When creating a fire safe zone around structures, it is
very important to remember the Three R’s of
defensible space: removal,
reduction, and replacement. However, this does not mean that your entire
yard has to be barren. The easy to use diagram below describes how to
best maintain the aesthetic value of your house while making it fire
safe.
The Red Zone
The red zone is the innermost circle in the diagrem. It is the most crucial of the zones because it protects the
immediate surrounding of the house. This zone can best be utilized by
creating what is called a green belt 30 feet around the house. The green
belt can consist of fire resistant vegetation such as grasses, ice
plant, or a variety of other species. In addition to the planting of
fire resistant vegetation, all dead or woody debris should be removed
from the red zone, and the area should be regularly watered to maintain
site moisture.
The Yellow Zone
The yellow zone is the middle cirle in the diagram. It is the next most critical zone in protecting structures
from fire. This zone is usually delineated at roughly 20 to 30 feet from
the structure. While fire resistant vegetation should always be used in
landscaping, it is acceptable to use less fire resistant vegetation in
this zone if desired. However, the vegetation should be spaced
appropriately to prevent creating a jackpot of fuels. The increase in
spacing between plants will reduce the rate of spread and intensity of
the fire as it moves toward the structure.
The Green Zone
The green zone is the outermost circle in the diagram. It is the furthest zone from the structure, yet it still is
very important in reducing fire risk. This zone can consist of large
trees and shrubs along with grasses or herbs. It is important to thin
the vegetation in this area to reduce fuel loading and fire ladders. All
tree limbs should be pruned 10 feet off the ground and 15 feet from
slopes. All shrubs should be reduced so as to not be touching
trees and a large gap should be maintained between the top of the shrubs
and the lower branches of the trees to stop any fire from crowning.
If your property exhibits the three concentric circles shown in the diagram above,
the chance of your home starting on fire through
radiation, conduction, or
convection will be minimized.
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