Although cooler temperatures have hit Issaquah and Sammamish this summer, brush fires are still a concern for Eastside Fire and Rescue.

During the first two weeks of July, EFR responded to 28 brush fires and 17 bark fires, according to a press release.

The worst part about urban brush fires is that they can easily spread to homes.

EFR made a list of recommendations for protecting homes against brush fires, calling them “defensible space practices.”

– Rake leaves, dead limbs, and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation and remove vines from walls of the home, remove rubbish from around the structure.

– Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15-feet of the ground. Thinning is simply reducing the density of vegetation between trees in your yard.

– Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.

– Mow grass regularly.

– Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and barbeques.

– Regularly dispose of newspapers and other flammable materials to an appropriate site.

– Place stove, fireplace, and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for two days, then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.

– Stack firewood at least 50-feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20-feet.

– Create a 30-foot safety zone around your home. Keep the volume of vegetation in this zone to a minimum. The greater the distance between your home and vegetation, the greater the protection.

– Remove debris on rooftops, in gutters, under sun decks and porches.

– Enclose eaves and overhangs. Like porches and balconies, eaves trap the heat rising along the exterior siding. Enclose all eaves to reduce the hazard.