CREATING DEFENSIBLE SPACE: A step-by-step guide
NOTE: Recommendations in this section are made by local firefighters experienced in protecting homes from wildfire. They are not requirements, nor do they take precedence over local ordinances.
Are you worried about the wildfire threat to your home, but you aren't sure how to get started in making your home defensible?
Follow these six steps to an effective defensible space ...
STEP ONE: How big is an effective defensible space?
The size of the defensible space area is usually expressed as a distance extending outward from the sides of the home.
This distance varies by the type of wildland vegetation growing near the house and by the steepness of the terrain.
On the "Recommended Defensible Space" distance chart, find the vegetation type and percent slope (click on the slope calculator at right) ) factors that best describe the location of your home. Then find the recommended defensible space distance for your situation.
For a larger and more detailed version, click on the distance chart below.
For example, if your property is surrounded by wildland grasses such as cheatgrass, and it's sited on flat land, your recommended defensible space distance would extend 30 feet from the sides of the house. If your house is on a 25 percent slope and the adjacent wildland vegetation is dense tall brush, your recommended defensible space distance would be 200 feet.
If the recommended distance goes beyond your property boundaries, contact the adjacent property owner and work cooperatively on creating a defensible space. The effectiveness of defensible space increases when multiple property owners work together. The local county assessor's office can provide assistance if you don't know who owns adjacent properties. Do not work on someone else's property without their permission.
Temporarily mark the recommended distance with flagging or strips of cloth tied to shrubs, trees, or stakes around your home. This will be your defensible space area.
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