What is defensible space?
It’s the area created between your home or business and the grass, trees, shrubs, or wildland area surrounding it.

Why is defensible space important?
Well-maintained defensible space can:
Give your home an increased chance of surviving a wildfire, even if firefighters cannot reach your home
Increase the life safety of people during a wildfire
Allow efficient evacuations

How are homes lost during a wildfire?
Embers are the leading cause of home loss during a wildfire. They can travel up to three miles ahead of the main flame front.

Even though defensible space can significantly increase the chances of your home surviving a wildfire, it does not guarantee that a building will not be lost or damaged during a wildfire.

If you need assistance, request a defensible space assessment. A fire professional will come to your home for a one-on-one property walkthrough with you to provide personalized recommendations. This free service is provided by the Oregon State Fire Marshal or your local fire agency.

Creating Defensible Space

• Remove combustible materials like dried pine needles and leaves from gutters, eaves, and around your chimney.
• Limb trees several feet off the ground to help prevent fire from reaching the tree crowns.
• Keep patios clear of dry, combustible materials.
• Remove flammable items like outdoor furniture cushions.
• Keep wood piles and construction debris at least 30 feet from your home.
• Limb bushes around your home and make sure they are not touching the siding.
• Keep roofs and gutters clean from leaves, needles, and other debris.
• Remove flammable vegetation directly under the eaves. A minimum of five feet from the building is recommended.
• Cover exterior attic vents, soffit vents, and areas below decks and patios with 1/8″ metal wire mesh.
• Keep siding and skirting in good condition.
• Remove leaves, needles, deadwood, bark mulch, and other debris from the surface of, around, and below decks and fences.
• Ensure fence attachments connected to the building are made of non-combustible materials such as metal.

Defensible Space Checklist

The Oregon State Fire Marshal, in partnership with the Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council, developed a checklist for property owners to guide them through defensible space best practices. Download the checklist below.

Download the tool
Download the tool in black and white – printer-friendly