Planning
Defensible Space Requirements
CAL FIRE requires homeowners "in or
adjoining any mountainous area, forestcovered lands, brush-covered lands,
grass-covered lands or any land that
is covered with flammable material"
to maintain a 100-foot-wide
defensible space around
their home.
Zone 1
0-30 feet Around Your Home
Trim away all dying and dead
material from plants and trees
and remove flammable plants.
Zone 2
30-100 feet Around Your Home
Trim trees as needed to increase the
space between lowest branches and the
plants below. Remove all flammable
materials on the ground.
Image Courtesy of CAL FIRE
Tips!
If your home has open eaves, do not install plants that reach your roofline.
Do not plant juniper, pine or eucalyptus next to your home or other structures
because they produce flammable oil and sap.
Use gravel as mulch instead of bark.
Create hardscape with gravel, concrete, rock or tile instead of wood.
Remove dead plant material from your garden as it appears.
Be vigilant about watering your garden during fire season. The more water held in
your plants, the harder it will be for an ember to ignite a fire.
See also: CALFIRE Brochure
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Case Study: Deborah Lee Baldwin
