It doesn’t take big flames to burn the house down

Jack Cohen, Ph.D., is often referred to as the grandfather of wildfire science. The truth is he should be considered the Sherlock Holmes of science of wildfire.

Jack is a retired U.S. Forest Service Fire Scientist and is a highly respected expert on wildfire behavior and fire science research. No one has done more to define the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) problem and empower homeowners to reduce their risk of wildfire than Jack Cohen.

He dedicated his career to advocating that we shift our focus from preventing wildfires, to preventing home ignition. He emphasized that house fires are mainly caused by embers and small flames, not large flames. Protecting homes from wildfires involves creating a 100-foot Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) by removing flammable debris, using fire-resistant roofs, and thinning trees. Small actions like cleaning gutters and pruning trees significantly reduce fire risk. Collaboration with neighbors enhances safety.

When we perform a Home Assessment of your home, we are using the basic principles of Jack’s Home Ignition Zone. We will perform a Home Ignition Zone evaluation where we assess your homes physical vulnerabilities to ember ignition, the primary cause of home loss in wildfires.

In the video link below, Jack 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.