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A portal to information and resource links to help you adapt to life with wildfire
"A portal to information and resource links to help you adapt to life with wildfire."
This website was created by a retired federal employee who spent 35 years managing fires and natural and cultural resources in national parks and on public lands. Recognizing that we can't stop the tidal wave of wildfires that are upon us, this site is dedicated to helping others adapt to life with wildfire.
The subject matter is diverse and there is a wealth of resources available on the Internet which can be time consuming to locate. This website was created to facilitate exploration and learning that ideally leads to collaborative action. Most of the information is already available through an Internet search, but is compiled here for easier access and reference.
The information in this Fire-Resistant Plant List Generator was compiled by Charisse Sydoriak. She has 35 years of experience as a federal lands fire and natural resources manager. She started her career as a fire behavior and effects monitor and field botanist in Yosemite National Park in 1980, and retired as the chief of resources management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in December 2015.
She has no professional background in horticulture but loves to garden, especially with native plants. She is a certified Volunteer Wildfire Risk Assessment Program (WRAP) assessor in Ashland Oregonand teaches classes on fire-resistant landscaping.
The functionality of the Plant List Generator was designed and programmed by Walter Sydoriak. Special thanks to Walter for designing, developing, and maintaining the website - this tool could not have been created without him.
As Wildfire Risk Assessment Program (WRAP) volunteers, we are frequently asked to make recommendations about planting around homes in an urban environment. Home owners and residents are particularly interested in which landscaping plants are fire-resistant, drought tolerant, pollinator friendly, and deer resistant. All of those attributes are open to interpretation.
To better advise property owners and residents, Charisse started investigating the options available in local and regional publications and then started exploring online. She discovered many issues with existing plant lists and resources.
The original website was created to support a course instructed in 2020 with Mary Kwart, a retired federal fire management specialist. Thanks to Mary for her contributions to the original site and for allowing retention of some of her materials.
The relative flammability data in this generator was compiled through a meta analysis of published information and online resources. Data was mined from multiple references which are cited in the References spreadsheet and in individual cell "Notes" if the information came from an Internet website.
Data was mined from multiple references which are provided in the references worksheet and in individual cell "Notes" if the information came from an Internet search website. Many of the horticulture attributes are blank - it is hoped that professionals will help fill in the blanks.
A major shortcoming is the fact that there is no standardized methodology for testing flammability and assigning plants to prescribed "hazard ignition zones." Established plant lists from across the country frequently say different things or say nothing at all about where a plant should be located to be considered "safe" or "firewise".
Complicating the problem is the disparity of opinions on many supposedly fire-resistant plants. Many of these opinions are anecdotal. Until standardized methods are applied to classify a species or entire genus as "fire-resistant", drought tolerant, and similar, we need the means to independently make informed choices.
In recognition of this need, ~99% of the attribution claims for more than 15 attributes are ascribed to a source (aka claimant). Publications from academic institutions are emphasized, but unpublished online sources and professional knowledge was occasionally used.
There are likely dozens of fire-resistant plant lists that were not included in the database as "source" information. A decision was made not to include fire-resistant plant claims unless the claimant also recommended where the plant should be located relative to structures.An exception was made for published Oregon State University fire-resistant plant lists.
The database can be readily expanded as we get requests for information on landscaping plants not yet in the database and find more sources of relevant information. Send research requests to lifewithfire@gmail.com.
Until a suitable administrative host agrees to sponsor this tool, we will periodically release updates of the database on our living-with-fire.org website.
The online version of this tool was created by Annie Lundgren and the Rogue Valley AI Lab (RVAI Lab). Special thanks for bringing this database to the web and making it accessible to a wider audience.
The developer and contributors to this database make no claims of accuracy, completeness, authorship, ownership, or proprietary interest in the information and disclaim all warranties and guarantees to the information in the database and assume no liability or responsibility with respect to the information or application of the tool.
Most of the information is already available through an Internet search. The software is original and proprietary.
We welcome feedback, research requests, and suggestions for improving the database. If you have information about plants not currently included or would like to contribute to expanding the database, please reach out.
Email: lifewithfire@gmail.com
Use our generator to filter plants by fire resistance, water needs, and other traits for your landscape.
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