Start closest to structures
Combustible material near walls, decks, stairs, fences, wood piles, and outbuildings should be addressed before broader landscape work.
FireSmart guide
FireSmart guide for homeowners
Understand FireSmart priorities, from immediate structure zones to vegetation management, access, debris cleanup, and ongoing maintenance.
Reduce ladder fuels
Pruning low branches, removing dead conifers, and managing dense understory can help reduce pathways that carry fire into tree crowns.
Protect access
Driveways, turnarounds, gates, and rural access routes need enough clearance for safe entry, evacuation, and emergency response.
Maintain annually
FireSmart is not one cleanup day. Windfall, needles, cones, grass, and new growth need seasonal attention.