It's "wildfire" in the United States. "Bushfire" in Australia. Whatever the name, these quick-spreading fires are destructive—and fire season is getting longer. 

Here are steps you can take in advance to help protect your facilities that may be in the path of fire.

Now:

• Remove combustible vegetation within 5 ft. (1.5 m) of buildings and equipment. 
• Keep gutters free of debris.
• Cover vents with wire mesh to keep burning embers out.
• Remove all combustible yard storage.
• Develop a written pre-incident plan with the public fire service.

Soon:

• Replace wood roof shingles with tiles or slate materials.
• Remove exposing vegetation to create a reduced-fuel zone as outlined in FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 9-19, Wildland Fire.
• Change exposed walls and windows to classify as non-combustible or 1-hour fire-rated exposed construction.
• Provide an adequate and reliable water supply to meet automatic sprinkler and hose stream demands.

For further details:

• Download FM Global's Understanding the Hazard: Wildfire/Bushfire Exposure
• Download FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet: 9-19 Wildland Fire

Related:

• Watch the presentation – Wildfire Risk Reduction: Connecting the dots
• Getty Weathers Wildfire: How Getty's museum survived and how you can prepare for nature's firestorm.
• Getty Weathers Wildfire: How Getty's museum survived and how you can prepare for nature's firestorm.
• Top of the Class:  Once again, Pepperdine University aces wildland fire test