Maintain Zone 1 lean and clean landscape from 5 to 30 feet

Thin vegetation in the 5-30 foot zone around your home so individual plants are spaced apart and fire cannot spread continuously from plant to plant toward the structure. This is your primary fire break zone.

Why It Works

Continuous vegetation acts as a fuse leading fire to your home. Creating horizontal and vertical spacing breaks the chain of combustion. Well-maintained Zone 1 reduces radiant heat reaching the structure and gives firefighters a safe area to work from.

Steps

1. Space shrubs at least double their mature height apart (e.g., a 4-foot shrub needs 8 feet from the next)
2. Remove ladder fuels — trim tree branches to 6-10 feet above ground so ground fire cannot climb into the canopy
3. Create fuel breaks using pathways, driveways, or irrigated lawn between plant groups
4. Mow grass to 4 inches or shorter throughout the zone during fire season

Tips

• Choose fire-resistant plants: lavender, rockrose, ice plant, California lilac have high moisture content and low resin
• Avoid juniper, ornamental grasses, Italian cypress, and eucalyptus near structures — all are highly flammable
• Remove dead branches, fallen leaves, and needle accumulation in spring before fire season
• Irrigated, well-maintained landscaping is naturally fire-resistant — green plants do not burn easily