Send Letter to Editor How homes ignite Avoiding a recipe for
disaster Fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen to burn. If even one
of these factors is removed from the equation, the fire is
snuffed out. Fuels, weather, topography and human behavior
influence the likelihood of a fire starting, as well as its
speed, direction, intensity, and the ability to control and
extinguish the wildfire. Weather cannot be changed. Topography
generally remains the same. But fuels and human behavior can be
altered. Thus, the greatest opportunity to reduce a wildfire
threat to your home lies in actively managing wildland
vegetation and changing your habits. Fire quickly moves through
light fuels like grass, fallen leaves, pine needles and mulch.
Fire lingers and burns more intensely in heavier fuels like wood
decks and fences, firewood stacks and lawn furniture. Very heavy
fuels like trees and buildings can burn for long periods and
spread fire by producing radiant heat and flying embers. Fuels
are arranged horizontally and vertical