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Get the lowdown on safety from actual Defensible Space Inspectors.

Here’s your chance to get important defensible space tips straight from people who understand the concept best. Be Ready, Butte! asked some CAL FIRE Defensible Space Inspectors about best practices for protecting your home against wildfire. Our panel of defensible space Q&A experts included Fire Captain Jake Gilliam, Inspector Carlita Foss, and Inspector Rich Simon.

It’s 106° here in summer. Any tips on how to maintain defensible space on our properties without melting?

CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Start early in the day. Work in the cooler hours of the morning, when temperatures are lower, and winds are less likely to pick up. Drink plenty of water and wear light, protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen to avoid heat exhaustion. Take breaks often to cool down.

INSPECTOR SIMON: Yes, and stop prior to 10 a.m. to avoid accidentally igniting a fire with your equipment.

CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Excellent point. In fact, on windy and dry days, it’s safer not to use tools like lawnmowers, trimmers, or chainsaws at all. Sparks from equipment can easily ignite dry vegetation. If possible, try clearing debris or dry grass by hand rather than using equipment.

INSPECTOR FOSS: You can also talk to your local 4H club about getting or renting some goats to clear your property naturally. No kidding!

We don’t always have hours to clean up our yards. What are some defensible space actions that take just a few minutes, yet make a big difference?

INSPECTOR FOSS: It doesn’t take long to move items from against your house. Using a lightweight electric leaf blower to clear leaves is quick work, too. Even relocating your firewood piles away from your house can be done a few pieces at a time.

INSPECTOR SIMON: Rake leaves and pine needles out of your 30-foot Zone One. Work on it a little each day. And making sure gutters are cleaned doesn’t take long, either.

CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Agreed. Clearing your roof and gutters does a lot to help prevent embers from catching.

So tell it to us straight: What are the most important things Defensible Space Inspectors look for?

CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Let’s take it zone-by-zone. The first thing we look for is a clear Zone Zero—a five-foot perimeter around the entire footprint of the house. There shouldn’t be anything flammable within those five feet.

Then we move on to Zone One, which stretches out to 30 feet from your house. We like to see Zone One clear of debris and dead vegetation, with healthy plants, trees, and shrubs spaced well apart to reduce fire spread.

Now, we look at Zone Two, which reaches 100 feet from your house. You’ll want to mow any grass in Zone Two to 4 inches or less and remove any “ladder fuel” debris that can spread fire across your property. Also, make sure shrubs and tree branches aren’t low enough to let fire climb from the ground into the trees.

In addition to checking your zones, we also give recommendations for hardening your home—sealing it up so dangerous embers have less chance to enter. For instance, closing gaps in vents, installing ember-resistant screens, and using non-combustible materials wherever possible.

INSPECTOR FOSS: Well said. Keep access points like driveways clear as well so firefighters have room to get their emergency vehicles onto your property. And make sure your address is clearly visible.

If you have a lot of trees or vegetation, it can feel like a lot! What advice would you give people who feel overwhelmed by the thought of creating defensible space?

INSPECTOR SIMON: I tell them to take one step at a time. You don’t have to do it all in one day! Start with just the 5-foot perimeter. Next, clean the roof, gutters, and under decks. Then work on the heaviest vegetation areas out to the 30-foot mark. After that, complete the work out to 100 feet or your property line. If health restrictions or finances are an issue, I provide information about contacts and programs for possible assistance.

INSPECTOR FOSS: You can also reach out to your local churches and nonprofits like Butte Fire Safe Council for volunteer help with larger defensible space projects.

Just one more question: Why is defensible space worth the effort?

INSPECTOR FOSS: I’ve seen with my own eyes how having flammable items too close to a house during a wildfire will give off enough radiant heat to crack windows, letting in embers and burning down a house from the inside out. Some of these fires get so big, so quickly, that there aren’t going to be enough firefighters to put out fires at every house right away. Defensible space and home hardening upgrades help your house stand on its own until a fire engine can make it to your neighborhood.

CAPTAIN GILLIAM: Defensible space can significantly reduce the risk of fire damage to your home and property. Creating it is not just about protecting your house; it’s about protecting your family and your community. By making defensible space a priority, you help ensure your safety and contribute to fire prevention efforts in your area.

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Thank you, Captain Gilliam, Inspector Foss, and Inspector Simon! When DSI inspections begin in your area, you can expect the same level of genuine help and effective expertise from the inspector who arrives at your home to discuss defensible space.

Defensible space is important… because it works.