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Defensible Space

Preparing Your Home For A Wildland Fire

DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIREMENTS
100 Feet of Defensible Space is the Law!
Firefighters battling a brush fire
In January 2005 a new California state law became effective that extended the defensible space clearance around homes and structures from 30 feet to 100 feet. Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire. This defensible space also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland fire.

Why 100' of Defensible Space? Keep your property lean and green to help protect your family and home. Defensible space is essential to improve 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 that surround 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 the firefighters defending your home.

For more information: CAL FIRE

Current State of California: CAL FIRE managed incidents

National Wildland Fire Incidents - content provided by the National Interagency Fire Center