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Defensible Space
 Wildland fire safety begins with creating and maintaining
clearance around your home; cutting weeds and dry grass before 10
a.m. when the humidity is higher and temperatures cooler to reduce
the chance of fire.
A new state law went into effect that extends the “defensible
space” clearance around homes and structures from 30 feet to 100
feet. Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance
of your home surviving a wildfire. This defensible space also
provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a
wildland fire.
Homeowners responsibility is key to fire safety.
Homeowner Checklist
1. Design/Construction
- Use fire resistant materials
- Build your home at least 30-100 feet from your property line
- Build your home away from ridge tops, canyons and areas
between high points on a ridge
- Enclose the underside of eaves, balconies, and above-ground
decks with fire resistant materials
- Limit the size and number of windows in your home that face
large areas of vegetation
- Install only dual- or triple-paned windows
- Make sure that electric service lines, fuse boxes, and
circuit breaker panels are installed to Code. Contact qualified
individuals to perform electrical maintenance and repairs
2. Access
- Post your house address so it is easily visible from the
street, especially at night
- Address numbers should be at least 3 inches tall and on a
contrasting background
- Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood
- Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and
five feet from driveways (or more)
- Cut back overhanging tree branches above access roads so
that fire apparatus (tall and wide) can reach you
- Construct roads that allow two-way traffic – provide
pull-out lane, for example
- Make sure dead-end roads, and long drive ways have
turn-around areas wide enough for emergency vehicles
- Design bridges to carry heavy emergency vehicles. Contact
your local building official for current engineering
requirements
- Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as
dead-end roads, and weight and height limitations
3. Roof
- Install a fire resistant roof. Contact your local building
official for current roofing requirements
- Remove dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters
- Remove dead branches overhanging your roof and keep branches
10 feet from your chimney
- Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a nonflammable
screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh
4. Landscape
- Create a Defensible Space of 100 feet around your
home. It is required by law.
- Create a “LEAN, CLEAN and GREEN ZONE” by removing all
flammable vegetation within 30 feet immediately surrounding your
home
- Create a “REDUCED FUEL ZONE” in the remaining 70 feet
or to your property line.
- Remove lower tree branches at least six feet from the ground
- Landscape with fire resistant plants
- Maintain all plants with regular water, and keep dead
braches, leaves and needles removed.
- When clearing vegetation, use care when operating equipment
such as lawnmowers. One small spark may start a fire; a string
trimmer is much safer.
- Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and
remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles
- Locate butane and propane tanks at least 30 feet from any
structure and maintain 10 feet of clearance
- Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles,
leaves, and other debris from your yard
- Contact your local fire department to see if debris burning
is allowed in your area; if so, obtain a burning permit and
follow all local air quality restrictions
5. Emergency Water Supply
- Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire
department standards through one of the following:
A) a community water/hydrant system
B) a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors
C) a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on your property (a
pond or pool)
- Clearly mark all emergency water sources
- Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency
water source. If your water comes from a well, consider an
emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure.
Click here for
Safety Tips.Past Monthly
Safety Messages:
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: October is Disaster Preparedness Month
Monthly Safety Message: Wildland/Vegetation Fires
Monthly Safety Message: The Do's and DO NOTs of Calling 9-1-1
Monthly Safety Message: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Use Caution with Turkey Fryers
Monthly Safety Message: Tips for Halloween Trick-or-Treating
Monthly Safety Message: The Do's and DO NOTs of Calling 9-1-1
Monthly Safety Message: 4th of July Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Defensible Space
Monthly Safety Message: Disaster Preparedness
Monthly Safety Message: Move Right for Sirens & Lights
Monthly Safety Message: Saving A Life…Heart Attack & Stroke
Monthly Safety Message: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Fireplace, Wood Stove, & Space Heaters
Monthly Safety Message: Candle Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Disaster Preparedness
Monthly Safety Message: How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Monthly Safety Message: Wildland Fire Safety Tips
Monthly Safety Message: Water Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Rags & Ashes — Caution Required
Monthly Safety Message: Change your Smoke Detector Battery
Monthly Safety Message: How to Survive a Fire in Your Home
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