Prepare for Wildfire

Disclosure

The following are references and recommendations to harden your home and improve your chances of survival for people and property during a wildfire. Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291, CA Gov Code 51189, CalFire LE-100 Defensible Space Inspection, and Assembly Bill (AB) 38 are some of the referenced resources below. Please reference CalFire www.readyforwildfire.org for more information.

In no way can you guarantee safety for you or your property during wildfires. These are recommendations to improve your chances. Please follow all local fire and law enforcement recommendations during a fire. Please evacuate and evacuate early when advised too.

Public Resources code (PRC) 4291

Defensible Space

A minimum of 100’ of Defensible Space is required by law.

Zone 1- Extends 30’ from buildings, Structures, Decks, etc.

• Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (vegetation).

• Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters.

• Remove branches that hang over your roof and keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney.

• Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.

• Relocate wood piles to Zone 2.

• Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows.

• Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.

• Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

Zone 2-100 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.

• Create horizontal space between shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

• Create vertical space between grass, shrubs and trees.

• Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches.

* San Diego County requires 50 feet of clearance in Zone 1. Check with your local fire department for any additional defensible space or weed abatement ordinances.

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