Authored by: Holly Campbell Georgia experienced a relatively dry summer across much of the state this year and by late September, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, over half of the state was rated from abnormally dry to having extreme drought. These climatic conditions combined with entering typically the state’s driest time of the year (autumn) may lead to increased wildfire risk. Some Georgia residents may believe wildfires are only problematic in Western U.S. states, but every year thousands of wildfires occur across the state with some years bringing more risk than others. During the autumn of 2016, when most of Georgia experienced extreme to exceptional drought over several months, two large wildfires burned over 38,000 acres in North Georgia. And in 2017 approximately 152,000 acres burned in the West Mims Fire at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. These fires led to hazardous air quality and dangerous driving conditions (from smoke) and they cost millions of dollars in economic damage and suppression costs. Fortunately, residents and communities in wildfire hazard areas can play an important role in helping reduce their wildfire risk. Firescaping is a landscape design that helps reduce the risk of structural ignition through fuels modification (fuels are anything that will burn). This type of landscaping is recommended 100 feet out from all sides of a primary structure like a house. Firescaping involves careful selection of low flammability plants and landscape materials, incorporation of fuel breaks (areas intended to help slow fire spread), specific plant spacings and plant maintenance, use of non-flammable landscape materials, and more. The risk reduction benefits of firescaping are increased when combined with structural maintenance, such as the removal of flammable fuels (ex., leaves) from the roof and gutters, and improving firefighter access to the property, such as modifying vegetation around the driveway to facilitate emergency vehicles. Help reduce your risk by learning more about firescaping through this online publication, through the free online course, Preparing for Wildfires with Firescaping or, for Georgia Master Gardener Volunteers, the Advanced Training Certificate, Firescaping (offered once a year). Additionally, a new wildfire training is being offered to Georgia arborists and other tree care workers called the Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualification (WRRQ), which educates arborists to help prevent wildfire risk surrounding homes and properties. In June 2024, over 20 arborists attended the two-day training in Gainesville, Georgia. Ask your arborist about the WRRQ and explore this publication to learn more about managing trees in wildfire-prone landscapes. For any questions about firescaping, please contact: Holly Campbell, hollycam@uga.edu
