Douglas Kent - Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape

PRAISE FOR FIRESCAPING

I have to shelter in place with my 1,500 rescued animals in Southern California. In over 30 years, we have weathered many fires, three of them famous. I have an entire fire library, and this is the best book ever for fire protection in the wildlandurban interface. Many of the subjects covered are never even mentioned in the official firefighting training and certification manuals. I am going to give Firescaping as a gift to my local fire stations as well as to all my neighbors.

Leo Grillo, founder, D.E.L.T.A. Rescue

This is the quintessential guide for landscape architects practicing in wildfire-prone regions. There is no better resource for designers of all levels to gain in-depth knowledge of fire science, management practices, and key design skills to create a safer built environment.

Blake Rhinehart, PLA, president of the Northern California chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a partner at Urban Arena

As a rural mountain resident, first responder, and water conservationist, I thought I had a pretty good foundation on fire protection, but Firescaping opened my eyes to how much more there was to learn and do. This is an essential resource for anyone living in or near fire country.

Sierra Orr, water conservation and public information supervisor, Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power

The second edition of Firescaping has evolved into an exceptionally useful reference for homeowners and landscape professionals alike. The book is clear, concise, and relevant for a wide variety of situations and locations. Through his passion and knowledge, Doug has succeeded in creating an essential reference that will be a valuable resource for years to come.

Gregory Plumb, water use efficiency programs specialist, Sonoma Water

The threat of wildfires is an inescapable part of reality in California and other parts of the semiarid West. But we can still learn lessons from the mistakes of the past. This up-to-date, clearly written, and user-friendly book gives us the lessons we need to curtail or prevent catastrophes in the future.

Michael Woo, dean of the College of Environmental Design, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and former Los Angeles city council member and city planning commissioner

Our organization works hard to create health and resiliency in California. We provide landscape training to public agencies, landscape professionals, and homeowners. Dougs work speaks to every one of our core principles. Research shows that addressing potential emergencieseven one timecan save lives and protect valuable resources. Read Firescaping and share it widely!

Milena Fiore, executive director, ReScape California

Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape

1st edition 2005

2nd edition 2019

Copyright 2005 and 2019 by Douglas Kent

Published by WILDERNESS PRESS

An imprint of AdventureKEEN

2204 First Ave. S, Ste. 102

Birmingham, AL 35233

800-443-7227; fax 205-326-1012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kent, Douglas (Douglas K.), author.

Title: Firescaping : protecting your home with a fire-resistant landscape / [by Douglas Kent].

Description: 2nd edition. | Birmingham, AL : Wilderness Press, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019009783 | ISBN 9780899979625 (pbk.) | ISBN 9780899979632 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: FirescapingCalifornia.

Classification: LCC SB475.9.F57 K46 2019 | DDC 635.9/509794dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019009783

Visit wildernesspress.com for a complete listing of our books and for ordering information. Contact us at our website, at facebook.com/wildernesspress1967, or at twitter.com/wilderness1967 with questions or comments. To find out more about who we are and what were doing, visit blog.wildernesspress.com.

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Printed in China

Front cover illustration copyright Artazum/Shutterstock

Interior illustrations by Douglas Kent and Richard Kent

Interior photos by Douglas Kent and the following (all from Shutterstock): : robert cicchetti

Cover design: Travis Bryant

Book design: Jonathan Norberg

Project editor: Kate Johnson

Proofreader: Rebecca Henderson

Indexer: Rich Carlson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the author have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety, as well as the safety of your home, property, and belongings.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

Firescaping is dedicated to all the people motivated to protect themselves and others from wildfire.

It is dedicated to the diligent homeowners and community activists, the people willing to give up weekends to pull weeds or staff fire-information booths at local fairs. It is dedicated to the businesses that have been maintained to provide sanctuary during an emergency. And it is dedicated to the individuals risking their lives to protect our communities.

This book is dedicated to the people strong enoughif not bold enoughto protect their family, property, and neighbors from wildfire. If you are reading this book, Firescaping is dedicated to you.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

What started as a simple gardening guide in 1992 for a small community in northern California blossomed into a project that has traveled through the most flammable areas of the state. This work has taken me to the front lines of wildfires and in front of thousands of people.

Every step along this adventure has taught me something. I am immensely grateful for every article and book I have read, every entity that has hired me, every burned garden I have walked in, every expert who has spent time with me, and every person who has shared their story of trauma and survival.

I would like to acknowledge Californias incredibly resilient and sometimes foolishly optimistic people. You wont find a harder-working bunch anywhere.

INTRODUCTION

Impassioned activists sparked my interest in firescaping. The Oakland/Berkeley Tunnel Fire of 1991 inspired them. Few conflagrations can compare to that one. The Tunnel Fire took 25 lives and 2,900 homes in just 10 hours. But from that firestorm sprang an incredible reaction.

State and federal interest in fire protection flourished after the Tunnel Fire. Building codes were updated. Massive grants became available for controlled burns, mechanical clearing, and greenwaste removal. And public educationwhether free literature, classes, or public service announcementsbecame more visible and frequent. I was sure we would see a reduction of loss after the massive outpouring. I was wrong.