Fire prevention refers to the preemptive methods of reducing the risk of starting unwanted landscape fires as well as lessening its severity and spread. Prevention policies must consider the role that the majority of landscape fires are caused by humans. It is estimated that around 95% of wildfires worldwide are caused by humans.
Landscape fires can be prevented by informing, educating and alerting the general public by mass media (radio, television, newspapers, web sites, social media and various other publications designed to reach general public) about the risk of fire and its consequences. The use of mass media is one of the best means of public education in the prevention of landscape fires. Furthermore, fire prevention training in schools and colleges, targeting young people, is an important part of any prevention effort.
The spread of landscape fires can be prevented by constructing or using existing barriers, such as firebreaks and fuelbreaks. The usual firebreak is a strip of a width of one to two meters that has been cleared of trees, scrub and the grass layer by using a plough “mineralized” strip. Natural fuelbreaks may be natural barriers, such as a road or a water stream, or especially constructed barriers.
Under high wind conditions the fire may cross the firebreaks if no firefighters are on standby. This is why natural fuelbreaks are used or even widened, or strategic fuelbreaks constructed. These are generally wide (20 – 300 meters) strips of land on which either less flammable native vegetation is maintained and integrated into fire management planning, or vegetation has been permanently modified so that fires burning into them can be more readily controlled. In some countries fuelbreaks are integrated elements of agro-silvopastoral systems in which the vegetative cover is intensively treated by crop cultivation or grazing. Fuelbreaks have the advantages of preventing erosion, offering a safe place for firefighters to work, low maintenance, and a pleasing appearance.
