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Outbuildings and other flammables
Outbuildings and other flammables
Outbuildings such as storage sheds, workshops, play structures, garages and lean-to’s (Fig. 18) in effect, increase the structure density of HIZs. When they ignite and burn, they can become significant ignition sources within the HIZ (see Fig. 13 and discussion). Outbuildings are potentially vulnerable to direct ember ignitions due to gaps and openings at doors, windows, under eaves, etc. The firewood shed (right photo) is highly vulnerable to ember ignition and if burning will assure the home’s destruction. However, outbuildings are commonly ignition vulnerable from fire spreading to them or adjacent debris. For example, the shed in Figure 18 (left photo) has dead grass continuous to the wall, debris at the rear and an adjacent wood fence at the property boundary. Commonly, a wood fence at the property boundary has continuous dead vegetation and debris outside the fence. The destroyed outbuilding in the center photo was next to a wood fence adjacent to continuous wildland vegetation outside. The wildfire burned through continuous vegetation to ignite the fence leading to the shed. Outbuildings are commonly positioned close to homes, potentially becoming critical sources of ignition exposure to adjacent homes.