Defensible Space: Your First Line of Defense Against Wildfire

Services: Defensible Space and Fire Protection

Why Defensible Space Matters

Creating and maintaining defensible space is the single most important action you can take to protect your home from wildfire. It is also a legal requirement for most properties in the State Responsibility Area (SRA). At Bailey Ridge Forestry, we are experts in the science and regulations of defensible space. We help property owners in Wilseyville, Amador, and Calaveras counties create landscapes that are not only beautiful but also fire-resilient and compliant.

Are You Facing Insurance Non-Renewal or a CAL FIRE Notice?

We understand the stress of receiving a letter from your insurance company or a notice from CAL FIRE. Our team is here to help you navigate the requirements and perform the necessary work quickly and professionally. We provide detailed documentation of our services that you can submit to your carrier to help secure or maintain your policy.

Understanding the Defensible Space Zones (PRC 4291)

California law mandates a 100-foot defensible space buffer around structures. This area is divided into distinct zones, each with specific fuel-reduction requirements, as shown in the diagram below:

Zone 0: The Ember-Resistant Zone (0-5 feet)

This is the most critical area immediately surrounding your home and any attached decks. Embers are the leading cause of homes igniting during a wildfire. We clear this zone of all flammable materials, including combustible mulch, dead leaves, and overgrown vegetation, and recommend using hardscaping like gravel or pavers to create a non-combustible buffer.

Zone 1: The Lean, Clean, and Green Zone (5-30 feet)

In this zone, our goal is to eliminate pathways for fire to reach your home. We remove all dead and dying vegetation, prune trees to establish vertical and horizontal spacing, and ensure no "ladder fuels" exist that could carry flames from the ground into the tree canopy. We will trim tree branches to be at least 10 feet away from your chimney and roof.

Zone 2: The Reduced Fuel Zone (30-100 feet)

The objective in Zone 2 is to slow the spread and reduce the intensity of an approaching fire. We achieve this by thinning out dense stands of trees and shrubs, mowing annual grasses to a maximum height of 4 inches, and removing large accumulations of surface litter like fallen branches and pine needles.