Defensible Space
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Defensible Space; Protecting Your Home From Wildfires
The Newport Beach Fire Department is committed to helping residents safeguard their homes and communities from the devastating impacts of wildfires. One of the most effective ways to do this is by creating and maintaining Defensible Space around your property.
What is Defensible Space?
Defensible Space is a buffer zone between a building and the surrounding vegetation, reducing the risk of fire spreading to your home. It’s not just a precaution—it’s a critical component of wildfire preparedness and is required by law in many areas.
The Three Defensible Space Zones
- Immediate Zone (0-5 feet):
- Intermediate Zone (5-30 feet):
- Extended Zone (30-100 feet):
Why Defensible Space Matters
Defensible Space acts as a protective barrier, providing firefighters with a safer area to work while enhancing your home's chances of surviving a wildfire. It protects your home from flames, embers, and radiant heat, and helps slow or stop the spread of a wildfire, buying crucial time for evacuation and emergency response.
Defensible Space vs. Fuel Modification
While both Defensible Space and Fuel Modification aim to reduce wildfire risks, they differ in scope and application:
- Defensible Space focuses on the immediate and surrounding areas of a single property, emphasizing homeowner responsibility for vegetation management within defined zones.
- Fuel Modification is a broader term describing a larger area beyond the defensible space where vegetation is altered to reduce fire intensity and provide firefighters with a safe area to operate, essentially acting as a buffer zone between a property and wildlands
Key points to remember:
• Scale:
Defensible space is typically limited to the immediate area around a home, while fuel modification can encompass a larger area depending on the property and fire risk.
• Focus:
Defensible space prioritizes removing flammable vegetation close to the structure, whereas fuel modification might involve thinning vegetation, replacing highly flammable plants with fire-resistant ones, and creating strategically placed firebreaks.
• Implementation:
Homeowners are primarily responsible for maintaining their defensible space, while fuel modification plans might be implemented by land management agencies or community-wide initiatives
Understanding these differences ensures that both individual properties and broader community landscapes are prepared to mitigate wildfire risks effectively.
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Resources and Assistance
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By working together, we can reduce the risk of wildfires and protect our beautiful Newport Beach community. Take action today to create Defensible Space and make a lasting impact on wildfire safety.