What Is Wildland Urban Interface? (WUI)
From a homeowners prospective, the WUI is where human-made infrastructure is in or near areas prone to wildfire. This is almost all of Angel Fire and our surrounding areas.
Wildland-urban interface disasters depend on homes igniting during wildfires. If you prepare properly, homes do not ignite during wildfires, then the WUI problem is much easier to manage. Wildfire disasters can be dramatically lessened when private homeowners take responsibility for lessening the risk within their “home ignition zones”.
- 0-5 feet. Keep this area free from flammables. Be mindful of pine needles, dry vegetation, decks, fences, etc.
- 5-30 feet. Keep grasses mowed, space tree crowns about 10′ to 20′ apart, remove short vegetation from under larger trees (ladder fuels), as well as low hanging branches (under 7 feet).
- 30-100 feet. Clusters of trees should be kept separated (to avoid crown fire spread), wood piles and flammables such as propane tanks, gas cans and sheds should be in this zone, or further out.
- 100 plus feet. This zone should be thinned to a healthy level and managed for the ecosystem
Defend Your Home Against Wild Fires
Your safety and welfare from wildland fires are of the utmost importance to the Angel Fire Fire Department, please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Chief Kevin Henson
Chief of Fire and EMS
Angel Fire Fire Department
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