Fuelbreak:

A fuelbreak is a strip of land where highly flammable vegetation is removed to reduce the wildfire threat. Fuelbreaks change fire behavior by slowing it down, reducing the length of flames and preventing the fire from reaching tree canopies. Fuelbreaks can improve the success of fire retardant dropped from the air, provide a safer area for firefighters to operate and allow for easier creation of fire lines (a strip of bare ground established during a wildfire). Shaded and greenstrip are types of fuelbreaks. Community fuelbreaks are particularly effective when integrated with the defensible space of adjacent homes. They can be manmade or naturally occurring (rock outcrops, rivers and meadows).

Types of Fuelbreaks:

A greenstrip is a type of fuelbreak planted with less flammable vegetation. Crested wheatgrass is often planted in Nevada greenstrips.

A shaded fuelbreak is created on forested lands when trees are thinned, tree canopies raised by removing lower branches and the understory vegetation managed to reduce the fire threat.

Safe Area:

An irrigated pasture can be a safe area to wait out a wildfire.

A safe area is a designated location within a community where people can go to wait out the wildfire. Often, safe areas are ball fields, irrigated pastures, parks and parking lots.

A parking lot may be used as a safe area during a wildfire.