Create Defensible Space

• If you are building a new house or addition over 200 square feet, you must create defensible space according to the Wildfire Safety Ordinance (18.3.10.100)
• Clean your roof/gutters of leaves and needles at the beginning of fire season. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
• Create a fuel free area within 5 feet of your house: Remove all bark mulch and combustible materials and replace with rock if necessary.
• Make sure your address number is easily seen from the street.
• Trim all deciduous tree branches overhanging your house.
• Trim all tree branches within 10 feet of your chimney.
• Trim all conifer tree branches 10 feet from your roof and home.
• Create adequate spacing for emergency vehicles by having at least 14 feet vertical clearance along the driveway and trimming back trees and shrubs from the shoulder.
• Prune lower branches of trees 6-10 feet off the ground within 30 feet of home.

• Remove any wood/flammable materials from underneath decks and balconies.
• Relocate woodpile at least 30 feet from structures.
• Clear away flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles.
• Dispose of accumulated trimmings before fire season.
• Talk to your neighbors and create a bigger defensible space together.

 

 

Installing new landscaping

• When installing new landscaping, follow the guidelines of the Prohibited Flammable Plant List.
• Consider planting Firewise plants within 30 feet of and structure.
• All plants need annual maintenance to remove dead branches, leaves and needles.