Defensible space does NOT mean removing all vegetation from around your home. Defensible space means MODIFYING and MAINTAINING vegetation to reduce the intensity and speed of a wildfire when it reaches your home.

Create a "clean" zone with few or no combustibles within 30 feet of your home.

Create a fuel-reduction zone from 30'-100' (or to your property line, if closer) to slow the spread of an approaching wildfire.

• Cut dry grass regularly within 100 feet of your home. Gas powered tools can start fires when fire danger is high, so work early in the morning on a cool, moist day, if possible. Rake and remove clippings.
• Use irrigated, fire-resistant plants where possible. Rock, stone, and other materials can be used to create an attractive, fire-safe landscape.
• Make decks fire safe by clearing vegetation and combustibles like lumber and firewood from underneath. Enclose underside with fire resistant building materials if possible.
• Apply 1/4 inch mesh screen to all roof and basement vent openings.
• Keep trees limbed up 10' from the ground or from the tops of plants below (or 1/3 the height of trees shorter than 30'), and cut back at least 10' from your chimney and roof. Remove all dead limbs.
• Clean all needles and leaves from the roof and rain gutters regularly during fire season.
• Maintain your landscaping by mowing, watering, weeding and removing dead needles and leaves.
• Maintain fire engine access to your home by clearing vegetation 10 from the sides of roads and driveways and 14' vertically.
• Make your address visible from the street in both directions, with 4" (minimum) reflective numbers on a contrasting background.