Reduce Wildfire Risk

Scene of a controlled burn in a deciduous forest. A person wearing a yellow hard hat, fire-resistant yellow shirt, dark pants, and a backpack operates a red drip torch, applying fire to dry leaf litter on the forest floor.

Wildfires can and do happen in Tennessee, especially from October to May when humidity is lower and fuel on the ground is abundant. If you own wooded land, taking steps to reduce wildfire risk helps protect your home, forest, wildlife, and long-term investment.

Tennessee experiences about 1,000 wildfires each year, burning 10,000+ acres. They can damage property, buildings, and homes; harm wildlife habitat; destroy timber; and kill trees, making your land land less usable in the short term and less valuable for future generations in the long term.

Why It Matters

  • Homes and cabins near woods are at higher risk, especially if surrounded by dense brush or dry debris
  • Unmanaged forests build up fuel, making fires burn hotter and longer and spread faster
  • Wildfires can damage trees, reduce wildlife cover, and impact your goals for passing down healthy land

Examples of Ways to Reduce Risk

You don’t need heavy equipment to make a difference. You can explore strategies like:

  • Clearing dead branches and leaf piles around homes and driveways
  • Creating a “defensible space”—a buffer of cleared, open ground 30+ feet around buildings
  • Removing ladder fuels (small trees and shrubs under mature trees) that help fire climb into the canopy
  • Burning natural debris safely, with a free burn permit
  • Spacing out trees by thinning to reduce overcrowding
  • Conducting a prescribed burn to reduce available fuels on the ground - talk to a TDF forester to see if this would be a good option for your property
  • Clearing leaf litter from your gutters and roof to reduce fuel that can lead to your home catching fire
  • Exploring ways to protect your home from wildfire at Firewise.org

Reducing wildfire risk helps you protect what matters most—your home, your woods, and your legacy. A little effort now can prevent major loss later.

So What's Next?

There are many resources available to help you take steps to mitigate wildfire risk, and our foresters are available to provide guidance along the way. Reach out to your local TDF area forester for more information.

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