Action sheet — Before the fire
Storing firewood without it catching fire
A pile of wood against the façade is a classic feature of remote houses: dry, well-ventilated and leaning against the wall, it can turn a single spark into a roof fire. A distance of ten metres — or a closed shelter — makes all the difference.
Key points
- A minimum of 10 metres between the stock and any building — or a closed shelter made of solid materials.
- Never under a window, a canopy, a wooden decking area or against a wall exposed to the prevailing wind.
- Whether on concrete or gravel, a thick tarpaulin or a roof: wood is useful in winter, but not a bit in summer.
- The same applies to pallets, crates and cardboard boxes in the open garage.
Equipment: wheelbarrow · base slats (for ventilation) · tarpaulin or sheet metal cover
Why it’s important
Firewood is prepared specifically for burning: dry, split and well-ventilated. Placed against the façade, it catches the sparks, bursts into flames, and directs a continuous wall of fire several metres wide against the wall, the window and door frames, and the eaves — precisely where the house is most vulnerable. Firefighters defending a neighbourhood often ‘skip’ houses with a pile of wood pressed up against them: these are impossible to defend without putting themselves at risk. Moving the stock offers the best balance between effort and protection, along with the gutters.
How to do it, step by step
Choose the right location
At least 10 metres from the house AND any outbuildings, out of the path of the prevailing wind, on a hard surface (paving slabs, gravel, bare earth). Not against the neighbour’s fence either.
Stock up properly
Pallets placed on the floor to allow for ventilation, arranged in stable, criss-crossed rows at the ends, at a reasonable height (1.5 m). A well-stacked load dries just as well as one placed against a wall.
Cover the top, not the sides
A thick tarpaulin or sheet metal on top, overhanging by 10 cm: the wood stays dry, the rain runs off, and air circulates.
Keep a minimum supply close to home
A wooden crate for 2–3 days’ supply, kept indoors or in a locked metal box — never store your entire winter supply under the awning.
Extend this approach to all fuels
Pallets, cardboard boxes, crates, furniture awaiting collection: the same 10-metre rule or enclosed space applies. A wide-open garage full of cardboard boxes counts as outdoor storage.
The mistakes that ruin everything
- Putting it back under the awning ‘just for the summer’ because it’s convenient — it’s precisely in summer that it causes the most damage.
- Stick it to the hedge: you’re creating a signal relay path from the hedge → wood → house.
- Install it below the house on the side facing the slope: the fire, having been preheated, will rise straight up towards it.
- Don’t forget the gas cylinder ‘hidden’ behind the pile.
The tip that makes all the difference
Make the most of moving the pile to check what was inside it: nests, dry ivy, rotten planks… and give its former spot a go-over with a brush cutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
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