerns from trees are those that they spread embers around a neighborhood.
Roof and crawl space vents are required by most building codes. The function of the vents is to remove excess moisture from those spaces. Moisture can enter the crawl space from the soil or through the foundation wall from the surrounding landscape.
If the glass in a window breaks during a wildfire, embers and flame can easily enter your home. Similarly, if your window frame ignites, it is possible that the resulting fire would burn through the frame material and ignite other material inside your home (for example, a curtain).
Stephen L Quarles CE Advisor - Durability of Wood-Framed Buildings Specialties: Performance of wood and wood-based materials in buildings Unit: Contra Costa County Region 3 Location: Cooperative Extension County Offices UC Richmond Field Station, 1301 S. 46th Street, Bldg.
