Clear A Defensible Space For Wildfire Safety

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — January's firestorm in Southern California, which killed more than two dozen people and destroyed some 18,000 homes, proves the need for having defensible space around your home throughout the year, and not just during "fire season."

Grasses and other fuels have grown during winter rains, and you may have fallen behind in clearing brush last fall.

Cal Fire has these recommendations for clearing combustible materials and vegetation around your home to create a defensible space and reduce wildfire risk.

Clear vegetation

• Remove dead, dying, and diseased plants, weeds, and debris from around your home
• Trim branches within 10 feet of chimneys and stovepipes
• Cut or mow grass to a maximum height of four inches

Create defensible space

• Maintain a defensible space of 100 feet around your home
• Keep combustible materials at least 30 feet away from your home
• Ensure gates open inward and are wide enough for emergency vehicles

Zone 0

• Create an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of your home
• Remove brush, wooden fencing, furniture, sheds, and mulch from this zone

Use noncombustible materials

• Use gravel, pavers, or concrete instead of mulch or bark
• Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors with noncombustible alternatives
• Use fire-resistant materials for new construction, including roofing, windows, and eaves