Defensible Space

• Maintain a defensible space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation for a minimum of 30 feet around the structure. Remove all dead leaves and branches. This area should only contain irrigated fire resistive plants. Leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees. Consideration should be given to the removal of hazardous ornamentals such as Acacia, Bamboo, Bougainvillea, Cedar, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Pine and Junipers, all of which will readily transmit fire to a structure.
• Thin out or remove all hazardous native brush, trees, grasses and weeds for an additional 70 feet for a total of 100 feet (200 feet in high hazard areas). Larger trees should be limbed up at least six feet from the ground. Trees less than 18 feet tall should be limbed up one third of their height. Grasses up to 18″ (3″ within 30 feet of structures) and native shrubs may be retained on slopes to stabilize the soil and help prevent erosion. They should be spaced approximately three times their diameter from other shrubs. You are required to maintain the vegetation only up to your property line. The adjacent property owner is responsible for maintaining the remaining land to achieve the 100 or 200 foot clearances from structures on your property. Reciprocally, you are responsible to maintain vegetation on your property within the 100 or 200 foot distances from your neighbor’s structures. Some La Verne homeowner associations have 300-foot clearance requirements.
• Clean all needles and leaves from your roof, eaves and rain gutters.
• Remove tree limbs within ten feet of your chimney and remove all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
• Install a spark arrestor with no larger than ½” mesh on your chimney outlet.
• Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street for easy identification in an emergency.
• Stack woodpiles at least thirty feet from buildings, fences and other combustible materials.
• Use care when using power equipment. One small spark can start a fire. Keep a shovel and extinguisher or water hose nearby.