logo
Saving One Home at a Time: Defensible Space
news image
Special Stories
24 Jun 2021 5:30 PM
https://youtu.be/NMjM2M3FUa0   Whether it’s a fast-moving wildfire pushing into your neighborhood or tiny embers from a fire miles away, you might only have minutes or even seconds to evacuate your home. That is why it is so important ahead of time, not during an active wildfire, you need to make sure your home has the best chance of survival. "Fires being pushed by a really strong wind, you can have an army of firefighters and aircraft there and you’re not going to stop that fire," said Mike Eliason, Public Information Officer with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.  "But, in certain situations houses have caught fire that shouldn’t have just because they didn’t have that defensible space." READ: Homeowners Checklist to Make Your Home Fire Safe It starts with following simple guidelines:  within five feet of your home, keep this area ember resistant.  That includes removing anything that could quickly ignite like mulch, dying weeds and vegetation. "Clear those gutters from debris that collects in there because those embers can fall into those gutters and start a fire and also get into the vent systems inside the house and start a fire in the attic,"  Eliason said. Within 30 feet, make sure it stays lean, clean and green.  When you get to between 30 to 100 feet away, make sure grass is mowed to a maximum height of four inches, and anything that falls from your trees piles up no higher than three inches.  Also, another thing to remember is to ensure there is enough horizontal and vertical space between shrubs and trees. READ: Defensible Space -- The Difference Zones and What You Need to Know Courtesy: Cal Fire "Communities have survived because they were fire-wise communities and it really takes people working together within the community to make everyone’s space more survivable," said Carrie Bilbao, Public Affairs Specialist with the National Interagency Fire Center.  
All Weather News
More Snow & Rain as Snowpack in California Creeps Closer to Top Spot
More Snow & Rain as Snowpack in California Creeps Closer to Top Spot
CALIFORNIA - We have had an incredible snow s
27 Mar 2023 1:20 PM
Severe Storms Across the Gulf Coast Monday & Tuesday
Severe Storms Across the Gulf Coast Monday & Tuesday
We have already had hail up to the size of go
27 Mar 2023 9:30 AM
Snow Chances From Colorado Through the Plains
Snow Chances From Colorado Through the Plains
New winter weather alerts have been issued fr
27 Mar 2023 9:00 AM
Parts of the Southeast Stay Sunny and Sultry
Parts of the Southeast Stay Sunny and Sultry
A ridge of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexic
27 Mar 2023 1:30 AM
Strong Thunderstorms to Return to the Plains Thursday
Strong Thunderstorms to Return to the Plains Thursday
Confidence is increasing in the threat of wid
27 Mar 2023 1:25 AM
Heavy Snow for the Great Lakes and Northeast Tonight
Heavy Snow for the Great Lakes and Northeast Tonight
Another low-pressure system moving through th
25 Mar 2023 9:25 PM
Flooding Turns Fatal in Missouri
Flooding Turns Fatal in Missouri
Heavy rain brought on by torrential downpours
24 Mar 2023 8:20 PM