DEFENSIBLE SPACE
A Wildfire Partners certified home saved by defensible space during the Stone Canyon Fire in Lyons.
Protect your family, home and property by creating and maintaining defensible space now.
Defensible space is the area surrounding your home and is essential to improving your structure’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Managing the buffer between a building on your property and the grass, shrubs, trees, or other vegetation that surround it is vital to protecting the structure. This treated area is vital to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and protect your home from the consequences of both radiant heat and direct flame contact. Defensible space is also important for the protection of firefighters, who find themselves defending your home during a wildfire event.
Plant and Tree Spacing
Proper spacing between vegetation including grass, shrubs, and trees is crucial to reduce the spread of wildfires. The spacing needed is determined by the type and size of brush and trees, as well as the slope of the land. For example, a property on a steep slope with larger vegetation requires greater spacing between trees and shrubs than a level property that has small, sparse vegetation.
Credit - readyforwildfire.org
To learn more about how defensible space is managed, visit the Colorado State Forest Service. Also below you’ll find a video, courtesy of the Colorado Springs Fire Department, showing how firefighters utilize defensible space in a wildfire. Do note that the structure is on flat ground so if your home is on a hillside, even more tree spacing is necessary.
Reminder for the Homeowner
The wildfire mitigation crew also functions as the Emergency Response Team, handling emergencies within the Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District and nearby fire districts. These emergencies may involve wildland fires, medical incidents, structure fires, vehicle accidents, or search and rescue operations. Please be aware that the crew working on your property may need to leave without prior notice to respond to an urgent call. We appreciate your understanding and assure you the team will resume and complete the project as soon as possible.