Home Hardening Not Fuel Reduction

A “fuel reduction” project on the Wallowa Whitman NF, Oregon. Such projects severely degrade the forest ecosystem, reduce stored carbon, and open the forest canopy, increasing wind penetration and drying soils. Photo George Wuerthner

The Forest Service spends billions of dollars fighting fires and implementing fuel treatments like logging and prescribed burns to reduce large wildfires.

Even severe “fuel reductions” as in this photo failed to halt the spread of the wind-driven Dixie Fire, California. Photo George Wuerthner

A further problem with the emphasis on logging the forest is that a significant acreage charred each year is in non-forested landscapes like sagebrush, grasslands, and chaparral where “fuel reductions” by logging have no influence.

Grassland fire along the Deschutes River, Oregon. The red color is flame retardent dropped to “stop” the fire. Grasslands and shrublands like chapparel are the main areas burned by wildfire. Photo George Wuerthner

At the same time, little funding is available for home hardening, the most effective strategy for protecting communities from wildfires.

The remains of a home burned to the ground by the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, CO. Note that the home and trees in the background did not burn, demonstrating that home vulnerability to wind-transported embers can determine which structures burn and those that survive a major wildfire. Photo George Wuerthner


It’s critical to note that the effectiveness of thinning/logging and prescribed burning has been questioned. In general, such tactics fail under extreme fire weather conditions.
This is important because nearly all the acreage charred occurs only in the very few wildfires burning under extreme fire weather conditions.

Foundation ruins amidst green trees at Paradise, CA. The wind-driven Camp Fire tossed embers that ignited numerous structures even though no “wall of flames” reached the homes. Photo George Wuerthner


So, the “solution” pushed by federal and state agencies, forestry schools, and the timber industry fails with the very fires that “fuel reductions” are intended to stop.


Climate and weather drive all large blazes, not fuels. Climate warming creates ideal conditions for large wildfires.


For instance, the Mountain Fire charring southern California is driven by 60-80 mph winds.

The influence of wind is evident in this photo from the 1988 Yellowstone Fires. (Yellowstone Lake in the background is the only “fuel reduction” that stopped the advance of these fires) Wind drives embers ahead of the main fire front, igniting new spot fires, which advance the fire front. Under such wind conditions, fuel reductions fail to halt fire spread. Photo George Wuerthner


I have visited dozens of large fires across the West, and wind significantly affected their spread.


Under such conditions, wind can carry embers several miles through the air. Wind also provides more oxygen and fans the flames.

Fuel reductions like prescribed burns are largely ineffective when climate/weather combine to create “extreme fire weather’ conditions. Photo George Wuerthner

The influence of wind means that “fuel treatments” like prescribed burns and thinning are ineffective in slowing or stopping a blaze. Wind drives embers over, around, and through “fuel reductions.”


It only takes one ember to destroy a home.


Logging and prescribed burns do not change the climate. And as long as the climate is warming, we can expect more large blazes.


These are inconvenient truths for the Forest Service and other agencies that want to promote logging and prescribe fire as the panacea for wildfires.


Wildfires, even the most intense blazes, will not ignite a home more than 100 feet away.

Foundations of homes that burned in Angora Fire near Lake Tahoe, CA. The unburned trees immediately adjacent to the charred home remains demonstrate that home ignition is a major reason for home losses. Photo George Wuerthner

Thinning the forest miles from a house is just a waste of money, degrades forest ecosystems, and often enhances fire spread by opening up the forest to wind.


Nevertheless, there are ways to minimize the cost to society through home hardening. Hardening increases buildings’ resistance to wildfire.


Harden your home to be fire-resistant.


Numerous proven techniques give any home the best chance of surviving a large wildfire. According to a guide created by the US Forest Service and the United States Department of Agriculture one should implement these changes or measures.

Blackened stumps indicate that these trees were logged prior to the Scatchgravel Hill Blazes by Helena, Montana. Note that the logged forest resembles a “savanna” yet is still burned, driven by 50 mph winds. Photo George Wuerthner


The central theme is to reduce flammable materials near or in the home. However, the most critical variable is “defensible space.” Removing all flammable vegetation within five feet of a house foundation is vital. One starts at the home and works outward to 100 feet.

An example of a Bend, Oregon home ready to burn. The shrubs immediately adjacent to the home’s foundation, the trees overhanging the roof, and the pine needles on the roof all make this home vulnerable to wind-driven embers. Photo George Wuerthner


In addition, installing non-flammable metal or shingle roofs, screening vents to prevent embers from entering the attic, and installing windows with metal frames (as opposed to vinyl, which can melt) are all retrofits that reduce the home’s flammability.

A metal roof is one of the most important ways to reduce home ignitions, but one should still remove all flammable materials like the pine needles here. Photo George Wuerthner


Pay attention to your roof. Installing a metal roof can increase your home’s chances of surviving a blaze by 95% or more. Asphalt fiberglass shingles also work.


Next, remove flammable materials from gutters and the roof, like pine needles, leaves, and other burnable materials—screen vents either in the foundation or roof area.


Use tempered glass in windows and doors.


Replace wooden decks with metal or concrete.

Large old-growth trees were cut on the Custer Gallatin NF in Montana as part of a “fuel reduction project.” Photo George Wuerthner

Installing sprinklers on the roof is a relatively cost-effective measure. A wet roof won’t ignite. I have several sprinklers, which I put on the roof’s crest in summer. A hose hangs down to my facet. Should a fire approach my home, the last thing I will do as I evacuate is turn on the sprinklers.


According to a report by Headwaters Economics, incorporating such measures in home construction can increase overall costs by 2% to 13%. Still, they significantly reduce the chances the house will burn in a major wildfire.


California has a state program to help homeowners with home hardening costs. The federal government should implement a similar fund for all homeowners in vulnerable landscapes.

Note the reservoir in the middle right part of this photo and burn severity map of the McKenzie River drainage in Oregon. See the same reservoir in the map below of burn severity. Note that the numerous clearcuts (fuel reductions) failed to halt the wind-driven blaze. Also see that in the upper right hand corner where there was no evidence of logging, there was also no burns.


Home hardening is far more cost-effective than logging the forest to implement a massive “fuel reduction” program. Prescribed burns may be limited in reducing fuels immediately next to communities, but it isn’t a panacea when the wind is blowing 80 mph. Embers blow right over any “fuel reduction.”


It is good to see individuals practicing home hardening, but it should be the country’s central fire policy. Unfortunately, the Forest Service forestry schools ignore the influence of climate/weather in their impact on large wildfires.

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George Wuerthner is an ecologist and writer who has published 38 books on various topics related to environmental and natural history. He has visited over 400 designated wilderness areas and over 200 national park units.

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