SALT LAKE CITY -- When a wildfire approaches your neighborhood, many people feel it's up to Mother Nature as to whether or not their home survives.
But, according to Utah State University Forestry professor Michael Kuhns, there are actually plenty of things you can do to make your house less susceptible to wild fire.
"If you can't see the home through the trees, then there's a good chance it's going to burn up that house when the fire comes through," Kuhns said.
Kuhns breaks down fire prevention into three zones. Zone one is 3-5 feet from the house. Nothing but cement or gravel is recommended.
"You can have a few succulent plants, but you don't want anything, of any size, that's going to burn readily," Kuhns said.
Zone two covers the area 30 feet from the house. A well maintained lawn is recommended, with maybe a few scattered trees.
"You don't want very many, you don't want a continuous line of trees, because trees are big pieces of fuel, going right to the house," Kuhns said.
Zone three is 100 feet from the house, where your property can mix in with the natural terrain.
"You can allow there to be a little more vegetation, a little more wilder, like the wild lands around the house," Kuhns said.
