With drought conditions still and issue and Santa Ana winds whipping up, it is important for San Diego homeowners to make sure they have defensible space around their property. Even if you do not live in a rural area, defensible space is an important consideration to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire nearby.
Clean Earth Restorations can help homeowners and business owners deal with fire and smoke damage with our full service fire and smoke restoration construction services.
Defensible space is a buffer you create between your home and the surrounding trees, shrubs, and grass near the home. This space can slow or stop the spread of fire. It also makes a difference for firefighters who are working to protect your home.
Photo and information from Cal Fire http://www.readyforwildfire.org
Zone 1 is the first 30 feet out from buildings, decks and other structures, but in San Diego County the requirement is for 50 feet! This zone requires the removal of all dead plants, grass and weeds. It also requires removing dead leaves and pine needles from your roof and rain gutters, and trimming trees, removing dead branches and relocating wood piles.
The following article from Cal Fire gives excellent details about the two zones of defensible space that make up the required 100 feet.
Cal Fire also offers a free brochure: Wildfire is Coming. Are you ready? Get the brochure here.
Did you know there are fire-safe plants and landscaping ideas? Fire-resistant plants can help stop the spread of a fire. And they conserve water, too. Find out more about Fire-Safe Landscaping here.