Rotary Wildfire Ready
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CREATE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE

What is a defensible space?
​ 
​Defensible space is the area between your home and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified to reduce wildfire threat.  

Create a Defensible Space 


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 


Three zones make up the recommended 300 feet of defensible space.  
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Zone 1:  0-30 feet around your home 


The goal is to reduce flammable materials near your house 
Zone 1A:   0-5' feet - Noncombustible Area 
  • Create a noncombustible 5 feet border around your home
  • Remove all dead or dry leaves, pine needles and dead plants
  • Remove flammable wood chips from around home's foundation
  • Remove branches that hang over your roof 
  • Remove all flammable vegetation - like junipers 
  • Remove trees - this will help make your home safer 
Zone 1:   5-30 feet of reduced fuel 
  • Relocate wood piles to Zone 2 - keep away from flammable vegetation. 
  • Remove vegetation that can catch fire around and under decks
  • Remove all tree branches at least 10' from the ground 
  • Cut or mow grass down to maximum height of 4" 

Zone 2:  30-100' feet of reduced fuel 


The goal is to reduce heat and movement of flame
approaching ​your home.
 
  • Firewood stored at least 30' feet away from home - even further if your home is on a slope
  • Mow or trim wild grasses to maximum height of 6" 
  • Remove enough trees to create at least 10' between crowns. 
  • Remove all tree branches of remaining trees at least 10' from ground --if tree is small remove branches 1/3 height of tree.  
  • Remove heavy accumulations of slash - dead trees & branches, fallen leaves, needles, twigs, pine cones or small branches ​
  • Remove ladder fuels under remaining trees  - shrubs should be at least 10' away from the edge of tree branches. 
  • Remove enough trees to create at least 10' between each tree's outermost branches - even more if you are on a steep slope. 

Minimum 10' spacing

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Remove ladder fuel

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Zone 3:  100' - 300' feet of reduced fuel


The goal is to reduce movement of flame approaching ​your home.
This zone provides an opportunity for you to improve the health of the forest on your property.   Removing trees that are close together can improve the health of your forest --helping reduce the spread of diseases and reducing the competition for water and nutrients.   If you can, limb up remaining trees to at least 10' from the ground and remove ladder fuels under trees.   

Wildfire risk can be increased if your property has steep slopes and a dense forest.  If present, you should consult with a qualified wildfire and forestry professional.   

Colorado State Forestry
​Defensible Space Guidelines 

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Download Now

Learn More in these helpful Videos  

Guide for property owners to build effective defensible space 
Colorado State University Extension 
​Home Hardening & Defensible Space 
National Fire Protection Association -
Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire 
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ROTARY WILDFIRE READY 

Rotary Wildfire Ready is a community-based project designed to increase wildfire awareness and education, and to help make our mountain communities safer from the threat of wildfire.    Rotary Wildfire Ready is funded through the Evergreen Rotary Foundation which is a 501(3)(c) Colorado nonprofit and is comprised of a working group that includes: 
  • Rotary Club of Evergreen
  • Rotary Club of Mountain Foothills
  • Rotary Club of Conifer
  • Community Leaders in Evergreen, Conifer and Bailey, Colorado

  • Home
  • Wildfire Threat
  • Get Notified !
  • Get Ready !
    • Defensible Space
    • Harden Your Home
    • Fire Resistant Landscaping
  • Get Set !
    • Wildfire Action Plan
    • Inventory Your Home
    • Emergency "Go Bag"
  • Go !
    • Pre-Evacuation Preparations
    • What to Wear
    • Evacuation Steps
  • About Us
  • Donate