The Defensible Space Initiative
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The Fire District has determined that nearly 6,000 properties in Contra Costa County are in Priority Hazard Zones, where they are at great risk from wildfires. PHZs are areas where the threat from wildland fire is more severe due to proximity to open space, topography, degree of slope, density of homes, amount of vegetation (both native and ornamental), lack of emergency vehicle accessibility, and other conditions favorable to fast-moving and destructive fires.
On this page you can see
- New Standards
- What You Can Do
- Publications & Resources
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Defensible space protected this home from wildfire.
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Landscapers Workshop for Defensible Space
On Tuesday, February 10, 2009 learn the new defensible space standards set by the State Legislature in 2008, and how to do the work to meet the standards in local fire districts. See more about the workshop.. See a slide show of the workshop.
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New Standards
In 2006, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District adopted new Defensible Space Standards designed to help structures survive wildfire events. These standards are intended to reduce the fuel, and thus the heat of wildfires, to levels that structures may more readily survive. The standards also provide working space and safer conditions to defend structures from wildfire.
Research shows that large fires in the wild land-urban interface can pass through an area without destroying structures that are ignition-resistant and where fuels are controlled. The Fire District is fully committed to the principles of defensible space and the operational advantage of fuel reduction near valuable property and resources. These standards increase the effectiveness of firefighters in major wildfire events while decreasing their exposure to flame, heat, and smoke.
The new standards originate in the Uniform Fire Code, Public Resource Code, local county ordinance, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) guidelines adopted in 2006 for 100 feet of defensible space. The standards will apply in areas of our Fire District where topography, difficulty of access, proximity to open space, and distribution of vegetative fuels compound the challenge of wildfire suppression.
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The Fire Chief has directed a two-year education and information period prior to the enforcement of these defensible space standards in August, 2008. We recognize that these requirements may be difficult for some property owners to implement. So we are working with the Diablo Fire Safe Council and others to develop ways to mitigate the cost and effort required from property owners, such as programs to help those with special needs or assist with debris management. The gain in protection of life and property is well worth the investment!
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What you can do
• Mow, disc, or weed-eat flammable vegetation on your property, especially on steeper slopes, and maintain 100 feet of defensible space around your home. See a list of contractors.
• After trimming trees, chip the waste and spread the chips promptly. FREE residential chipping service may be available in your area of the Priority Hazard Zones!
• Select, arrange and maintain fire-safe planting around homes.
• Replace flammable shake shingles with Class A roofing material on your home.
• Read our free brochure, Defensible Space: Is your house ready? and see illustrations of defensible space zones, ladder fuels, smart landscaping, and improving access for structure protection.
• View and print an example of a defensible space detail landscaping plan, and see photos of fire-safe properties.
• NEW! Organize a Neighborhood Defensible Space Day and you can get FREE assistance with the work and chipping!
• Schedule a presentation through our Speakers Bureau for your homeowners' association, garden club, or other group.
When you practice vegetation management you are creating defensible space and reducing the ignition potential of your home. This is the core problem of wildland-urban interface fire loss.
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This information is provided as a service of the Fire District to guide you as you safeguard your home, property and -- most importantly – your life, your family’s lives and the lives of our firefighters.
Thanks to you and to our partners!
Our Exterior Hazards Control Division is at 925-941-3324. |
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