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Low Wildfire Hazard -Homes are built with concrete and <br />appropriate non-flammable roofing materials. Short grass, low <br />shrubs and light duff are present. The forest and heavy <br />vegetation are not continuous throughout the community. <br />Wildfires that do occur in these areas are less intense and <br />easier to suppress because of the lower volume of fuel to feed <br />and sustain the fire. (Vero Beach) <br />Medium Wildfire Hazard - Wildland vegetation is continuous <br />throughout the community. Tall grass, medium shrubs, thick <br />duff and ladder fuels are prominent in the area. Vegetation is <br />less than 30 feet from homes. Homes are built with vinyl, <br />plastic or other types of less fire-resistant materials. Access is <br />limited and the concentration of fuel to feed fires causes more <br />intense fire behavior. Fire suppression becomes more difficult <br />and costly. (Fellsmere, Florida Ridge, Gifford, Olso, Roseland, <br />Vero Beach South, Vero Lake Estates, Wabasso, and Winter <br />Beach) <br />High Wildfire Hazard -Dense, highly flammable vegetation <br />surrounds the neighborhood and is within a few feet of homes. <br />A thick layer of vegetation is present on the forest floor. Access <br />to the neighborhood is limited to one entrance and/or on poorly <br />maintained roads. Homes are rarely built with fire-resistant <br />materials. Continuous, overgrown vegetation limits access and <br />creates intense wildfire conditions. Fire suppression is <br />challenging and requires more resources (engines, dozers, <br />and aircraft) and firefighters than normal. (Sebastian) <br />Hazard Rating Factors — Although there are many factors that <br />affect the survivability of homes during wildfires, the following <br />have been shown to be important in Florida. <br />• Access —Roadway and shoulder widths, road <br />maintenance standards, turnarounds and road surface <br />materials affect how quickly emergency crews can respond, <br />as well as how quickly and safely residents can evacuate. <br />• Vegetation —Wildland vegetation (fuel) in Florida is <br />highly variable both in amount and type and burns <br />differently at different times of the year. Generally <br />speaking, native vegetation is more likely to burn during the <br />winter months when grasses and weeds have been killed <br />by frosts and freezing temperatures. In addition, many <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 35 <br />