For example,
the California Law in Public Resources Code 4291 requires
a 100 foot area of defensible space outward from structures
adjacent to forest, brush or grasslands www.leginfo.ca.gov.
The Fire Code of Carson City, Nevada requires defensible
space ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet for properties outside
of the urban area in the wildland urban interface (WUI),
and modifications to trees within 15 feet of a structure
(Title 14.04).
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) suggests 100 to
200 feet of defensible space depending on slope and vegetation
types, and they promote a $1,000 rebate program sponsored
by the Nevada Fire Safe Council. TRPA goes on to say that
defensible space has been proven worldwide to increase your
home’s chances for surviving a wildfire and also aids
in minimizing the chance that a fire in your home will escape
to the surrounding wildland (www.tahoefiresafe.com/dspace.php
).
Insurance companies support defensible space and may require
it, check with yours. AAA reports that average acres burned
by wildfires in the 2000’s (7 million acres per year)
were double the average of the 1990’s (www.AAA.com).
The Nevada Division of Insurance has a picture of the Waterfall
fire, Carson City 2004, on the cover of their Consumer Guide
to Home Insurance (http://doi.state.nv.us
).
But above all, defensible space is needed to protect homes,
habitats and communities from ever-increasing numbers of
devastating wildfires. Throughout the West, it’s the
law and it’s the right thing to do. Read on to see
how Defensible Space Solutions can help you with your defensible
space needs.
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