Firewise

Firewise

Your home and garden could be at risk from wildfires if you live close to the Belfast Hills. Make sure you are FIREWISE and be prepared!

Wildfire is an uncontrolled vegetation fire – sometimes referred to as a gorse fire – which involves heath, scrub, grassland, forest, or agricultural land. It can have a devastating impact on nearby homes, so it is very important that people living close to these areas are prepared. Belfast Hills Partnership, together with the NI Fire & Rescue Service and Police Service NI, are supporting communities to take practical steps around their homes and gardens to reduce their risk from wildfires.

Protecting Your Home

• Prevent embers from entering your roof space by repairing or replacing loose or broken tiles.
• Identify and regularly clear ember traps around your home – places where dead leaves collect e.g. gutters.
• Move any flammable material away from external walls e.g. log piles and leaves.
• Ensure your house name or number is clearly visible from the road.
• Avoid parking on or too close to fire hydrants.

Protecting Your Garden

• Trim back trees and shrubs that are too close to or touching your house and dispose of cuttings responsibly.
• Don’t put cuttings over the fence as this adds to the fire risk.
• Screen areas below patios and decks with wire mesh, to prevent debris building up.
• Create separation between trees, bushes and any items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture and wood piles.
• During hot, dry spells use ‘grey’ water to keep it hydrated.
• Consider the position of sheds and consider fireproofing fence panels and wooden structures.
• Use caution when having BBQS, bonfires and using fireworks.

Beyond Your Garden

• If your property backs onto or is close to a greenspace, the land manager holds the responsibility to manage the risk to that land. Land managers will assess fire risk and work with the fire service.
• Some of these greenspaces are home to internationally important habitats and are subject to legal constraints. Land managers and owners, with advice from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), will therefore have to manage these habitats in specific ways to maintain them for key species.

In the event of a a wildfire you may need to evacuate your home. Here are some key things to remember:

• Evacuate if asked to do so or at risk.
• Pack a bag – include essentials, medication, insurance details, mobile phone and charger.
• Gather your family – don’t forget your pets and any essentials for them, including medication.
• Secure the property – turn off the gas and close the windows.

About Firewise

Firewise Communities is an international programme based on research by the world’s leading fire experts on ignition of homes from wildfire. The programme encourages communities to work together to reduce the risk to homes from wildfire by taking practical steps in the area around the home and garden. Wildfires across the globe are increasing as the planet heats up, and here in the UK we are seeing more and more. No longer is it something which only happens abroad. We need to be prepared.