Home Assessment / Defendable Space

This is the most critical zone and requires the most attention to detail. The immediate area around your home should be free of all combustible materials to prevent fire from easily reaching the structure. This includes:

• Remove all dead plants, grass, leaves, and weeds that could catch fire easily.
• Trim or prune trees and shrubs to prevent fire from traveling up to the canopy.
• Use fire-resistant plants and mulch (non-combustible mulch such as gravel or rock is ideal).
• Keep gutters and roof clear of debris like leaves and needles.
• Store firewood, propane tanks, or other combustible materials away from the immediate vicinity of your home.

This zone is designed to slow the spread of fire toward your home. Vegetation should be spaced out to create a gap between plants and trees, reducing the chances of flames jumping from one to the other. To enhance fire protection in this area:

• Space trees at least 10 feet apart and prune tree branches to a height of 6-10 feet above the ground.
• Remove dead or dry vegetation and trim grass to a height of no more than 4 inches.
• Avoid planting large clusters of shrubs; space them to prevent a continuous fuel source.
• Remove ladder fuels (smaller plants, shrubs, or grasses beneath larger trees) to prevent fire from climbing into the trees.

This zone focuses on further reducing the potential for wildfire spread across your property. Vegetation in this area should be carefully managed, but it’s also important not to disrupt natural landscapes that provide habitat for wildlife. In this area:

• Thin trees and vegetation create defensible gaps and limit continuous fuel.
• Consider creating “fuel breaks” or small cleared areas to reduce fire spread and provide firefighters a defensible line.
• Prune trees to allow for safe movement and fire equipment access.