9 Ways Sound Tree Care Can Help to Create Wildfire Defensible Space

Get rid of the deadwood! Prune the dead branches from your trees, hedges, and shrubs. Deadwood does not hold water and easily catches fire. Remove all dead branches that hang over your roof or other structures. Clear away leaves, brush, needles, and other dead vegetation from your roof, gutters, and grounds. If you have diseased or dead trees on your property, have an arborist or certified tree care company inspect them and remove them.

Create A 5-foot Barrier Around the Perimeter of Your Home

Instead of putting mulch or other flammable materials around the perimeter of your house, create a 3 to 5-foot barrier using gravel or stone. Ensure adequate space between your home and any hedges, shrubs, and trees in the 30 feet around your home to prevent your home from catching fire even if they do.

Keep 30' Around Any Structures Clear of Trees

Completely clear the land within 30 feet of your home and other structures. There should be no large trees close to or overhanging any structures. Small, well-spaced trees are okay.

Thin The Tree Canopy to Reduce the Spread of Fire

Beyond the 30-foot defensible space you created around your home, thin the trees in the next 70 feet surrounding your property. Selectively pruning live branches thins out the canopy and makes the crown of the trees less dense. Tree thinning inhibits the spread of fire.

Tree Pruning to Prevent Fire and Pruning Guidelines on Hillsides

Trimming your trees is essential for removing deadwood and prevents trees from crowding one another, enabling fire to spread from tree to tree quickly. Prune branches back that touch neighboring trees. Remove branches that hang over or are close to structures. There should be at least 10 feet of space between each of your trees and between your trees and your home. If your property is on a slope, the distance between branches and structures increases as follows: Mild to Medium Slope: 10 feet Medium to Moderate Slope: 20 feet Moderate to Steep Slope: 30 feet

Rake Up and Remove Tree Debris and Dry Vegetation

Keep the area around your trees and home clear of dead leaves, brush, deadwood, pine needles, and dry vegetation. Dead and dry vegetation serves as an excellent fuel source for wildfires. Routine raking dramatically reduces the risk of fire from spreading onto your property.

Keep Your Grass Trimmed To 4 Inches in Height

Regularly cutting your grass to a maximum height of 4 inches limits the fuel sources a wildfire has around your home. Fields should be mowed before grasses dry in the summer.

Plant Fire Resiliant Trees and Shrubs To Help Create a Defensible Space

When choosing trees to plant on your Seattle area property, consider planting species that: Are slow growing (require less frequent pruning) Have high water content in their leaves (slower to ignite) Have open branching habits (less fuel) Produce fewer branches and leaves (again, less fuel for a fire) Do not have resinous (oily or waxy) leaves, bark, or needles (trees with oily or waxy needles like fur, juniper, pines, and spruces are highly flammable) A tree care specialist can help you choose fire-resilient trees for your property.

Wildfire Defensible Space in Western Washington

Wildfires Are Moving West—Is Your Property Ready?

What Is Defensible Space?

Defensible Space Zones Explained

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends three zones:

🔹 Zone 1 (0–30 ft from home):

Remove dead plants, grass, and weeds

Prune tree branches up 6–10 feet from the ground

Keep roof and gutters clear of needles and leaves

Use fire-resistant landscaping

🔹 Zone 2 (30–70 ft):

Thin smaller trees and shrubs

Space tree canopies at least 10 feet apart

Remove ladder fuels that allow fire to climb trees

🔹 Zone 3 (70–100+ ft):

Create a managed transition zone

Reduce fuel load with selective thinning

Maintain clear access routes for emergency vehicles

How to Maintain Defensible Space in Western WA

house preserved from grass fire due to defensible space

Prune Trees Properly:

Remove dead or overhanging limbs, and lift low branches that can ignite from ground fires.

Create Vertical & Horizontal Spacing:

Avoid clusters of trees/shrubs. Break up vegetation so fire can’t leap easily.

Clear Combustible Materials:

Remove bark mulch, firewood, propane tanks, and leaf piles from Zone 1.

Choose Fire-Resistant Plants:

Western Washington native plants like salal, Oregon grape, and red-flowering currant are less likely to catch fire.

Home Hardening:

Install ember-resistant vents, noncombustible roofing, and screens on all openings.

Be Prepared by Clearing Brush Today!

Local Rebates & Resources

🧯 What Homeowners in Western Washington Need to Know About Defensible Space

Defensible space is a fire-prevention buffer zone that every homeowner in Western Washington should prioritize—especially in wooded or semi-rural areas around Puget Sound, Tacoma, Olympia, and Snohomish County. By creating a 100-foot safety perimeter with fire-resistant landscaping, strategic tree pruning, and regular debris clearing, you can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire damage. This zone not only protects your home but also improves firefighter access and increases your property's chances of surviving embers and fast-moving flames. For maximum protection, defensible space should be combined with home hardening techniques and regular inspections by a certified arborist.

9 Ways Sound Tree Care Can Help to Create Wildfire Defensible Space

Get rid of the deadwood!

Prune the dead branches from your trees, hedges, and shrubs. Deadwood does not hold water and easily catches fire.

Remove all dead branches that hang over your roof or other structures. Clear away leaves, brush, needles, and other dead vegetation from your roof, gutters, and grounds.

If you have diseased or dead trees on your property, have an arborist or certified tree care company inspect them and remove them.
Create A 5-foot Barrier Around the Perimeter of Your Home

Instead of putting mulch or other flammable materials around the perimeter of your house, create a 3 to 5-foot barrier using gravel or stone.

Ensure adequate space between your home and any hedges, shrubs, and trees in the 30 feet around your home to prevent your home from catching fire even if they do.
Keep 30' Around Any Structures Clear of Trees

Completely clear the land within 30 feet of your home and other structures. There should be no large trees close to or overhanging any structures. Small, well-spaced trees are okay.
Thin The Tree Canopy to Reduce the Spread of Fire

Beyond the 30-foot defensible space you created around your home, thin the trees in the next 70 feet surrounding your property.

Selectively pruning live branches thins out the canopy and makes the crown of the trees less dense. Tree thinning inhibits the spread of fire.
Tree Pruning to Prevent Fire and Pruning Guidelines on Hillsides

Trimming your trees is essential for removing deadwood and prevents trees from crowding one another, enabling fire to spread from tree to tree quickly.

Prune branches back that touch neighboring trees. Remove branches that hang over or are close to structures. There should be at least 10 feet of space between each of your trees and between your trees and your home.

If your property is on a slope, the distance between branches and structures increases as follows:

Mild to Medium Slope: 10 feet
Medium to Moderate Slope: 20 feet
Moderate to Steep Slope: 30 feet
Remove "Ladder Fuels"

Prune away branches that provide a link between the ground and the tree tops. If your trees are in isolation, remove the branches to at least 6 feet from the ground. For trees near shrubs or bushes, prune branches lower than 3 times the height of the bushes and shrubs around them.
Rake Up and Remove Tree Debris and Dry Vegetation

Keep the area around your trees and home clear of dead leaves, brush, deadwood, pine needles, and dry vegetation. Dead and dry vegetation serves as an excellent fuel source for wildfires. Routine raking dramatically reduces the risk of fire from spreading onto your property.
Keep Your Grass Trimmed To 4 Inches in Height

Regularly cutting your grass to a maximum height of 4 inches limits the fuel sources a wildfire has around your home. Fields should be mowed before grasses dry in the summer.
Plant Fire Resiliant Trees and Shrubs To Help Create a Defensible Space
When choosing trees to plant on your Seattle area property, consider planting species that:
- Are slow growing (require less frequent pruning)
- Have high water content in their leaves (slower to ignite)
- Have open branching habits (less fuel)
- Produce fewer branches and leaves (again, less fuel for a fire)
- Do not have resinous (oily or waxy) leaves, bark, or needles (trees with oily or waxy needles like fur, juniper, pines, and spruces are highly flammable)
A tree care specialist can help you choose fire-resilient trees for your property.

Why Hire a Certified Arborist?

How Sound Tree Care LLC can create and maintain wildfire defensible spaces

Creating and maintaining an effective defensible space can be a complex and time-consuming task. Hiring Sound Tree Care LLC can provide numerous benefits. We have the knowledge and experience to assess your property, identify potential risks, and implement effective measures to safeguard your home and property.

Sound Tree Care LLC can also provide ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure your defensible space remains effective over time. They stay up to date with the latest research and best practices in wildfire prevention and can tailor their services to your specific needs and the unique characteristics of your property.

TALK TO US TODAY

Resources and tools for wildfire prevention and preparedness

In addition to professional services, there are various resources and tools available to homeowners for wildfire prevention and preparedness. Local fire departments often offer educational materials and workshops on creating defensible space and implementing other wildfire mitigation strategies. These resources can provide valuable guidance and support in protecting your home.

Online resources, such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources offer comprehensive information on wildfire prevention, defensible space guidelines, grants that may be available to fund fire prevention work, and other mitigation strategies. These websites provide access to guides, videos, and interactive tools that can assist homeowners in understanding and implementing effective wildfire prevention measures.

Case studies: Successful implementation of defensible space measures

Numerous case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of defensible space in protecting homes and properties from wildfires. These examples highlight the importance of proactive measures and the positive impact they can have in reducing the risk of fire damage.

One such case study is the Montecito Fire Protection District in California. By implementing defensible space measures and educating homeowners about wildfire prevention, they significantly reduced the risk of homes being destroyed during wildfires. The district's efforts serve as a model for other communities facing similar wildfire risks.

Further information found on Mitigating Wildfire Vulnerability: A Community Success Story by the US Fire Administration

Ready to Defend Your Property?

Pruning trees for fire prevention, best tree care company, seattle wa, sound tree care llc

Did you know that 80 percent of homes lost to wild land fire may have been saved if they had cleared away any brush and deadwood around the houses and created a defensible space?

Additional Fire Prevention Resources

NFPA.org provides grants to homeowners for the fire prevention tree care services we provide as part of county-wide efforts to prevent wildfires and keep citizens safe.

You can learn more and apply here. http://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA/Become-a-Firewise-USA-site

To learn more about Washington’s Firewise initiatives and how to protect your home and your loved ones during wildfire season,

go to https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/water-and-land/forestry/forestfire.aspx

For more helpful tips on keeping your King County property safe, download and read King County's 2022 Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy: https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/climate/documents/king-county-wildfire-strategy-report.pdf

If you’re a homeowner, it can be highly stressful if a wildfire begins and spreads to your general location or residence. Learn everything you need to know about wildfires and how to stay safe. Wildfire Safety Guide | Cutter Law P.C.

Resources for Victims of Fire by vpnMentor

Sound Tree Care provides residential and commercial tree services in SeaTac and the greater Seattle area. We have a certified arborist on staff, and our tree care specialists are ISA certified. We are happy to help you create a defensible zone around your home and provide tree care services to keep your trees healthy and your home safe.