County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works

Los Angeles County is home to some of the most scenic vistas in the world. The natural beauty and mild Mediterranean climate have attracted millions to settle in the mountains, foothills, deserts and coastal valleys of our County. In many areas, fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. Fire cracks seed casings, allowing native plants to reproduce and thrive and it clears out dead brush that can choke living plants and cut off food for wildlife. While fire may be an essential to the natural systems in some areas, fire is usually disastrous for people. Your best defense against fire is learning to develop a fire-wise landscape around your home.

Fire-wise gardening isn't necessarily the same thing as a well-manicured yard. A fire-wise landscape uses careful planning as well as fire resistant plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home, combined with proper maintenance. It also means learning to water, prune and maintain your yard and garden in ways that help reduce your fire danger. The good news is, you don't need a lot of money to practice fire-wise gardening, and you may find that fire-wise gardening can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home and helping reduce it's vulnerability to brush fires.

Reducing your risk from brush fires begins in the yard and garden. 1. Assess Your Fire Risk: Is your home on a hill or in a canyon area? Are you near highly flammable vegetation? Plan your landscape to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation nearest your home. 2. Plan a Defensible Space: Remove dry brush, grass and dead leaves from within at least 30' from your home, and at least 150' if you're on a hill. 3. Remove Combustible Plant Materials: Fire needs fuel to burn, so remove any unnecessary plant materials. Also, space trees and shrubs at least 10' apart and keep branches trimmed at least 10' from your roof. For trees or shrubs taller than 18', prune lower branches within 6' of the ground and remove dead leaves, twigs and branches from below the plants. For trees or shrubs less than 18", prune branches from the lower 1/3. 4. Choose Plants Carefully: Some plants are more resistant to burning than others. Consult with the County of Los Angeles Fire Department at (323) 881-2411 to identify plants that are more fire resistant. 5. Water Wisely: While all plants will eventually burn, healthy, green plants burn less quickly. Make sure you give your plants the amount of water they need to stay healthy without over-watering which can promote excessive growth. 6. Maintain Your Landscape: Keep your yard and garden clean and well groomed by removing dead and dying grass, plants and leaves on a regular basis. Prune and thin shrubs, trees and other plants to minimize the fuel load. Compost your plant materials to make a nutrient rich soil amendment and mulch you can use under and around your plants.

These fire-wise gardening precautions can make a real difference when brush fires strike.

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