After two decades of creating defensible space
on her own property, Meri became involved in the business of defensible
space to reduce the wildfire threat after a disastrous wildfire
in Carson City, Nevada. In July 2004, the Waterfall fire burned
for 6 days above Carson City. Almost 9,000 acres burned, 18 homes
were lost and prime wildlife habitat was lost. Meri was
hired to provide site assessments on plant and other natural resources,
educate the public about reducing the wildfire threat using the
acclaimed Living With Fire materials, and work with the Fire Department
and the Nevada Fire Safe Council to create neighborhood Fire Safe
Chapters to find solutions for individual and community defensible
space.
While Meri worked with local NFSC chapters
she became aware of the need for private sector equipment operators
to create the necessary defensible space. After months of research,
and prayers for guidance, in July 2007, Defensible Space Solutions
was born. Meri's ASV tracked loader, only 69” wide, has an
FAE masticating head that mulches material up to 8” in diameter
and travels on slopes up to 30%. The ASV, nicknamed Chewy, has a
ground pressure of only 4.6 pounds per square inch, one of the lightest
in the industry. We have completed over 100 successful projects
with no lost time to accidents and no property damage.
Meri’s other qualifications:
• B.S. Hydrology, University of Nevada, Reno
• 38 year resident of North Lake Tahoe
• 23 years service on local public offices and natural resources
boards
• 28 years horticultural work and native plant gardener
• 5 years working alongside pre-eminent fuels managers with
the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and the UNCE Living
With Fire programs
 “Let
us turn your overgrown, fire-prone property into a park-like setting.
We listen to your wishes and offer our suggestions regarding wildlife,
regulations, and visual screening.
We appreciate your business.”
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Cynthia Ferris is proud to be the ground support
employee of Defensible Space Solutions. After 34 years as a casino
dealer, Cyndi has finally found a position in which her BS in Environmental
Biology (Sierra Nevada College, ’74) can be utilized. In those
years, Cyndi raised a family, achieved a degree of black belt in
jujitsu and established a jujitsu school with her husband. She increased
her love and knowledge of our flora and fauna by completing a 3-day
Arborist seminar and learning at the side of her long-time friend
(and employer), Meri McEneny. Cyndi immensely enjoys the properties
on which DSS takes her and becomes personally invested in their
appearance and future safety.
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