VIDEO: A live fire demonstration on Wednesday morning showed why home hardening and defensible space are crucial for residents to protect their homes from wildfire.
CAL Fire and the Institute for Business and Home Safety hosted the demonstration at Sacramento Fireโs Training Facility. To start the demo, firefighters used drip torches to ignite the ground surrounding two side-by-side structures, one built with standard materials, the other hardened against wildfire.
As fire spread during the demo, it showed a dramatic difference in how the two structures held up to flames. The home built from traditional materials burned to the ground, while the wildfire-hardened home survived.
To protect homes from wildfires, fire officials recommend creating at least a five-foot, non-combustible buffer zone around your home. Itโs also important to clear any built-up debris from around your home and make sure landscaping vegetation is spaced out.
