A defensible space is a 100-foot buffer or transition space between the natural vegetation native to San Luis Obispo County and your home.

Wildfires: The Best Offense is a Good Defense

Author: County Fire Department
Date: 7/25/2017 11:38:00 AM

What is single most important thing you can do to protect your home?


San Luis Obispo County has experienced a substantial number of wildfires in the last few weeks and we are sure to see more as the summer goes on. No area of the county has been spared from the outbreak of a wildfire. We have seen fires from Nipomo to Shandon and from Cambria to California Valley.

Wildfires can happen anywhere at any time. It does not take holidays or vacations! Wildfires are a part of life in California.

So what can you do to protect your home? The best offense to combating a wildfire in your neighborhood is to have a good defense.

Creating a defensible space around your home and property is the most important thing you can do to protect your home and property.

So what is a defensible space? A defensible space is a 100-foot buffer or transition space between the natural vegetation native to San Luis Obispo County and your home. The defensible space has two zones extending outward from your home. The first zone, is a 30-foot zone of either no vegetation or fire resistant vegetation, rock scape or other fire resistant landscapes. In the second zone an additional 70 feet of reduced vegetation, where the continuity of the vegetation is broken up by selectively removing existing vegetation creating spaces between the vegetation. In this space tree canopies should be lifted so that branches are off the ground and away from ladder fuels. Any dead, leaning, or damaged trees should be removed.

Again, creating a good defensible space is the single most important thing a home owner can do to protect their home and property in a wildfire situation. Defensible space not only protects your home but also provides a safe space for firefighters to provide the offense needed to save homes in the fire area.

For additional information on how to create a defensible space at your home visit www.readyforwildfire.org or download the CAL FIRE “Ready, Set, Go” app on your smart device.