Table 2 Summary of the key guidelines for the Fuel-free zone
From: Garden design can reduce wildfire risk and drive more sustainable co-existence with wildfire
Category | Recommendation | Africa | Europe | North America | Oceania | South America |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FUEL AMOUNT | ||||||
Vegetation | Remove plants from near the house or replace with succulents | 1 | 14, 20:22 | 35 | 66, 67 | |
Avoid grasses and lawns | 23 | |||||
Limit vegetation to small shrubs | 64 | 29 | ||||
Avoid trees or shrubs | 1:3 | 5 | 11:14, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 28:30, 33 | 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, 55, 60, 61 | 68 | |
Flammable material | Remove flammable objects/material (including dead leaves) | 1,3 | 5,6, 63:65 | 10:13, 15, 17:24, 28:31, 33 | 36, 38:40, 44:51, 55:58, 61, 62 | 66:68 |
Create a 1-2 m-wide surface made of non-flammable material | 6, 63 | 55 | ||||
FUEL TYPE | ||||||
Vegetation | Maintain a well-kept lawn | 11, 29, 30 | 39 | |||
FUEL SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION | ||||||
Zone extent (distance from the house) | 1.5 m | 65 | 11, 13:18, 20:22, 25, 28:33 | |||
2 m | 6 | 66, 67 | ||||
3 m | 3 | |||||
Not specified | 2,4 | 5 | 10 | 34:40, 42, 43, 55, 60:62 | ||
Horizontal distribution | Surround islands of plants with rock or brick retaining walls | 22 | ||||
Remove or prune plants near windows | 6 | 14, 17, 21 | 34, 35, 56 | |||
Vertical distribution | Specify max plant height | 2 | 43, 55 | |||
Do not store flammable objects underneath decks or under the house | 1 | 6, 63 | 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 25, 31, 33 | 51, 61 |
