What is Defensible Space?
California has been victim to devastating wildfires in recent years. While a wildfire can lead to destruction of property, homes, and livelihoods, residents can take some simple steps to reduce their risk of damage. One of these is creating a defensible space. Learn what the term means and how to protect homes and property from wildfires.
A “Defensible Space”
As the name implies, a defensible space is a barrier between a building on a property and the trees, grass, or shrubs that surround it. Defensible spaces help slow the spread of wildfires and can protect homes and other dwellings from danger. They also provide essential protection to firefighters who will come and defend homes from the spread of a wildfire.
Areas prone to wildfire, including San Diego County, require defensible spaces due to high-risk. CalFire requires treatment of the following areas:
- Green annual weeds and grass
- Dried ornamental vegetation
- Native brush
- Annual weeds and grass over 6 inches in height
Defensible space zones require a 100-foot area of treatment around a home or dwelling. This perimeter falls into one of two zones.
Zone 1:
The first zone is the 50-foot perimeter immediately surrounding buildings, decks, and other structures. The following requirements help assure fire safety and prevent the spread of wildfires during vulnerable periods:
- Removal of all dead plants, weeds, and grass
- Cleaning of all dead or dry pine needles or leaves from gutters, yard, and roof
- Tree trimming that keeps at least 10 feet between branches of other trees
- Removal of branches that hang over the roof, assuring a 10-foot perimeter from your home
- Relocation of all wood piles into Zone 2
- Clearing vegetation that could pose a risk of fire from under decks
- Removal of flammable plants near all windows
- Creating a safe separation between trees and items vulnerable to catching fire, such as patio furniture and playground equipment
Zone 2:
The second zone extends the full 100 feet from any structure or dwelling. Required safety activities in this area include:
- Creating adequate horizontal and vertical spacing between each shrub and tree to prevent the spread of fire.
- Removal of dried yard waste such as trees, dead grass, pine cones, twigs, or small branches.
- Keeping vegetation to a depth of 3 inches at all times.
These are general laws set by San Diego County. CalFire may have further details or suggestions for creating a defensible space for to prevent wildfires.
Fire-Safe Landscaping
A well-maintained yard is an essential requirement of creating a defensible space. Fire-safe landscaping is not a requirement of CalFire or any other area entity, but it can provide beauty to homes while serving an important function.
Fire-safe landscaping uses fire-resistant plants in strategic locations to prevent the spread of a fire to a dwelling when it makes it past Zones 1 and 2. Examples of fire-resistant plants and shrubs include:
- French lavender
- Red monkey flower
- Sage
- California fuchsia
- California lilac
- Yellow ice plant
- Ornamental strawberry
- Society garlic
- California Redbud
The advantage of these types of plants is that they’re drought resistant and grow in several different types of soil. They also provide fire resistance that could slow the spread of a wildfire to a dwelling.
Failure to adhere to the defensible space requirements in San Diego County could lead to citations and other fines. Aside from that, failing to create a defensible space could make a home vulnerable to the spread of wildfire. Homeowners should observe all requirements of Zones 1 and 2 by keeping up with yard maintenance, assuring a safe distance between shrubs, vegetation, and dwellings. For added fire protection that adds beauty to the yard, homeowners should also consider landscaping techniques outlined above.