Quick Mitigation Info! Edit page

Ladder Fuels - Stop the Spread!

Fuel that can carry a fire burning in low-growing vegetation (ground fire) to the tree canopies (crown fires) is called ladder fuel. Examples of ladder fuels include low-lying tree branches and shrubs and trees under the canopy of a large tree. Ground fires are easier to stop and less of a threat to homes - and fire personnel - than crown fires. Crown fires are dangerous because they are very intense and can burn large areas quickly, especially when it’s wind driven! This means a manageable ground fire that threatens your home can become a crown fire that threatens not only your home, but the homes and forest around you. In areas prone to wildfire, removing ladder fuels is an important task!

Junipers - Gasoline Plants!

Junipers can be a fire hazard because they are highly combustible and can burn intensely, especially as they mature. They contain volatile oils, dense growth, and retain dead plant material, which can accumulate unnoticed in their thick branches. When dry, these dead leaves and branchlets can easily ignite, and junipers can burn hot and fast, producing large flames and embers. Firefighters sometimes call junipers "gasoline plants".