Creating defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.

Defensible Space Zones

Two zones make up the required 100 feet of defensible space.

Zone 1

Zone One extends 30 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (vegetation).

Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters.

Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.

Remove branches that hang over your roof and keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney.

Relocate wood piles into zone 2.

Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows.

Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.

Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

Zone 2

Zone Two extends 30 to 100 feet out from buildings, structures and decks. You can minimize the chance of fire jumping from plant to plant or other non-vegetative combustible, by removing dead material and removing, separating, and/or thinning vegetation. The minimum spacing between vegetation is three times the dimension of the plant or other non-vegetative combustible.

Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.

Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches.

When Fire Approaches

Be Prepared

Evacuate as soon as you are set! Alert family and neighbors. Dress in appropriate clothing (made from natural fibers, such as cotton, and work boots). Have goggles and a dry bandana or particle mask handy. Ensure that you have your emergency supply kit on hand that includes all necessary items, such as a battery powered radio, spare batteries, emergency contact numbers, and ample drinking water. Stay tuned to your TV or local radio stations for updates, or check the fire department website. Remain close to your house, drink plenty of water, and keep an eye on your family and pets until you are ready to leave.

Inside Your Home

Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked. Remove flammable window shades and curtains and close metal shutters. Remove lightweight curtains. Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors. Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights. Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions. Shut off the air conditioning.

Outside Your Home

Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked. Remove flammable window shades and curtains and close shutters. Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors. Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights. Leave the electric lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions. Shut off the air conditioning.

Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, etc.) and bring them inside or place them in your pool. Turn off propane tanks. Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, which can deplete critical water pressure. Leave exterior lights on. Back your car into the driveway for easy egress. Shut doors and roll up windows. Have a ladder available. Patrol your property and extinguish all small fires until you leave. Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals if time permits.

Survival Tips

If you are trapped or cannot leave, shelter away from outside walls. Bring garden hoses inside the house so embers don’t destroy them. Patrol inside your home for spot fires and extinguish them. Wear long sleeves and long pants made of natural fibers such as cotton. Stay hydrated. Ensure you can exit the home if it catches fire (remember if it’s hot inside the house, it is four to five times hotter outside). Fill sinks and tubs for an emergency water supply. Place wet towels under doors to keep smoke and embers out. After the fire has passed, check your roof and extinguish any fires, sparks or embers. Check inside the attic for hidden embers. Patrol your property and extinguish small fires. If there are fires that you cannot extinguish with a small amount of water or in a short period of time, call 9-1-1.

The Red Cross Recommends

You should have a three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Stash non-perishable food for all family members and pets (three-day supply) and a first aid kit. You should have sanitation supplies, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries. Have an extra set of car keys, your credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks. Pack extra eyeglasses or contact lenses, important family documents, contact numbers, and any prescriptions or special medications. Collect together family photos and other irreplaceable, easily carried items. Have personal computers (information on hard drives and disks) and chargers for cell phones packed and ready to go. Note: Keep a pair of old shoes and a flashlight handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night.