Why create “defensible space” around your home?
Creating defensible space is essential to improving your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area surrounding it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire, and it helps protect your home from catching fire — either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of firefighters defending your home.
Three of the most important steps you can take to mitigate risk and prepare are:
✅ Clear away dead trees, brush, and vegetation within 100ft of your home. Doing so removes fuel for the fire. If you spend an hour each weekend on these tasks, doing so becomes less daunting.
✅ Place 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh over attic vents and soffits to prevent embers from entering your home. Homes usually are not ignited by a flame front but rather by the ember wash that comes through. Embers can be blown into small openings in your house and catch attics or concealed spaces on fire. By covering these openings with 1/8-inch screening, you eliminate that possibility.
✅ Remove leaves and debris from roofs and gutters. Leaves and debris can quickly ignite and spread, threatening your home.
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