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Did you know that Lost Creek is a Firewise community?
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Firewise USA® Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for their homes by mitigating the risk of wildfire. The program provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together to take action now to prevent losses. While the NFPA® administers this program, individuals and communities participate on a voluntary basis.
The Lost Creek Limited District Board of Directors has a subcommittee overseeing our Firewise activities. Annually, the Board budgets funds to complete fuels reduction mitigation work in the Lost Creek Greenbelt. The work done falls under Firewise recommendations and is considered a shaded fuel break. However, the number one wildfire prevention action is home hardening coupled with defensible space. These actions are essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire.
Please sign up for a FREE Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Evaluation:
Lost Creek Firewise will come to your home and conduct a free HIZ Evaluation. This evaluation of your property will inform you of your wildfire risks and give recommendations on mitigation actions.
To schedule an evaluation please email the District Office at office@LostCreekLD.org. Please include your name, address, phone number, and availability in the next two weeks.
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Please keep reading for additional information on Firewise principles, concepts and resources:
Home Hardening:
Taking the necessary measures to harden (prepare) your home can help increase its likelihood of survival when wildfire strikes. Most homes that burn during a wildfire are ignited by embers or firebrands landing on the roof, in gutters, on or under decks and porches, or in vents or other openings in the home.
Defensible space:
The buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat. Proper defensible space also provides firefighters a safe area to work in, to defend your home.
Why homes burn in a wildfire:
Research around home destruction vs. home survival in wildfires point to embers and small flames as the main way that the majority of homes ignite in wildfires. Embers are burning pieces of airborne wood and/or vegetation that can be carried more than a mile through the wind can cause spot fires and ignite homes, debris and other objects.
How we can reduce the risk of our homes burning:
There are methods for homeowners to prepare their homes to withstand ember attacks and minimize the likelihood of flames or surface fire touching the home or any attachments. Experiments, models and post-fire studies have shown homes ignite due to the condition of the home and everything around it, up to 200’ from the foundation. This is called the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ).
More information:
Understanding the Wildfire Threat to Homes Online learning module of fire history, fire basics, and how homes burn.
Preparing homes for wildfire What are the primary threats to homes during a wildfire? Home Ignition Zone (HIZ).
Research Fact Sheet Series from the NFPA and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
Virtual workshop series Conference quality, free learning opportunities for wildfire stakeholders.
Firewise.org The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Firewise USA® Program.
ATXWildfire.com Austin Fire Department’s Wildfire Division
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