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Defensible Space

Wildfire safety zones around a house: Zone 0 (0-5 ft), Zone 1 (5-30 ft), Zone 2 (30-100 ft). Each zone increases defensible space.

 Zone 0

Extends 5 feet horizontally and vertically from any structure.

  • No combustible bark or mulch around structure.
  • Remove all dead and dying weeds, grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches and “vegetative debris”-leaves, needles, cones, bark, etc.
  • Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from roof and gutters.
  • Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney, stovepipe and roof.
  • Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows.
  • Limit combustible items (outdoor furniture, planters, etc.) on decks.
  • Relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2.
  • Consider relocating garbage and recycling containers, boats, RVs, vehicles and other combustible items outside this zone.

 

Zone 1 

Extends from 5 to 30 feet from any structure.

  • Remove dead plants, grass and weeds and vegetative debris.
  • Trim tree branches to a minimum of 6 feet from the ground.
  • Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.
  • Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc. 

 

Zone 2

Extends from 30 feet to no less than 100 feet from any structure.

  • Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.
  • Create spacing between shrubs and trees.
  • Reduce “duff”-fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches to a maximum depth of 3 inches.
  • All exposed wood piles must have a minimum of 10 feet of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, in all directions.
Illustration showing zones around a house: Zone 1 (0-5 ft) structural ignitability, Zones 2-3 (5-100 ft) defensible space with trees.

 

May contain: grass, plant, herbal, herbs, flower, lupin, vegetation, outdoors, and lavender
May contain: field, grassland, nature, outdoors, and mound
May contain: text, car, transportation, vehicle, and windshield
May contain: sign, symbol, grass, and plant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire trucks and statistics on fire safety measures: defensible space, ember vents, vegetation clearance, mitigation, and fire-resistant roofing.

 

 

 

 

 

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