The video below, produced by the Institute for Business and Home Safety, demonstrates the importance of defensible space and fire-resistant construction. The left side of the house is built to normal standards while the ride side is made of fire-resistant materials and has 5 feet of defensible around the structure. Watch what happens when the test house is exposed to embers similar to those seen in typical wildfire conditions.
For more information on the video and why only one side burned, visit the IBHS website. For more information about what steps you can take to make your home more fire-resistant, please visit the NFPA’s “Preparing Homes for Wildfire” page.