💧 Keep grass and plants well watered through fire season

Dry vegetation has a much higher flammability potential than the same plant when it is hydrated. Fire-safety programs recommend keeping your lawn and...

Dry vegetation has a much higher flammability potential than the same plant when it is hydrated. Fire-safety programs recommend keeping your lawn and any ornamental beds well watered through the hot months because moist tissue resists ignition from embers and slows the spread of any flame that does start. Cut grass to no more than 10 centimetres in the zones close to the house and clean up clippings so they do not dry into a fine fuel layer. Drip irrigation lines under non-combustible mulch put water at the roots without leaving wet foliage that becomes brittle once the system shuts off. If your local water utility imposes restrictions during a drought, prioritise the first 10 metres around the house — that is where moisture matters most for ignition resistance. A short, green, well-irrigated lawn is one of the cheapest forms of FireSmart landscaping and works as a buffer between any combustible feature in the yard and your siding. During heat waves, water early in the morning so leaves have time to dry on top while roots stay damp; wet foliage at sundown can encourage fungal disease without adding much fire benefit.

Source: FireSmart BC — Landscaping Hub

Last reviewed 2026-05-02.

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