California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Amador-El Dorado Unit

CONTACT: Teri Mizuhara, Fire Prevention Specialist II, 530.708.2724
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2012


Your 1st Line of Defense

Camino — "Defensible Space Works! Creating a buffer zone between your home and the wildland greatly reduces the risk of your home catching on fire from radiant heat or flying embers. These embers can destroy homes and even entire neighborhoods that are located far from the actual flame front of a wildfire. With one of the driest winters on record, it is crucial to have your defensible space established before the heat of the summer is upon us" cautions CAL FIRE Unit Chief Kelly Keenan of the Amador-El Dorado Unit. "Don't delay and start today if you haven't already begun to create defensible space around your home. Here are some tips on achieving a defendable home and property" adds Chief Keenan.

Keys to creating defensible space are:

Zone One extends up to 30 feet (or your property line whichever is closer) from every structure on your property

  • Remove all dead and dying vegetation
  • Remove leaf litter from your roof and rain gutters
  • Relocate woodpiles well away from your home
  • Trim trees so that they are a minimum of ten feet from your chimney and roof line
  • Remove "ladder fuels" (low-level vegetation that could allow fire to spread from the ground to shrubs and bushes to the tree canopies).

Zone Two extends from 30 feet to 100 feet (or to your property line whichever is closer)

  • The key is to keep plant material separated from each other both horizontally and vertically, this prevents the vegetation from acting like a ladder and allowing the fire to move from the ground to the tree canopies
  • Cut annual grasses down to a maximum of four inches in height

The following areas of your home should be checked annually and maintained as needed:

  • Check that your chimney has an approved spark arrestor (screen) in good condition covering the opening. The screen should have openings no smaller than 3/8 inch and no larger than 1/2 inch.
  • Keep the area under your deck or balcony free of combustible material. Never store your firewood under your deck.
  • Consider having multiple garden hoses that are long enough to reach any area of your home and any structure on your property.

For more detailed information on what you have read, please visit CAL FIRE's "Read-Set-Go" website at www.ReadyForWildfire.org or call 530-644-2345 to receive a free brochure.

For information on local green waste programs contact the Amador Fire Safe Council at www.amadorfiresafe.org, the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council at www.edcfiresafe.org, or the Alpine County Fire Safe Council at www.alpinefiresafe.org for details.

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