Fire season is coming very soon, and now is the time to prepare. Redding Fire Marshal Craig Wittner has some advice for homeowners. By now most people have become familiar with the concept of defensible space. That’s the hundred foot perimeter around homes that should be clear of brush, low-lying trees and other ladder fuels. Another area closer to the structure is known as the “home ignition zone”. It extends five feet around the perimeter of the structure, where people often store wood piles, potted plants, patio furniture, garbage cans, propane tanks and other combustibles. There’s also frequently wooden fencing and landscape bark hugging the sides of homes. During the Carr Fire most property damage in Redding was due to wind driven embers igniting landscape vegetation, bark and wood fences. Once that material catches fire, the flames can be sucked up into the home’s eave vents. A lot of tips on fire safety can be found at readyforwildfire.org or by calling Redding Fire Department anytime at 225-4141.