Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire

Dr. Jack Cohen, a highly respected expert on wildfire behavior and fire science research, explains how fireproofing your home can help protect it from wildfire. A high intensity flame from a wildfire is less likely to ignite the home than “fire brands”-the hot embers that are spit from the intense flames and then deposited on flammable materials on or surrounding the home. That’s why it’s recommended you use landscaping as one of the defensive methods against wildfire.
Jack shows how leaves, pine needles, and other debris from wooded areas can become easy fuel for fire brands. Fire-resistant furniture and home building materials can also help protect your home from being destroyed by a wildfire.
Learn more about wildfire prevention and mitigation at www.firewise.org and www.nfpa.org/wildfire. Also visit www.disastersafety.org/wildfire for additional resources.
© 2015 National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®). All rights reserved.

[@anthony9thompson]

One item that is often overlooked is the doormat. Particularly ones made of sea grass. Put it inside before you evacuate/start to actively defend

[@DorianPaige00]

Don't evacuate and get Mr. Hose out.

[@Khumbu0609]

@@DorianPaige00 Yep, smart idea. That's the main cause of death in these fires.

[@sallieskakel2251]

IF YOU HAVE HORSES (and you live in a dry climate), double-fence your property to create a "pasture" that is actually an alleyway circling your property. In a dry climate, the horses will turn this "pasture" to dust in short order; in winter, when grass wants to sprout there, the horses will churn the sprouting grass into the mud. (Creating such a "pasture" in chaparral would require heavy equipment.) The alley will also encourage the horses to move more, and thus they will get more exercise.

[@lauriekomberec1434]

I'm not sure I understand the concept of an alleyway encouraging the horses to move more? Can you elaborate on this?

[@JP779M]

@@lauriekomberec1434 Alleyway becomes a dirt path; sans vegetation…. Becomes a dirt road; a constant FIREBREAK! Be safe!

[@anthony9thompson]

Greetings from Western Australia. Although none of this information is new to me I find the way you have presented it to be absolutely first class. I can’t believe this video does not have more views

[@Es-lg8hx]

Agreed from Sacramento County.

[@janbadinski7126]

I just spread this on FB, I would bet those who were victims of the Camp Creek fire will be paying attention.

[@robertbogan225]

This comment is relevent today.

[@dagwould]

Local government in fire risk areas should send the link to all their citizens.

[@danamiller9080]

That was the best video I've ever seen thank you... I've done a lot of research on fire prevention I came up with a hundred foot from the house as well. So I'm very glad that you made this video. Now these common-sense rules need to be applied and enforced... I've been saying for a while now that scientists and Engineers should be running this country instead of the politicians... On the news a few days ago they showed a house that burn from the forest fire. Immediately I saw that the trees were right up against the house... it did not surprise me at all that that house burned down... why don't people do all the necessary things to safeguard their house from a forest fire. It doesn't make any sense to me.... the insurance companies should get involved put their foot down and say look if you don't do proper prevention we're not going to give you homeowners insurance. I'm also very disappointed with California not doing proper Forest Management in the past 30 to 40 years.... an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... It also amazes me how they do not have a early detection system to spot forest fires when they first begin to put them out immediately my research discovered that sometimes they don't know about the forest fire until 2 to 3 weeks later... to me and to everybody this is unacceptable... it's ruining the air quality of pretty much everybody in the whole country.

[@ragdump]

Well The Camp Fire brought all this home to me I live 3 1/2 miles from the start at first the firestorm blew by me a few miles away, was hoping I was safe, but after the in the blast came a fairly normal fire that was not fast moving but it was coming from 3 sides by then Cal Fire was here they slowed it down and then we got rain with the fire 1/4 mile away , ever since I've been clearing and trying to make my place as fire safe as I can with living in the forest . It's not EZ but I've seen what has happened to many of my friends and 50,000 others and I just so relieved it didn't happen to me , with over 14K homes up in flames it gets your Attn.

[@kaylinde2321]

- Don’t have a wood roof - Keep dry leaves, wood, and fire burning material away from your house. Includes flammable outdoor furniture or even a broom - Keep rain gutters clean - Mind your other property buildings, a shed or a chicken coop can be flammable. Keep this away from the house -

[@dagwould]

I notice the house that survived also had sealed eves: no place for brands to blow into the roof space.

[@jimrylander9143]

Having a good evacuation plan & defensible space is the real answer. Also closed eaves,stucco along with clay shingles or a metal roof. Never leave your home & leave windows open.

[@rickydavis8183]

Excellent Information... Thank you!!! Its certainly helped me prep!!

[@ScottDLR]

One of the biggest things we need to learn is to stop covering the outside of our home with cedar kindling. Don't use it for siding or roofing!!!

[@mykofreder1682]

They have concrete siding that looks like wood, topped with a metal roof would make a house harder to start. Getting rid of any vegetation within 3 feet of the house seems reasonable since it will probably be very dry in fire season.

[@paulmaxwell8851]

My wife and I built a beautiful home and clad the walls with cedar shingles, 4,800 of them. Big mistake. I don't know what we were thinking. I would never, ever use wood shingles or wood siding on a home, ever. Our new home has a steel roof and Hardipanel composite cement siding. Our neighbours worry themselves sick about wildfire but we don't.

[@susanlauper1472]

thank you so much... wonderful advise

[@thomthumbe]

This info is so very valid and spot on. Anybody who has tried to light a campfire can prove this info with ease. Try to light a fire with only 12 inch round logs and a single match. Good luck! Add a small pile of kindling and a child could get it lit!

[@ericwilliams952]

Yes you can. Great info. Thanks for getting the info out there .

[@CityPrepping]

Great info. Thanks for sharing!

[@angelaberni8873]

Thank you sir for this invaluable information. From Spain's Costa del sol.

[@annw1506]

Great info, thanks!

[@energyexecs]

..Thank you Jack Cohen, Phd. I worked for the US Forest Service in "fire prevention" in the late 1970s. At that time Fire Science was emerging and we heard about legends such as Jack Cohen. Thank you.

[@barrycallenberger5432]

oUTSTANDING

[@kcender3771]

What an excellent video.

[@brendabush2082]

good advice

[@NicholasMaietta]

Mandatory viewing for homeowners.

[@robmac3287]

Excellent presentation! Must see for anyone in a fire prone area.

[@forkmonkey]

Great video. Concrete and clear tips and the firebrand experiment is excellent data.

[@johnmacdonald2657]

Late to the party on this video, but wanted to share something. I am a former Associated Press correspondent and interviewed Jack Cohen a decade ago for a story on his research (and how some of his research kind of got "hijacked" by special interests.) But I remember what he told me about his fire research and when I built my cabin in the woods of Montana (where Jack worked for 30 years) I took his advice. I'm off the grid and miles from any fire department, so it was all on me to protect myself. My Stihl 'Farm Boss' has taken down more than 60 trees around the cabin (metal roof and no deck). The wood pile is 40 feet away (In winter I'll stack wood on the concrete patio). No bushes or shrubs. 20-foot perimeter of gravel on all sides. I built between three small mountain ponds which helped create a wider, natural defensible space. My storage outbuilding is a steel-reinforced concrete "bunker" of sorts. The doors on the cabin and "bunker" are fire rated for 90 minutes of "direct" heat. I haven't had a fire yet, but thanks to Jack, I feel pretty safe if I ever get one.

[@lilithrogers5204]

@@johnmacdonald2657 Wow, John, sounds like you're well prepared--and hope all goes well.

[@johnmacdonald2657]

@@lilithrogers5204 Thanks! Appreciate that. This last year in Montana was incredibly dry and I took some further precautions. I built a fire trailer from an older military trailer, a 300-gallon water tank, a big pump and a lot of two-inch hose. I kept it parked at the cabin and ready to go during the summer.. My hillbilly off-grid hot tub provides an addition 290 gallons if I need it, and I stocked up on fire retardant that can be sprayed on the cabin if a fire is approaching. Fortunately, none of it was needed this summer. Fingers crossed it never will be.

[@lilithrogers5204]

Oh, this is very informative and very scary....makes me glad, really that I live in the middle of town away from the forest--although there are many trees in the neighbors's yards.sigh. Take care folks...and wishing you safe times.

[@jmaccloskey]

NFPA edit this to 15 second ad for TV broadcast.

[@leilanikuuipo6004]

My husband's NFPA book will be out within 2 years. I'm married to the top Architect expert on all building material, Fire protection, building codes, ADA, etc. Master Architect, I need to send him here to answer questions to some of you. I need to show him NAFPA's KZbin.

[@tompoole007]

Could you blanket a house and tent round it to make a separation barrier?

[@christopherberg8273]

Remove shrubs, old trees, keep yard clean of fuel.

[@Hyosine0117]

The best way to protect your home is to build a water wall...what is that? Cactus! Especially large like ones as the prickly pear cactus. Ever tried burning one of those? They don't burn. They can cook but will NOT catch fire. So grow these around the perimeter of your home. They have been known to save houses!

[@BearwoodBrown]

hi just wondering why so many houses in US are burning all this was great advice but is now the time for people to be fitting sprinkler type systems to their home for external protection

[@nickilovesdogs8137]

Global warming and sadistic people who set fires are the main causes of all those huge fires.

[@MicheleSteinberg]

Hi Bearwood Brown. We have a fact sheet on the latest research on the effectiveness of exterior sprinklers. See www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA/Firewise-USA-Resources/Research-Fact-Sheet-Series. The concluding recommendation is "Given the potential issues regarding performance, it’s recommended that use [of exterior sprinklers] be a supplement to, and not a replacement for, already proven mitigation strategies, such as the reduction of potential fuels throughout the home ignition zones, along with removal of roof and gutter debris, and use of noncombustible and fire/ember ignition resistant building materials and installation design details.

[@bkrgi]

@@MicheleSteinberg Thank you Michele for the link. Living on a wildfire Urban interface I'm arming myself with info to protect my space if not the neighbours as well. I'm not so concerned with a direct canopy fire with limited evergreens and more deciduous but am susceptible to ground fires and Fire brands coming in from the surrounding forests beyond the 500m point. I'm seriously considering a exterior sprinkler system to soak a 100' radius around my house along with mitigation principals

[@janbadinski7126]

@@MicheleSteinberg Thanks for the link

[@miriamschulman]

Do you have any information on how to get in contact with Jack Cohen? I would like to invite him to speak at an upcoming Homeowners Association meeting?

[@terrysullivan1992]

He works for the Dept. of Agriculture in Montana so I don't think he has the time or you have the funds. But show the video and get local fire dept. to do live Q & A.

[@MicheleSteinberg]

Miriam, please feel free to contact me directly at [e-mail]. Jack may not be available but perhaps we can find you a local expert to speak on the topics you are interested in.

[@joshuagharis9017]

Rocks 5 ft and rock walls

[@tnicholas2161]

I was thinking of building a fire resistant concrete wall to separate the wildfire prone forests and communities

[@talentedhypocrite2082]

Metal roof Concrete siding Exterior sprinkler system Secondary pressurized water supply And of course 250 feet clearance from the nearest tree

[@JP779M]

God IS Protecting YOU Because of your efforts to ASSIST MANKIND; a teacher who lives HIS TEACHING! Your HOME IS ETERNALLY YOURS; IN HIS CONTINUING PRESENCE… HUG YOUR FAMILY AMD YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, your SOUL IS YOUR WISE INTUITION, evidence your INDWELLING SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST BORN MAN; of SPIRIT HOLIEST, OUR AWESOMELY LOVING…. HOLY GOD OF ISRAEL, LORD ABOVE ALL ELSE! CONTINUING BLESSINGS; I PROMISE, IN COMPANIONSHIP, myself of OUR ALPHA AND OMEGA! BREATHE! 🥰

[@megenberg8]

first its law. then thin out the forest. homes must be to code w/ inspection/approval. its management and build technique. generators to pump h2o a must. and clear egress. no serpentine back road to jam. write a check - its all digital now. and no excuses.

[@newdimension4731]

yeah like a STONE HOUSE with METAL sheet to cover the windows. Ya know the old vikings houses rofl

[@geofru]

I find this well-intentioned, but sparse on actionable details. Just "use finer mesh screen". What does that mean, please? 1/4", or 1/8" mesh?

[@christopherberg8273]

Remove grass and replace with stone pebbles for a 50 feet all around your house.

[@Khumbu0609]

50 feet is NOTHING in a wind-driven fire!

[@CherylFordflcb]

Why has the brilliant idea of barriershields.com to protect homes from burning Not been thought of long before this?considering the number of houses lost to massive intensive heat from fires each year right across America

[@Jacob_180]

This perspective comes from my nearly two decades as a wildland fire fighter. I'm not saying that this product wouldn't work just that it is a really expensive solution that could also be fixed very easily by doing basic maintenance and landscaping with the fire threat in mind. In addition the main purpose of this design is to reflect radiant - as the video points out, the vast majority of structures lost to wildfire are not ignited by radiant heat, it's the firebrands and creeping ground fire that usually gets you. By removing those access points you virtually eliminate the risk of fire spreading to the structure. This product has been around for quite some time and is used in some situations (I will note that this looks a little different that the stuff we typically use - that comes in large rolls and is taped and stapled in place - this looks like it is precut and might have built in attachment points - but as best I can tell it's the same material). The thing is that if you do the prep work Dr. Cohen advises then you usually don't need to wrap the structure. In my experience the only structures that get wrapped are older, usually historic buildings or structures that have features that would make excellent traps for firebrands (think old wooden foot bridges in the wilderness, old lookout towers or historic cabins with wood siding full of cracks and crevices or log structures) and that for one reason or another we can't leave an engine or handcrew to defend the structure. Now I know I said that it's main purpose is to reflect radiant heat but then we end up using it to shield the structure from embers. That is because a) for a long time we thought radiant heat was an issue and so now... well, inertia (and frankly many firefighters still believe this) and b) it does work to stop fire brands (if you hang it right, I've seen this material applied in ways that would increase a structures likelihood of catching them - and on that note if you don't clear the ground fuels 100% you risk the fire creeping under the edge of the structure wrap - somewhere I have a picture of a barn that burned like this - private contractors had installed the wrapping, they were being paid an insurance company, the fire crept under the edge of the wrap and destroyed the structure - all that was left was a pile of foil wrapped rubble). So long story short it's basically a niche product that very few people would actually benefit from. It is cheaper and far more effective to focus on the structure, the landscaping, and maintenance.

[@maximusboscus]

Basically don't make your house of wood.

[@jamescarmody4713]

Glad that 99% Invisible covered Jack Cohen's work. After another awful year of wildfires in California, we need to take his science seriously.

[@edp2260]

I 100% agree with you. I am located in the foothills of the Sierras, similar to Paradise. We have had TWO devastating fires in the past 5 years. It was striking how homes survived intact right next to destroyed homes. You can do things to make your house the one that survives. Also interesting is that one or two years after the fire it is hard to tell there even was a fire. That is, it greens up with the next rain, and is harder to spot. I really wish everyone living in the fire zone would do everything possible to save their homes now, BEFORE the next fire.

[@jamescarmody4713]

@ed p Best way to make change would be with incentives. Like solar energy, people will improve their homes if government support encourages them. California and the federal government ought to support homeowners in renovating to become fireproof. U.S. Fire Adminsitration claims 87 firefighters died in service this year. If the agency budgeted for fireproofing homes, perhaps those deaths could be lowered. (www.usfa.fema.gov/)

[@megenberg8]

@@jamescarmody4713 maybe even 0 fatalities.

[@scottjefferson6984]

@@jamescarmody4713 However, it is important to remember that firefighting is not in the top 25 most hazardous occupations. Many other industries suffer more (commercial fishermen, loggers, construction,delivery drivers) without the "hero fanfare".

[@cheril8891]

The background music is beyond horrible. Take it out.

[@modelrc9500]

If your wealthy cover your house in metal sheets so embers don't get to it

[@hanmeng2233]

A lot of general talk for the first three minutes, and specific pointers for homeowners don't start until 4:31.

[@O1Birddog]

Homes haven't been surviving, why haven't all the precautions worked, even fireproof roofing (metal, slate, etc.) is being burnt clean through from the top down. Many homes were in neighborhoods not near large trees etc. and were fire resistant, but were incinerated.

[@CaffeinePanda]

O1Birddog None of those are fireproof materials, they are fire resistant. What this video is about is reducing your chances of ignition by eliminating places for embers to collect and things for embers to ignite. If your house catches fire, of course the roof will burn if it's hot enough. But first resistant roofing materials are capable of withstanding small embers handily. Like they go on to say in the video is it only takes one overlooked element to lead to fire catching on your home. Defensive landscaping requires diligence.

[@O1Birddog]

Homes haven't been surviving even with defensive landscapes and ignition sources eliminated, just sayin.

[@CaffeinePanda]

O1Birddog Fire isn't magical, it needs something to burn in order to travel and can only go so far. If a house burned, it was in range of enough radiant heat or embers ignited flammable material. That's literally the only physical way for a house to burn in a wildfire.

[@MrRobert7080]

Survive a DEW?

[@tommcfall1274]

Yeah but your home cannot survive DEW

[@paulmaxwell8851]

DEW (directed energy weapon) paranoids are suffering from mental illness. They are associated with the chem-trail and cosmic ray crazies. Let's focus on the real world here and learn how to build better homes and landscape smarter.

[@gingi453]

total bullshit..house has to be noncobustible..

[@elwingw4321]

What about DEW weapons? Microwaves? You know what actually did happen in Paradise? Cars and trucks on fire from inside and no trees on fire. Houses exploded and trees intact. You know, that stuff. Holes in truck engines. Like from a laser. You know. I am sure you firefighters know.

[@maryjordan2905]

The houses went down because of the flying embers. Did you watch any of the videos? Fire driven winds and embers blowing like a snow blizzard. The trees were spaced and did what they were designed to do, withstand a fast moving fire, just like they did back in the good ol' days when fires burned though areas on a regular basis. As long as there isn't any 'ladder brush' to draw the fire up into the canopy of the trees, they do just fine.

[@megenberg8]

cars/engines burn because of heat and fuel and flammables - materials (including some specially manufactured metals) that ignite and burn. have you seen the movies where the car crashes and blows up in a ball of fire? such a scene is taken from actual examples of real crashes. yes, sin and evil are part of our life on earth, no doubt, but Paradise was a wildfire in a populated region where people neglected vital concerns before it became too late. BTW, my parents are gone a few years now. but people lost their parents and loved ones in this conflagration. i am sure that if a man told my parents that building or buying a home in a place prone to fire posed a risk to anyone or anything, mom and dad would say 'no thank you, sir. we'll be on our way.' i am so sorry for those who are going through this tragedy. and thank God for the survival of remaining family members and friends. this is truly heart-breaking.

[@janbadinski7126]

Yes, I do know what actually happened there. It has nothing to do with DEW or lazers or anything of the sort. I was a grass fire that was ignited by sparks from PG&E's power lines. No lazers, no high energy beams, etc. A regular, brutal disaster.