Category: Defensible space

Top 5 Defensible Space Q&A with Inspectors

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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.

***

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.

Top 5 Things a Defensible Space Inspector Looks For

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Get ready to impress your inspector.

If you have a defensible space inspection coming up, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 things your defensible space inspector will want to see. Check out this video for a quick rundown and some handy visuals. Then print out this blog entry to use while getting ready for your defensible space inspector to arrive.

Check Zone Zero.

Zone Zero is the first five feet around your home and any porches or decks attached to it. There should be absolutely nothing flammable within those five feet—not even mulch. A layer of gravel or decorative pebbles or stones will look just as good and give your Zone Zero plenty of protection against flying embers when a fire is underway.

Check Zone One.

Zone One reaches from the 5-foot mark of Zone Zero to the 30-foot mark. This is where you need to put good space between plants and trees, get dry debris off the ground, and trim branches hanging over your roof.

Check Zone Two.

Extending from the 30-foot mark to the 100-foot mark, Zone Two should feature well-trimmed trees and shrubs with grass no higher than 4 inches. Zone Two is where you should remove additional “ladder fuels”—dry or live plants overgrown enough to act as a fuse, transferring fire through your property and toward your house.

Clear your access points.

Make sure all driveways and entrance roads are easily accessible for fire vehicles. You should have at least 10 feet on either side of your driveway to ensure firetrucks and emergency vehicles can easily make their way onto your property. Also be sure your house numbers are clearly visible from all angles.

Harden your home.

There’s plenty of information about home hardening on the Be Ready, Butte! site, but some basics include installing ember-resistant vents and sealing gaps around windows and doors. Your defensible space inspector may also discuss ideas for the future, such as fire-rated roofing materials.

Bonus tip… relax.

Defensible space inspectors aren’t coming to your house to play gotcha. Each of them is dedicated to helping you improve the defensible space you have or help you make a plan to establish some. Their goal is to help you protect your home from wildfire.

After all, their role model is our own Max DSI—a legend among defensible space inspectors. Let’s make him proud!

VIDEO: Why Defensible Space Works—And Why You Need It

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Double the chances of your home’s survival by creating it.

We’ve written a lot about defensible space for a simple reason—defensible space works. The numbers don’t lie, and fire survivors have even told us it works.

Proven: Defensible space works

Here’s a stat to remember: on average, homes with adequate defensible space are 2 times more likely to survive a wildfire than homes without it.

So, please, give your home a fighting chance and start creating defensible space now.

Watch the video below:

Get started with defensible space today

A great way to start is by simply getting fire-prone items away from your house. Then, you can get a clear view of what needs to be done next—like creating the all-important 5-foot no-burn zone around your house and figuring out what approach is best for your property. You may just find you don’t need to do as much as you thought to give your home an important extra measure of protection.

Make the statements in the video above your “defensible space works” battle cry. Share it around and help get your neighbors and friends excited about this simple fact: defensible space works.

Looking for more resources on why defensible space works and tips to help you get started? Check out all of the other great articles on our blog and get some seasonal guidance from our spring checklist.

VIDEO: Charissa’s Story: How defensible space helped save her home

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Good neighbors keep their communities safe.

After sharing her story earlier this month, we’re visiting again with our friend Charissa. She and her husband Roberto credit the defensible space efforts they put into their property with helping it—and Roberto—survive the Thompson fire. Between their planning and the heroic efforts of CAL FIRE, they and their home are safe and sound today.

Watch her video here:

A harrowing experience

When the Thompson fire reached their neighborhood, Roberto witnessed tall walls of fire approaching and embers flying through the air. He also witnessed fire dying at their property line because of their well-planned defensible space.

Seeing is believing

When it was all over, Charissa and Roberto could clearly see how their defensible space disrupted the progress of fire on their property. We don’t share their story to scare you but to simply prove defensible space really does work. You can hear about it directly from Charissa in this video.

Probably the most important point Charissa makes is we’re all in this together when it comes to wildfire. The stronger each member of a community makes their defensible space, the better protected the entire community is.

There’s help to get you started

If you’re new to living in a fire-risk area or find yourself a bit overwhelmed by the idea of doing special landscaping to create defensible space,  please take a look at these links. You’ll find defensible space isn’t complicated.

Take it from Charissa—defensible space is worth it for all of us.

Interview: How one Butte County couple survived a major fire

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How defensible Space saved their home

Charissa and her husband, Roberto, are the neighbors you want to have when living a fire-smart life in Butte County. They’ve proven that homeowner defensible space works. In fact, Roberto watched the Thompson fire reach their property line and get no further. 

Be Ready, Butte! had the opportunity to speak with Charissa recently about their approach to getting ready to be ready. Here’s her story.

What prompted you to start creating homeowner defensible space on your property? Was there a specific event or piece of information that motivated you?

In a way, defensible space came naturally to us. We don’t like clutter, inside or outside. Plus, we’ve thought a lot about fire since we moved to our home in 2010. With the known drought conditions, wind events, and extreme heat for many months every year, our goal has always been to make sure we’re ready.

How did you discover your proclivity for defensible space?

It happened when we were searching for new fire coverage in 2018. Our long-time home insurance company dropped us suddenly and we had only 30 days to scramble for new coverage. 

Our new carrier required a formal home inspection, and their requirements and suggestions just made sense to us. We’ve always been dedicated to the safety of our home and our property, so we complied with all their recommendations within two weeks.

One very important goal we set for ourselves: we didn’t want to have to rely on water to save our home. We’ve worked hard to rely on proper landscaping and careful planning to keep fire as far away as possible.

Did you have any visits from Defensible Space Inspectors? Were they helpful?

Just one, several years ago. We were told our property was very well prepared for a fire, which has been wonderful motivation for us to keep on doing what we’ve been doing!

That’s not to say we haven’t learned anything. We’ve since become aware of CAL FIRE’s amazing fire-safety resources, and those have been incredibly helpful—especially after the Bear Fire started in Plumas County and came within two miles of our home.

Can you list the defensible space and/or home hardening actions you’ve taken on your property?

Do you have a pen handy?

  • We replaced all the windows with dual-pane windows.
  • We removed our chimney.
  • We installed rain gutter screens and replaced our roof with rubberized asphalt shingles.
  • No foliage gets closer than five feet from the structure, none is allowed to grow over the roof, and no growth is allowed at the bottom of our wood fencing.
  • We clear cobwebs from the eaves to our foundation every week.
  • The area under our deck is 100% clear of anything flammable.
  • There’s no fire-prone vegetation within 50 feet of the house.
  • And of course, we maintain the all important 5-foot, no-burn zone around the entire house.

Wow! Anything else?

We worked with a neighbor to remove dangerous juniper bushes on their property as well and replaced all our screen covers with regulation screens with openings no larger than 1/8”.

How do you think homeowner defensible space helped protect your property when the Thompson fire came through?

The most important factor for our home was the quick and efficient response by CAL FIRE! But defensible space was instrumental in supporting their response.

The fire burned right up to our property lines and died out at the edges where we have maintained fire-safe practices. Our gutter and vent screens prevented large embers from getting through (after the fire I found very large black embers that were adhered to these screens). Our foliage plan kept our fencing from burning and kept flames from neighboring properties away from ours. And our 5-foot perimeter did its job—I found plenty of dead embers and burnt pine needles around the foundation of our house, left there to fizzle out before they could take our home down with them.

What was your reaction after the fact?

We’re in utter awe of how close the fire came to our home and grateful we were able to protect our home from fire using homeowner defensible space. We’ll also never forget the role CAL FIRE crews played in saving our home. This fire has affected both of us for many reasons.

What has the response been from your neighbors or community after they saw your property survived?

Our direct neighbor, who rents his home out, thanked us for helping to save his home, along with firefighter efforts of course. We had been secretly clearing some foliage and other dangerous materials from his property over the years. But it’s sad to see so many of our neighbors still not taking the steps to protect their homes from fire—many whose homes survived by sheer luck. I know it can be hard to get started, but our home is here today because we did. If we did it, anyone can.

What’s the first piece of advice you have for those neighbors?

Go to BeReadyButte.com—there’s no better place to start! We’re all in this together, and Be Ready, Butte! is our community connection.

***

We’re grateful to Charissa for sharing her and Roberto’s fire-survival story. Such memories are hard to revisit. If you haven’t adopted a homeowner defensible space mindset yet, we sincerely hope their story will get you on the path to protecting your home. BeReadyButte.com is standing by to help, 24/7.

10 things to move away from your house

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Flammable items to keep away

When it comes to protecting your home from fire and flying embers, it’s essential to keep a “safety moat” around your house. In other words, space around your house with nothing to burn, so fire can’t get to it. 

Do you really mean nothing?

Sure do. With fire, there’s no taking chances. Move the following away from the five feet immediately surrounding your home:

Home Defensible Space at Your Front Door

  • Firewood: It’s every bit as dangerous as it is convenient to have firewood close to your house.
  • Wood Furniture: This includes any flammable furniture you have. Bonus points if you can swap to a non-combustible deck.
  • Trash/Recycling Containers: Containers can severely melt and inside, the contents can burn.
  • Window Boxes: Keep those flammable flowers, plants, herbs, and containers inside the window.
  • Wooden Trellises: Non-combustible trellises are okay, just don’t let anything grow on them.
  • Arbors: Grapevines are a nice touch in Northern California, but wildfire embers can turn them into decorative fuses.
  • Potted Plants: Those plants can easily guide flames toward your house.
  • Combustible Fencing/Gates: Don’t start a line of burnable fence or gating any closer than 5 feet from your house.
  • Vehicles: Cars, boats, RVs, or anything else with gasoline shouldn’t extend into Zone Zero.
  • Decorative Signs/Flags: Make these decorative statements away from the house, where they can be better seen anyway.

While moving these items may seem a little inconvenient, the good news is five feet isn’t too far. You can still enjoy a beautiful home and yard in Zone 1 and Zone 2. 

How to Prepare for Your Defensible Space Inspection

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Keep your home safe and ready for inspection at any time

Defensible space is intended to discourage the start and spread of fire on your property, and Butte County is required to conduct defensible space inspections.

Yes, defensible space inspections are required by law—but don’t get nervous. They’re not “gotcha” inspections; they’re designed to help home and property owners better understand the defensible space concept and be sure they’re doing everything they can to protect themselves.

Defensible Space Inspection

How will I know when inspections are happening?

There are several ways to find out when inspections will be happening in your area: the Be Ready, Butte! defensible space page, our Facebook page, our Instagram page, and by signing up for email notices. Scroll to the bottom of this page to sign up for our newsletter.

The goal is to always have your defensible space ready for wildfire—after all, you have to get ready to be ready! So, here’s what you need to know about how to prepare for your defensible space inspection—whether or not you have one scheduled yet.

What your inspector needs from you

First, the inspector needs to be able to access your property. This means: unlocking any gates, securing any animals, and making sure the inspector has access to the entire perimeter of your property.

What your inspector will inspect

Once they have access to your property, here’s what your inspector will be looking for:

  • 5 feet of completely non-flammable space around your entire home (also known as Zone 0)
  • All required space and firebreaks needed for your property size 
  • The first 5 feet of any fencing touching your home should be non-flammable
  • Proper horizontal and vertical space between plantings and trees 
  • No weeds and annual grasses taller than 4 inches 
  • Roofs and gutters clear of any leaves and debris 
  • No tree branches any closer than 10 feet from your home
  • Proper storage of firewood and gas tanks 
  • Clear access to an evacuation route for you and any fire/rescue workers

You can get a complete checklist of what the inspector will be checking for here. 

And while we can’t promise you a poetic defensible space inspector, like Max DSI, we can guarantee someone who wants to help you stay safe.

Understanding Defensible Space: Zone 1

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Take these essential steps to make Zone 1 as fire-unfriendly as possible

Quick recap:
When it comes to creating defensible space on your property, there are three Zones to clear: Zone 0 (closest to your home), Zone 1 (middle section), and Zone 2 (furthest on your property).

Below, learn more about Zone 1.

Where is Zone 1 of defensible space located?

Also known as the “Lean, Clean, and Green” Zone, Zone 1 extends from the edge of Zone Zero (five feet from your home, deck, or other attached structure) out 30 feet. The essential goal of Zone 1 is to prevent fire from having room to move freely. Remove opportunities for it to burn from one plant or tree to another by making as much space as possible for fire to burn itself out.

How to Clear Zone 1

Tree Trimming

  • Remove branches extending from Zone 1 over your roof
  • Trim back or remove branches within 10 feet of chimneys
  • Keep tree branches no closer than 6 feet from the ground or one-third of the overall tree height

Grass and Weeds

  • Keep grass to 4 inches or less
  • Consistently remove weeds, dead plants, dried grass, pine needles, and clippings

Tree/Shrub Planting

  • Create space between trees/shrubs and flammable items (patio furniture, swing sets, etc.)
  • Limit trees and shrubs to small groupings, and place them a safe distance apart; avoid creating lines of combustible vegetation, which can burn like a fuse
  • Put space between the tops and bottoms of shrubs, keeping them away from your lowest tree branches and the surface of your grass

Additional Tips for Zone 1

  • Remove logs or stumps embedded in the soil, or thoroughly clear and maintain the space around them
  • If possible, do not store wood piles in Zone 1; if you must, get them as far from your house as possible and cover them in a fire-resistant material

Late winter and spring are the best times to clear Zone 1, while the ground may still be damp and before the temperatures get too hot for extended outdoor cleanup. For more information about clearing Zone 1, watch Max DSI’s newest video or visit our page about defensible space.

Understanding Defensible Space: Zone 2

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Reduce the fuel and stop fire in its tracks

A quick review:
Zone Zero is the first 5 feet outside your home. Zone 1 starts at the outer edge of Zone Zero and goes out 30 feet. And now we’re onto Zone 2!

So, where is Zone 2 of defensible space located?
Zone 2 picks up at the 30-foot mark and continues out to 100 feet or the edge of your property—whichever is closer. The idea in Zone 2 is to protect larger swaths of property not necessarily landscaped, but likely to contain debris and other flammable material.

How to Clear Zone 2

Yard Waste and Dead Vegetation

  • If you’ve raked yard waste to outer sections of your property, clean it up and get rid of it
  • Be sure dead or dying trees along with any other combustible materials don’t extend into Zone 2 from the outer edge of your property

Firewood Storage

  • Zone 2 is the best place for storing firewood
  • Get it as far out into Zone 2 as possible
  • Stack it on bare soil, with a minimum clearance of 10 feet in all directions

Travel Ways

  • Remember Zone 2 includes your escape route and the access point for firefighters
  • Clear a minimum 10-foot buffer on both sides of entrance roads and driveways so emergency vehicles can get through
  • Keep flammable vegetation to 4 inches or less
  • Trim overhanging tree branches to a height of at least 14 feet to give fire and rescue trucks clearance
  • Remove all dead vegetation within 10 feet of the roadside
  • Create proper tree/shrub spacing according to Continuous Tree Canopy guidelines

Undeveloped Properties
If you live on or own property in unincorporated Butte County, the following information also applies:

Property you live on

  • Maintain 100 feet of defensible space between your lot and any structure on a neighbor’s lot
  • A fire break may be required 30 feet wide around the entirety of your property when an accumulation of vegetation creates a significant fire hazard

Vacant lots
1.25 acres or more:

  • Maintain 100 feet of defensible space between your lot and any structure on a neighbor’s lot
  • Must have a fire break 30 feet wide around your entire property

Lots less than 1.25 acres:

  • Must maintain defensible space within the entire property

Learn more about Zone 2 from Max DSI!

Embers 101: Fires Waiting to Happen

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Don’t let embers turn into a disaster!

Fireplaces, campfires, and firepits throw off embers, adding a mesmerizing ambiance to an evening. But if you’ve ever had an ember escape your fireplace screen or fly off a campfire onto your skin or clothes, you probably moved faster than you ever thought possible in order to deal with it.

If the embers from a fireplace or small campfire can pack that kind of punch, imagine what the embers from a giant, roaring wildfire can do once they’re on the move.

Embers from an active wildfire can ignite homes up to a mile away. If the winds are right, they’ve been known to travel as far as five miles. And when they land, they come in hot, regardless of whether they’re still glowing. According to statistics, some 90% of homes are lost during a wildfire burn because embers touched down on or near the home.

The concepts of defensible space and home hardening are key to protecting your home from embers.

Defensible Space Inspectors help identify areas to clear on your property to prevent embers from spreading.

Create ember-resistant defensible space.

The first 5 feet around the perimeter of your home—Zone 0—should contain nothing but space and ground covering that can’t burn. A solid layer of decorative stone will look great and render embers helpless should they touch down. And if there’s any combustible fence in your 5-foot perimeter, replace it with material that can’t burn.

The next 5 to 30 feet—Zone 1—should be planted to discourage the spread of flames if any were to ignite, but it should also be kept wet during a fire event so embers will be less likely to ignite your plantings. A University of Minnesota study found homes with a wildfire sprinkler system are far more likely to survive a fire than homes without one.

Move items in Zone 0 to 5 feet or further away from your home.

Harden your home against embers.

There isn’t much you can do to keep embers from touching the outside of your home, so the key here is to lessen the odds of them doing damage. The potential danger posed by embers igniting gutter debris, gathering under your roof, or making their way inside to furniture, carpets, and drapes needs to be mitigated. Here are a few ideas:

  • Roof and Gutters: Keep them free from dead leaves and pine needles.
  • Chimney: Cover with 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch metal screening.
  • Vents: Cover with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh.
  • Eaves/Overhangs: Box them in with fire-retardant or noncombustible materials.

Get more ideas here.

Protect against embers that can approach from outside your house as carefully as you protect against the ones in your fireplace…because every ember represents the potential for a major fire if it finds the right place to land.