Reduce Wildfire Risk with Defensible Space
Creating and maintaining defensible space around your home is critical to slowing or even stopping the spread of wildfire and preventing spot fires from wind-blown embers. Defensible space also provides a safe working area for firefighters to defend your home.
Selecting fire resistant plants, maintaining trees and removing certain vegetation reduces ember ignition and separates potential fuel for fires. You do not need to clear out all vegetation around your property, but rather strategically place it.
How to create defensible space
Many experts recommend taking a zoned approach to defensible space. A qualified landscaper can help you implement these recommendations and any additional local requirements.
Zone 0
Within 0-5 feet of your home
- Use fire-safe landscaping materials such as noncombustible mulches, rocks or gravel and low-growing plants.
- Install gutter guards and clear away debris from gutters, roof valleys, exterior walls, fences and underneath decks.
- Replace wooden fencing and gates with non-combustible materials.
Zone 1
Extends 5-30 feet from your home
- Clear all dead plants, grass and weeds.
- Move any combustible structures like trellises, fences, fuel tanks and wood piles to Zone 2.
- Space trees so that their branches are at least 10 feet away from your house, chimney and powerlines and 18 feet apart from other trees.
- Trim tree branches vertically up to at least 6 feet from the ground or 1/3 of the tree's height for smaller trees.
Zone 2
Extends 30-100+ feet from your home
- Trim native grasses to a maximum height of 4 inches.
- Space trees within 30-60 feet of the home at least 12 feet apart and trees 60-100 feet from the home at least 6 feet apart.
- Ensure that fuel tanks and outbuildings, like sheds or pool houses, are at least 10 feet away from flammable vegetation.
- Remove exposed wood piles or keep them at least 10 feet away from trees, grasses or other combustible items.
