KOR - Fire Safe Landscapes




Image taken from our office, Jesusita Fire, May 6, 2009
DEFENSIBLE SPACE Create a Fire Safe landscape for at least 30 feet around your house (and out to 100 feet or more in some areas). This is the basis for creating a “Defensible Space”. Clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around your home and other structures will not only provide you with the greatest chance for survival, it is also required by California law.
	Image courtesy of CalFire
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FIRE SAFE LANDSCAPING Your first defense against wildfire is to create a Fire Safe landscape around your home. Removing flammable native vegetation and replacing it with low-growing, fire resistive plants is one of the easiest and most effective ways to create a defensible space. Select landscape vegetation based on fire resistance and ease of maintenance.

Example of a Fire Safe Landscape	Burned area from adjacent property
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CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE RESISTANT PLANTS
Ability to store water in leaves or stems Ability to resprout after a fire Produces limited dead and fine material Extensive, deep root systems for controlling erosion High moisture content maintained with limited watering Low-growing or prostrate in form Open loose branches with a low volume of total vegetation Low levels of volatile oils or resins Not considered invasive Slow growing with little maintenance needed
			Western Redbud


Lily-of-the-Nile	Beach Strawberry	Star Jasmine	Klenia

OTHER FIRE SAFE PRECAUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY
Remove dead limbs overhanging your roof and any limb within 10 feet of your chimney. Remove pine needles, leaves, or other debris from the roof of any structure on your property. Work with your neighbors to clear common areas between houses. Prune areas of heavy vegetation that are a threat to both. Vary the height of your landscape plants. The taller your plants are, the wider apart they should be spaced. Avoid planting trees under or near electrical lines. Stack firewood and scrap wood piles at least 30 feet from any structure. Clear away any flammable vegetation within 10 feet of wood piles. Many homes have survived as fire moved past, only to burn later from a wood pile that ignited after the fire fighters moved on to protect other homes.

Before		After
Maintain your defensible space by thinning vegetation at least
100 feet or more from all structures.

Once you have established your Fire Safe landscape, you must maintain it regularly.
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