What is Defensible Space? In the 1980's, the term "defensible space" was coined to describe vegetation management practices aimed at reducing the wildfire threat to homes. This means thinning, cutting, mulching or removing dead, dying and overgrown vegetation. Defensible Space Solutions specializes in mastication of vegetation using a rubber-tracked loader with a masticating drum head. Mastication means chewing or mulching. We masticate vegetation creating mulch which is left on-site to protect the soil from erosion and weeds. For homes located in the mountains and range lands of California and Nevada wildfire is a continual threat based upon climate, topography and vegetation. The “arid” west experiences regular periods of drought, which depletes the moisture content of vegetation and makes plants more susceptible to ignition. Throughout much of our region the combination of climate and topography cause roughly 50% of wildfire ignitions by lightning strikes; often during “dry”, or no-rain, lightning. Mountain topography creates wind conditions and air pressure differentials which lead to severe wind patterns that further reduce vegetation moisture and exacerbate actively engaged wildfires. The growing urbanization and recreation use of the wildland urban interface put human and natural resources at greater risk from wildfire. Creating defensible space allows homeowners to live more safely in fire prone areas while protecting the natural areas and wildlife we love. |
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Recent
wildfire history |
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In the last 15 years, wildfires in the west have been larger, more frequent and more destructive. Over 5 million acres of range and forest have burned in Nevada since 1999. That year Nevada experienced a record wildfire season when 1.65 million acres burned. In response to those fires a collaborative group led by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension formed the Nevada Fire Safe Council (www.nvfsc.org) to inform and assist homeowners with defensible space. Nevada’s second most destructive fire season was in 2006 when 1.3 million acres burned. Since 1999 California has witnessed 8 of its largest fires of record burning over 1.1 million acres, destroying 7,866 structures and causing 24 deaths.The year 2008 was a huge fire year in California with the state having 2,095 separate fires which burned over 2.1 million acres. The Angora fire burned in South Lake Tahoe in June 2007. It was the most devastating fire in recent times in the Tahoe Basin. It burned for 9 days and destroyed 254 homes. |
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Besides
tragic human losses wildfires devastate wildlife and native plant
communities. The loss of native vegetation allows the spread of
invasive plant species, like cheat grass, which perpetuates the
wildfire cycle by proliferation of early-season, fine fuels. Fire
seasons can be severe after dry winters and wet winters. Dry winters
produce droughty conditions earlier and move up the fire season.
Wet winters produce more weed and grass species, finer “ladder”
fuels, which are easier to ignite and can carry ground fires up
into larger plant species.