It only takes a tiny smoldering leaf to ignite some homes, while others seem to weather a storm of embers and remain standing after a fire.
The aftermath of fast-moving wildfires shows that blazes can flatten entire neighborhoods, leaving only one or two houses standing.
“The key to preventing wildfires from becoming disasters is to keep them from entering and spreading into the built environment,” according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.
There are several reasons why some homes burn, and others don’t, even when they’re built from the same materials, according to fire mitigation experts with the USDA and the National Fire Protection Association.
Fire investigators learned from past fires — like the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise — that houses spaced further apart and those with at least a 5-foot open space cleared around them were less likely to catch fire.
Here are some things homeowners overlook that the USDA and the National Fire Protection Association say can fuel a flame.
It takes a tiny spark to ignite a home
Houses are more likely to burn because of small flying embers than a full-blown fire, according to the USDA.
A burning ember — which can include twigs, leaves, pine needles and cones, wood shakes, etc. — can ignite landscaping next to a house or a wooden fence or deck. It can also enter a home through a vent or an open window.
These embers can “smolder in sawdust, newspapers, or insulation for hours before starting to flame and spread,” the USDA said. Then the flames gain a foothold and grow until the fire engulfs the building.
“The single most important, and least expensive, way to save your home … is to cover all vents with metal mesh with openings of 1/8 inch or less, to keep embers out,” and to clean the vents regularly, the USDA said. There are vents for sale designed to catch embers, but they’re a little pricier.
Homes can burn from the roof down
Smoldering leaves and other embers can land on a roof or in a gutter. If dead leaves and other debris build up in either place, they can ignite and carry the fire to flammable material under the roofing.
“The roof is the most vulnerable part of your home,” the USDA said. Replace any roofing made of materials that burn easily, like wood shake. Repair damage and seal any holes or other openings.
Embers can ignite homes from below
Wooden features on a home can burn quickly. So can the debris in the space underneath them. Embers can also be blown on or under a deck or porch and ignite vegetation and other material.
Keep the area under them free of all leaves and other debris, the USDA said.
Embers can ignite little things you never thought of
Some of the biggest hazards are “little things that ignite quickly, then catch larger objects on fire,” the USDA said.
Hazards can include wooden planters, lawn furniture and cushions, jute doormats, brooms, weeds, leaves, wood scraps, and plant debris.
“The area within 5 feet of your foundation and walls is critical to your home’s survival. Keep it free of all flammable materials except small irrigated plants,” the USDA said.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Why some homes survive wildfires while others burn
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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By Jessica Skropanic, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
