PROTECT YOUR HOME The best way to protect your structure from being damaged by a wildland fire is to prevent it from starting on fire in the first place. To do this, one must know of the many ways fire spreads from one fuel source to another. One way a structure starts on fire is through radiation. Heat travels via electromagnetic waves, without objects or gases carrying it along. Radiated heat goes out in all directions, unnoticed until it strikes an object. Burning buildings can radiate heat to surrounding structures, sometimes even passing through glass windows and igniting objects inside. The amount of heat produced depends on: - the size of the flame: generally, larger flames release more heat; - the amount of surface area on the structure exposed to the radiant heat: the larger the piece of surface that is exposed, the greater the chance of ignition; - duration of exposure: the more time the structure is exposed the greater the likelihood ofignition; the distance between the flames and the structure: the closer the flames are to the structure, the greater the chance of ignition. A second way a structure may start on fire is through conduction. Conduction is caused by direct contact between the flame and the structure. Firebrands, which are small pieces of burning material often carried by wind, can start new fires, and are a common form of conduction. Minimizing the chance of loss due to firebrand- started ignitions include: - using non-flammable building materials in the construction of your home. This especially important when considering the type of roof to install; is planting appropriate vegetation around structures. Convection is a third way fire spread. Convection is caused by the superheated air that rises from the fires and pre-heats the fuels above it. Convection is most often associated with steep slopes and the "Chimney Effect". The best way to minimize loss due to convective heating include: - build all structures back away from steep slopes. The edge of these steep slopes often provides the best view but can also make the home extremely difficult to protect during a wildland fire; - avoid building your home at the top of steep canyons. If a structure is properly insulated from all these types of spreading, the chances of the structure being lost or damaged to a wildfire will be minimized. Choose the correct answer for the following statements. 1. The text is addressed to… A) house owners. B) firefighters. C) fire inspectors. D) architects. 2. The purpose of the author is to inform … A) about the ways the fire spreads from one place to another. B) how to prevent fires from starting, C) how fires usually start, D) what to do when the fire occurs. 3. Wildland fire starts… A) inside the house. B) outside the house. C) in the roof, D) in the fireplace. 4. The word "to insulate" means A) "to expose". B) "to build". C) "to separate". D) "to isolate". 5. Which of the following statements is false? A) The larger the flame the more heat is emitted. B) The larger the surface area exposed to the heat the greater the chances of ignition. C) The more the distance between the flame and the structure the greater the chance of ignition. D) The longer the structure is exposed to the flame the greater the chances of ignition. 6. The word "likelihood" means … A) "chance". B) "exposure". C) "time". D) "duration". 7. The passage of heat energy through or within a material because of direct contact is called… A) radiation. B) convection. C) conduction. D) combustion. 8. The flow of fluid or gas from hot areas to cooler ones is called… A) radiation. B) convection. C) conduction. D) combustion. 9. People do not notice heat until it strikes an object in case of… A) radiation. B) convection. C) conduction. D) combustion. 10. "Chimney effect" in this text refers to… A) a fire started in the chimney. B) a brick or stone structure that is built over a fireplace. C) a house built on the top of a steep canyon. D) a column of hot gas and smoke that rises high into the air from the fire.