Burn protection for wood poles

A system for protecting a utility pole from fire damage, the system comprising:

• a peripheral apron with a central opening, wherein the apron is installed continuously surrounding the pole with the central opening receiving the pole therethrough and with the apron defining a vegetation-free buffer zone, wherein the apron is made of a woven geotextile fabric with a strength and permeability selected to resist vegetation growth through it, wherein the apron has an inner diameter selected to conform to an outer diameter of the pole to provide a snug fit of the apron against the pole, wherein the apron has an outer diameter selected to define a sufficiently large size of the vegetation-free buffer zone based on local vegetation, wherein the outer diameter is larger than about 4 feet, wherein the apron has two adjacent radially extending free ends defining a radial slit, wherein the radial free ends can be displaced from adjacent each other in order to position the apron around the pole with the pole received in the internal opening, wherein the apron free ends can be returned to adjacent each other in a use position with the apron continuously surrounding the pole, and further comprising fasteners that are installed to secure the radial free ends of the apron in place in the use position;
• and
• a peripheral cover that covers the apron and is made of a layer of rock material forming a rock bed that protects the apron from UV and fire damage, wherein the cover is installed continuously surrounding the pole.

A method of protecting a utility pole from fire damage, the method comprising:

• clearing existing vegetation from around the pole to reveal vegetation-free ground of a size larger than a desired vegetation-free zone;
• positioning a peripheral apron on the cleared ground and around the pole to resist vegetation growth in the vegetation-free zone, wherein the apron has a central opening sized to fit snugly against the pole, wherein the apron has an outer diameter that is larger than about 4 feet and defining the vegetation-free zone, and wherein the apron is made of a woven geotextile fabric with a strength and permeability selected to resist vegetation growth through it;
• and
• installing a peripheral cover on top of the apron to protect the apron from UV and fire damage, wherein the cover is made of a layer of rock material forming a rock bed that protects the apron from UV and fire damage, wherein the cover is installed continuously surrounding the pole.