ZONE 1

Extends 30 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

• Remove all dead or dying vegetation.
• Trim tree canopies regularly to keep their branches a minimum of 10 feet from structures and other trees.
• Remove leaf litter (dry leaves and pine needles) from yard, roof, and rain gutters.
• Relocate woodpiles or other combustible materials into Zone 2.
• Remove combustible material and vegetation from around and under decks.
• Remove or prune vegetation near windows.
• Remove “ladder fuels” (low-level vegetation that allows the fire to spread from the ground to the tree canopy). Create a separation between low-level vegetation and tree branches. This can be done by reducing the height of low-level vegetation keep plants and shrubs below 18 inches in height and/or trimming low tree branches.

ZONE 2

Extends 30-100 feet out from buildings, structures, and decks.

Reduce the continuity of fuels by removing dead material and removing and/or thinning vegetation. Minimum spacing between vegetation is 3 times the dimension of the plant.

• Remove “ladder fuels.”
• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.
• Trim tree canopies regularly to keep their branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.

Note: If your property line is less than 100 feet from your home and you cannot maintain 100 feet of defensible space, your home may not be defensible. You are only responsible for defensible space on your own property.