Create a Defensible Space 

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Defensible space is essential to improve your home's chances of surviving a wildfire.  It's the buffer you create between your home and the flammable vegetation, like trees, grass and shrubs around your home.  

Defensible Space Zones 

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Three zones make up the recommended 100 feet of defensible space.  

IMMEDIATE ZONE
0-5 feet around your home 

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The goal is to make this a non-combustible area.

• Remove all flammable vegetation, including shrubs, slash, mulch and other woody debris
• Do not store firewood or other combustible materials within 5 foot of home
• Prune tree branches hanging over the roof and remove all fuels within 10 feet of chimney
• Regularly remove all pine needles and other debris from the roof, deck and gutters
• Rake and dispose of pine needles, dead leaves, mulch and other organic debris within 5 feet of all decks and structures  
• Do not use space under decks for storage for any combustible materials like cardboard or firewood.   

INTERMEDIATE ZONE 
5-30 feet around your home 

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The goal is to reduce flammable materials near your home. 

• Mow grasses to 4 inches tall or less 
• Avoid large accumulations of surface fuels such as logs, branches, slash and mulch 
• Remove trees to create at least 10 feet of space between crowns.   Measure the outmost branch of one tree to the nearest branch of the next tree to determine 10 feet spacing
• Small groups of two or three trees may be left in some areas with spacing of 30 feet to ensure fire doesn't jump from one group to another
• Remove ladder fuels under remaining trees  
• Prune tree branches to a height of 6-10 feet from the ground or a third of the total height of the tree, whichever is less.   Make sure any branch tip is at least 6-10 feet from the ground. 
• Remove stressed, diseased, dead or dying trees and shrubs.   
• Remove junipers and oak brush as they are highly flammable
• You can keep shrubs (except junipers and oak brush) in Zone 2 as long as they are not growing under trees 
• Spacing between climbs of shrubs should be at least 2 1/2 times their mature height.  Example:  for shrubs that grow 6 feet tall, space clumps 15 feet apart.   

EXTENDED ZONE
30-100 feet around your home 

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The goal is to reduce heat and movement of flame. 

• Firewood stored at least 30' feet away from home - even further if your home is on a slope
• Mowing grasses is not necessary in the extended zone.  
• Remove ladder fuels where possible 
• Trees crown spacing of 6-10 feet is suggested -- the crown is measured by each tree's outermost branches -even more if your home is on a steep slope. 
• Any approved method of slash treatment is acceptable in this zone

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Fire intensity can be increased if your property has steep slopes and a dense forest.  If these conditions are present, you should consult with a qualified wildfire and forestry professional.  

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Download This Important Guide

​Colorado State Forestry
​Home Ignition Zones 

Download Now

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Important Steps You Can Take to Create Defensible Space. 

Eliminate Ladder Fuels 

A wildfire is easier to deal with if it remains on the ground.   When a surface fire ignites, small trees and shrubs under larger trees can create a ladder for fire to spread into the upper branches of a large tree.  Wildfires that are carried in tops of large trees are referred to as crown fires and are much harder to contain.    To help interrupt the spread of wildfire, remove  small trees or shrubs that are located underneath larger trees.  

Maintain at Least 10' of Crown Spacing - more if you are on a slope 

The crown of a tree is the widest area of a tree.    To help slow the spread of wildfire, it's critical to have enough spacing between trees to reduce the threat of crown fires.    Experts recommend a spacing of a minimum of 10' between the widest part of trees.   If you live on a slope,  the suggested spacing can be 20' or more.      

Use Fire-Resistant Landscaping 

Remember, any plant can burn under the right conditions.  One way to help reduce your wildfire risk is to use fire-resistant landscaping around your home.  

Look for plants with these characteristics:

• Able to store water in the leaves and stems
  
• Maintain high moisture content with limited watering
  
• Drought tolerant
  
• Low levels of volatile oils or resins
  
• Product limited dead materials
  
• Remove any dead portions of fire resistant plants.  

Learn More

Vegetation Near Power Lines?

​If you have any vegetation that is too close to power lines, touches power lines, transformers or other electrical equipment it is important that you reach out to your local utility provider.   Most likely, your local utility will mitigate the vegetation free of charge.   
 

• Call Customer Service of your Utility Company to report any vegetation that touches or is near electrical equipment. 
• Report any dead trees (completely brown with no leaves or losing needles) or trees that appear to have rot and insect damage that are tall enough to hit power lines if they fall. 
• Do NOT attempt to trim or clear vegetation near Utility Company's equipment

 

Learn More in these helpful Videos  

Colorado State University Extension 
​Home Hardening & Defensible Space 

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Guide for property owners to build effective defensible space 

National Fire Protection Association -
Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire 

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