12 Vegetation fuel hazards – firebrands

Fire fuels include living and dead native vegetation materials. The most dangerous fuel elements are burning firebrands or ember showers that fall like snow and can be carried by the wind for great distances downwind. Firebrands are unpredictable and can travel miles from the original source of a wildfire, thus spreading destruction in their wake.

Firebrands are extremely dangerous. Click to enlarge

It has become clear to firefighters that anticipating and preparing for ember showers is critical and an important role of defensible space.

With defensible space, fires can often be contained on the ground level within the 100-foot radius of the home, allowing firefighters and homeowners more time to deal with firebrands landing on or near the home.