This is a record-breaking year for forest fires this early in the season right across Canada and while most of Newfoundland and Labrador’s fire hazard index is in the low to moderate range, it doesn’t take long for that to change.

Sara Richards, a conservation officer with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture, is a FireSmart expert.

She made a presentation at Paddy’s Pond yesterday about some of the key rules of thumb to make sure your home and property is fire smart this season.

Rather than a wall of flame, Richards says the main threat from forest fires posed to your property is from falling embers.

The main focus is the 30 metres around your home. Think of ways to break that continuity of fuel between wooded areas and your home. One way is to keep your lawn mowed to within 10 cm or less.

Another is to avoid mulch. Richards says it might look nice, but it provides a source of fuel for fires. She also suggests planting hardwood instead of softwood trees, because they are more fire resistant.

She says maples, horse chestnuts, golden chains, burning bush, spirea and hostas are all more fire resistant than spruce and other softwood trees and bushes.

She directs homeowners to the FireSmart Canada website for more useful tools.