| ZONE A |
0 TO 5 FEET FROM THE HOUSE |
|
The
key purpose of Zone A is to have the least flammable type of landscaping
immediately adjacent to the house to prevent ignition and direct exposure
from flames. |
| Remove all dead trees, shrubs and branches |
Remove highly flammable native shrubs |
| Remove plant material once it has cured (yellowed) |
Avoid planting evergreen shrubs and trees such as junipers and pines. |
| Maintain 5 feet vertical clearance from the roof surface. Keep the roof
surface free from debris. |
Plant low growing vegitation with high moisture content
such as flowers and ground covers. Keep plants maintained and irrigated. |
| ZONE B |
5 TO 30 FEET FROM THE HOUSE |
|
This Zone
provides an area where firefighters can defend your home and where fuels
have been substantially reduced. |
| Remove all dead trees,
shrubs and branches. If you desire, leave small groups of existing native
shrubs. Keep well maintained. Reduce height and remove branches that are
near the ground. |
Dry grass, weeds and small shrubs
must be maintained less than 3 inches. |
| A thin layer of grass that is
compact and laying flat to the ground surface is acceptable. |
| Bare ground in this
zone is unacceptable because of soil errossion concerns. |
| Native trees are allowable so long
as the ladder fuels are removed (remove lower tree branches 3 - 6 feet
from the ground.) |
| Use lawn, ground covers, erosion
contol devices, low growing shrubs and mulches in this zone. |
Keep plants green during fire
season. Use supplemented irrigation if necessary. |
| ZONE C |
30 TO 100 FEET FROM THE HOUSE |
|
The concept
involved in this zone is to reduce fire intensity and flame length by
modifying the native vegetation. |
| Remove all dead trees and branches. |
Break up thick
continuous stands of shrubs by selective removal: shrubs should average 18
feet apart. Remove the lower branches of remaining shrubs (with 3 feet of
ground). |
| Grasses and small shrubs may be
left as high as 18 inches from the ground on steep slopes for slope
stability purposes. |
| On steep slopes, the distance for
Zone C may need to be extended. |
Remove dead woody material laying
on the ground. |