Firewise "demo" homes keep communities fire-safe

 

Very few people can lay claim to having a miniature nature preserve in their backyard. There's the local wild bird population; the privacy afforded by tall, thick brambles; the lack of grass that needs mowing; and, of course, the clear and present threat of a fire fueled by a highly flammable layer of shrubs and close proximity to a 5,000-acre natural area that had not seen a wildland fire in 60 years.

Joanne and Dick Bierschenk, residents of seven-year Firewise community Cragsmoor, NY, had that precise situation on their  property. Their home was selected as a Firewise “demonstration” house. 

The Bierschenks’ home before the demo project

To learn about the demonstration home process, and to see the finished result, visit the 2012 Winter How-to newsletter.