Wildfires are fires that travel very quickly, burning vegetation, buildings, and everything else in their path. Often associated with causes like lightning or campfires, a wildfire isn’t the only kind of fire that can burn through a neighborhood.
Any fire, an electrical fire, or a chimney fire on a neighboring property is always at risk of burning out of control. The more flammable material available to feed a fire, the faster and farther it’s going to burn before firefighters can get it under control.
Defensible space is established by creating fire-safe and clear spaces around buildings, trees, shrubs, and more for the purpose of:
- Slowing or stopping the spread of a wildfire
- Giving you and your family time to get to safety if needed
- Giving firefighters a safe and effective area to work in to put out the fire
Ant’s Tractor Mowing and weed abatement services can help you meet these guidelines.
Zone 0, the ember resistant zone
Zone 0 is the area immediately around buildings, decks and other structures and extends up to 5-feet from each structure. The purpose is to create a space that is as resistant to embers starting a fire as possible. Using non-combustible hardscaping like gravel or slate, removing dead leaves, dry grass and landscaping with appropriate low-growing plants and using non-combustible furnishings and décor on decks are some of the recommendations for creating this zone.
Zone 1, the lean, clean and green zone
Zone 1 extends 30-feet from buildings, decks and structures, or the end of the property line. Some of the recommended steps to take to create Zone 1 include:
- Weed abatement by removing dead and dry plants, grass and other vegetation, including leaves, pine needles, and any debris in rain gutters
- Remove branches that hang over the roof and trim trees to keep branches at least 10-feet from other trees.
- Creating a safe space between trees, shrubs, firewood, and other materials that could catch fire.
Zone 2, reduced fuel zone
This reduced fuel zone extends from 30-feet to 100-feet from buildings and structures on the property, or to the property line. Creating a reduced fuel zone means mowing grass to at least 4-inches, creating clearances around woodpiles and propane tanks, creating safe vertical and horizontal spaces between shrubs, trees, and grass, and removing leaves, twigs, and other debris that is over a certain depth.
In business since 2004, Ant’s Tractor Mowing’s mission is to provide the best defensible space, courteous client experience, employee integrity and fire safety in our industry. Ant’s Tractor Mowing follows Cal Fire guidelines for creating and maintaining defensible space to protect homes, families, businesses and valuable assets. The company helps you create all three defensible zones in a manner recommended by CalFire.
We offer free estimates for your convenience.
Ant’s Tractor Mowing provides tractor mowing and the heavy-duty weed abatement services that are necessary to create defensible space that protects homes, businesses, and farm or ranch structures.