After an intensive study of the Witch Creek fire that swept through the county in October, an insurance industry research organization has released recommendations for homeowners to avoid future tragedy.

To minimize ember-caused fires, the Institute for Business and Home Safety suggests paying attention to things that can ignite homes, including seemingly harmless wood fences, bird nests, trees, playground sets and plants.

Some of the preventive steps are free or relatively inexpensive, such as moving wood stacked against the house, cleaning gutters, relocating trestles farther from the building and cutting back vegetation under vents and windows.

The report is posted at disastersafety.org/megafire/ – M.G.