Why Defensible Space & Fire Risk Reduction Matter in Truckee, Tahoe City & Beyond
Living in the North Lake Tahoe region means enjoying the beauty of mountain landscapes, but it also comes with the ongoing threat of wildfires. In places like Truckee, Tahoe City, Olympic Valley, and Incline Village, creating defensible space isn't just a recommendation – it's a critical step in protecting your home and reducing wildfire risk.
Defensible space is the buffer zone you create by removing flammable vegetation around your home – things like dry brush, deadwood, and low-hanging branches. This kind of brush clearing and fire-safe landscaping slows the spread of wildfire and gives firefighters a safer, more effective space to work.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency found that 75% of homes that survived the Angora Wildfire in 2007 had completed some level of defensible space work. The takeaway? Fire doesn't have to take everything, especially when your property is prepared.
The Three Zones of Defensible Space for Lake Tahoe Residents
Defensible space mitigation has three distinct zones with different guidelines for what should exist in these zones.
Zone 0 – The Ember-Resistant Zone
Zone 0 refers to the area within five feet of your house, which is often called the "non-combustible area" by professionals. To reduce the risk of wildfire damage, homeowners can protect their homes by removing highly flammable objects from this zone. Here are some important steps to take:
- Use gravel instead of mulch
- Remove weeds
- Keep all firewood out of zone 0
- Use flame-resistant materials for fencing
Zone 1 – The Lean, Clean, and Green Zone
Zone 1 extends up to 30 feet in every direction from your house. Some of the requirements for Zone 1 include:
- Remove all dead vegetation and fallen needles
- Prune trees to maintain 10 feet between them
- Remove wood piles and move them to Zone 2
- Keep space between trees and shrubs and outdoor items like furniture
- Prune any flammable plants near windows
- Remove any vegetation under decks, stairs, or balconies
Zone 2 – The Reduced Fuel Zone
Zone 2 is 30-100 feet from your house or to your property line, whichever is closer. While some vegetation will need to be removed, this zone can have slightly more greenery. Some precautionary steps to take in Zone 2 include:
- Trim grass to under 4 inches
- Keep wood piles at least 10 feet from flammable material
- Maintain sufficient vertical and horizontal space between trees and shrubs
- Remove fallen branches and needles, though you can leave up to 3 inches on the ground
Defensible Space Protects Your Home – Schedule a Free Estimate Today
Request a free estimate for professional defensible space mitigation today using the arrow to the right.
3 Reasons Greater Truckee-Tahoe Residents Trust Arbor Solutions
Defensible space mitigation is potentially life-saving care for your property, and you don’t want to trust just anyone to handle it. The team at Arbor Solutions brings a level of professionalism to our projects that can’t be matched in the greater Truckee-Tahoe region. Some of the reasons our customers trust us include:
Our Defensible Space Mitigation Process
We’ve standardized our process for performing defensible space mitigation to make the process more efficient. When you hire us, here’s what the process will look like:
Initial Consultation & Estimate
We’ll examine your property, get an idea of the project's scope, and understand what your property needs. Then, we’ll provide you with a written estimate for the cost of the project and outline what we plan to do.
Create a Safe Space
Upon accepting your estimate, we'll arrive on the scheduled date and prepare our equipment for any necessary pruning or removal. Our team will carefully remove vegetation that's too densely packed and prune trees to eliminate potential fire hazards known as fuel ladders.
Long-Term Property Care
Once we complete the project, we'll provide tailored advice on ongoing property maintenance. This will include tips on future mitigation efforts, such as regular pruning and removal of excess vegetation, to help protect your property from future fire risks.
Call Arbor Solutions for Defensible Space Mitigation Today
Wildfires can strike at any time, so preparing your property with defensible space mitigation can help your home survive an unforeseen fire event. Call us at (530) 580-8383 to request a free estimate for our defensible space mitigation services.
Proper Spacing for Your Plants
Maintaining proper space between your trees, plants, shrubs, and grass is critical to protecting your home from wildfire - a fire can’t spread without fuel. When removing or pruning plants, it's important to consider both the vertical and horizontal spacing.
Vertical Spacing
Remove all tree branches from the ground to a height of 6 feet to avoid creating a fuel ladder. Property owners must also consider vertical clearance when a shrub is beneath a tree.
Horizontal Spacing
Horizontal spacing involves keeping enough space between plants so fire cannot easily jump from one to another. How much space to leave will depend on the slope of your property, with higher grades demanding more horizontal space between each plant.
Defensible Space Services Near You in Truckee, Tahoe City & Incline Village
At Arbor Solutions, we provide defensible space, brush clearing, and fire risk reduction services throughout North Lake Tahoe, including Tahoe City, Incline Village, Olympic Valley, and surrounding communities.
If you're not sure whether we work in your area, check our service area map, or give us a call at (530) 580-8383 – we're happy to confirm coverage and answer any questions.
Alpine Meadows
Cedar Flat
Glenshire
Prosser
Tahoe Vista
FAQs
Defensible space mitigation will add a layer of protection to your property and can potentially save your home. While it will make things significantly safer, there is no way to make your house 100 percent secure from wildfires.
For residents in the Lake Tahoe area, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency provides a tool to determine which fire protection district you reside in.
No, you can still protect your house while maintaining some of the vegetation around your home. At Arbor Solutions, we will keep you within requirements for defensible space while keeping your yard aesthetically pleasing.
Permitting will depend on your local municipality and fire protection agency. We can help you determine if you’ll need a permit for any work we do.
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Schedule Your Defensible Space Mitigation Today
If you need help fulfilling defensible space requirements, our team at Arbor Solutions can help. Call us at (530) 580-8383 or use the arrow to the side to request a free estimate for our defensible space mitigation services.
