In an effort to build safer, smarter and stronger homes in areas prone to wildfires, the International Code Council will provide its Urban-Wildland Interface Code free to communities.

"Since we can't stop people from building in areas that are at risk from wildfires, the least we can do is make sure they have every opportunity to minimize the danger," said James Lee Witt, ICC CEO and former Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "While the wildland code is adopted in some areas, such as Kern County, Calif., and Pima County, Ariz., jurisdictions don't embrace it as they do more mainstream building safety and fire prevention codes. Municipalities and states can use the code to regulate construction in areas where wildfires are an imminent danger."

The Urban-Wildland Interface Code was developed with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Grant Program, administered by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services through the Office of the State Fire Marshal. It was a result of the 1993 Southern California wildfires.

In addition to technical construction and architectural requirements, common sense recommendations for homeowners in the Urban-Wildland Interface Code include:

• Roofs should be made of fire-retardant materials such as tile, a classified roof covering (identified on the label as Class A) or steel for best fire performance.

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• Create a defensible space around the home—30 to 100 feet away from the home (depending on exposure to natural vegetation areas).

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• Move combustible materials, such as wood piles, away from structures.

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• Thin out ornamental shrubs and bushes; remove dead vegetation.

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• Cut back dead or dying tree limbs, especially those that overhang the roof, and all vegetation within 10 feet of a chimney.

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• Keep grass and low-to-ground vegetation (ivy, vines, weeds) to three to six inches high.

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• Keep 12 to 18 inches of bare ground between structures and grasses or other vegetation.

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• When building or adding on to an existing home, use fire-resistant building materials for exterior walls or siding.

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• Windows should be tempered or multiple panes to help reduce heat transmitted through the glass and protect against wind and debris that can break the window and allow a fire to enter the home.

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• Residential fire sprinkler systems can extinguish fire that may enter the home. Sprinklers also help prevent structural fires from spreading to the wildland.

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• Keep the areas around the home clear so fire departments have easy access.

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• Take action before a fire. Ask your local fire department about developing a personal fire protection plan.

Government agencies can receive a free copy of the Urban-Wildland Interface Code by calling 1-800-423-6587, Ext. 3264, or visit www.iccsafe.org.