Burning issue: fighting fire from the ground up

News of devastating western wildfires has brought fire-safe building practices to the forefront. Certainly, homes in fire-prone regions should have Class A fire-rated roof coverings. But there are limitations on how well roofing alone can protect against wildfire. Standard roof tests do not evaluate roof edges, which remain especially vulnerable. But there are other ways to assist homeowners to keep their homes safe, namely, to manage trees around the house. Other tactics found to be effective include keeping combustible materials away from outdoor decks (referred to by firefighters as “organized kindling”) and the use of fire-resistive sidings, such as stucco and fiber-cement.