Creating an Effective Defensible Space... Part II

STEP THREE: IS THERE A CONTINUOUS DENSE COVER OF SHRUBS OR TREES PRESENT WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED DEFENSIBLE SPACE AREA?

Sometimes wildland plants can occur as an uninterrupted layer of vegetation as opposed to being patchy or widely spaced individual plants. The more continuous and dense the vegetation, the greater the wildfire threat. if this situation is present within your defensible space area, you should "break-it-up" by providing a separation between plants or small groups of plants.

Not only are steep slopes often considered high wildfire areas, they are also highly erodible. when removing shrubs and trees from steep slopes, keep soil disturbance to a minimum. also , it may be necessary to replace flammable vegetation with other plant materials to prevent excessive soil erosion.

STEP FOUR: ARE THERE LADDER FUELS PRESENT WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED DEFENSIBLE SPACE AREA?

Vegetation is often present at varying heights, similar to the rungs of a ladder. Under these conditions, flames from fuels burning at ground level, such as a thick layer of pine needles, can be carried to shrubs which can ignite still higher fuels like tree branches. Vegetation that allows a fire to move from lower growing plants to taller ones is referred to as "ladder fuel." The ladder fuel problem can be corrected by providing a separation between the vegetation layers.

Within the defensible space area, a vertical separation of three times the height of the lower fuel layer is recommended.

For example, if a shrub growing adjacent to a large pine tree is three feet tall, the recommended separation distance would be nine feet. This could be accomplished by removing the lower  tree branches, reducing the height of the shrub, or both. The shrub could also be removed.

STEP FIVE: IS THERE AN AREA AT LEAST 30 FEET WIDE SURROUNDING YOUR HOUSE THAT IS "LEAN, CLEAN AND GREEN"?

The area immediately adjacent to your house is particularly important in terms of an effective defensible space. It is also the area that is usually landscaped. Within an area extending at least 30 feet from the house, the vegetation should be kept...

• Lean - small amounts of flammable vegetation.
• Clean - no accumulation of dead vegetation or other flammable debris, and
• Green - plants are healthy and green during the fire season

The "Lean, Clean and Green Zone Checklist" will help you evaluate the area immediately adjacent to your house.

STEP SIX: IS THE VEGETATION WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED DEFENSIBLE SPACE AREA MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS?

Keeping your defensible space effective is a continual process. At least annually, review these defensible space steps and take action accordingly. An effective defensible space can be quickly diminished through neglect.