What is Defensible Space?

Defensible Space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it. Defensible Space is essential to improve your home's chance of surviving a wildfire.

Defensible space will help slow or stop the spread of wildfire and protect your home from catching fire – either from direct flame contact or radiant heat.  Defensible space is also important to help protect firefighters when they are defending your home. 

Your home may be the most valuable investment you ever make. If you live in a high-risk fire hazard area, protect against the chance of losing that investment by creating defensible space and "hardening" your home with fire-resistant construction materials and design.  

Creating defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt around your home! Through proper planning, you can have both a beautiful landscape and a fire safe home.

Resources:

• CalFire - Low Cost Ways to Harden Your Home
• Basic Defensible Space & Vegetation Management Guidelines For Property Owners
• Maintain Defensible Space
• Wildfire Preparation & Recovery
• Printable Brochure - Fire Resistant Plants For Landscapes, Spanish Version, click here, updated July 2022 (Print landscape, double-sided).