Wildfire Risk and Hazard Assessment Checklist
A:Zone 1 – Primary Protection Area
1:Firefighter egress –
Access and escape routes and maneuvering room are adequate for safe movement
Access and escape routes and maneuvering room are inadequate for safe movement (roadways and turnarounds suitable for fire fighting equipment should be provided)
2:Roofing Materials
Roofing material is “C class” or better on all structures
Some roofing material is less than “C class”… (appropriate roofing should be installed)
3:Vegetation
a:Type
Light (e.g., grasses, sawgrass, and tundra)
Medium (e.g., light brush and small trees)
Heavy (e.g., timber, hardwoods, heavy brush)…vegetation should be pruned, thinned, or removed to reduce the hazard
Slash (e.g., timber harvesting residue)… vegetation should be pruned, thinned, or removed to reduce the hazard
b:Clearing
15 feet of cleared space is maintained around all structures
Less than 15 feet of cleared space is maintained around 1 or more of the structures… (vegetation should be removed or reduced in this area)
4:Flammables / Combustibles
LP tank (if present) is > 25’ from the structure and the end of the tank is not pointed at it
There are no gasoline cans, LP grill bottles, or other flammables in unidentified storage sheds or laying around on the property
LP tank is within 25’ of the structure and/or the end of the tank is pointing at it…(rectify the location and/or alignment of the LP tank)
Gasoline cans, LP grill bottles, or other flammables are present in unidentified storage sheds or laying around on the property… (these should be consolidated, properly stored, and identified)
5:Chimneys and flues
Spark arrestors or woven wire mesh have installed over all chimneys/flues
Vegetation has been removed from within 10 feet of all flues/chimneys
Vegetation has not been removed from within 10 feet of flues/chimneys (chimneys/flues should be modified to include a spark arrestor)
6:Utilities (all new construction should be have underground utilities)
Utilities are underground
Utilities can easily be relocated underground (should be buried as soon as possible)
Utilities are above ground (vegetation clearing critical; reduce damage potential)
B:Zone 2 – Fuel Reduction Area
Area between 75 and 125 feet has had vegetation reduced
Area between 75 and 125 feet is overgrown (area should have material reduced)
C:Zone 3 – Balance of Property
Vegetation is healthy and free of insect infestation
Area is has adequate fire access for fire-fighters
Dead, diseased, insect infested, or otherwise unhealthy shrubs, trees, and limbs are present (such material should be pruned or removed)
Fire fighter access is inadequate to unimproved areas (fire trails or roads should be constructed)
If the property owner will not take the steps to reduce the risk, the fire service may red-tag the property so as to not endanger the life and limb of the fire fighters.
© The Redwoods Group, 2003
Risk Management services are provided by The Redwoods Group to assist the insured in fulfilling their responsibilities for the control of potential loss-producing situations involving their YMCA operations. The information contained is not intended as legal advice, it simply represents trends in the YMCA industry, related industries and/or law. Laws and suggested standards are under constant review by courts, states and trade groups. They can be vastly different in each jurisdiction. For legal advice relating to any subject addressed, YMCAs are advised to seek the services of a local personal attorney. The information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind and The Redwoods Group expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to any information contained, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Redwoods Group assumes no liability of any kind for information and data contained or for any course of action you may take in reliance thereon. Original 03/11/2003