How do I start making my home more fire safe?

The Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council is here to serve. We are volunteers who work with local fire resources and cover Bowman, the City of Auburn, Newcastle and Penryn. To contact us, please email auburnfiresafecouncil@gmail.com. When we read pamphlets about how to make our homes more fire safe, it can be overwhelming. Where do we start? We have limited time and financial resources. The most critical zone is the first five feet from your home – the 0-5 Zone. Here are some top priority items you can start with as time and finances allow: 1. Clean gutters and other leaf debris from your roof and other structures. 2. Rake all bark mulch at least five feet from your home and outbuildings. As finances permit, replace with decorative rocks or gravel. 3. Trim tree branches above and beside your roof at least 10 feet away from the roof. 4. Trim shrubs next to your house at least 6 inches from your house siding. The next step is to remove them, but at least trim back anything close to your siding. 5. Trim shrubs and trees away from windows. If they catch fire, windows will break from the heat, and flames can enter your home. 6. Trim all groundcover within five feet of your siding to 4 inches or less and rake out leaves and other debris. They will grow back, but you will have removed lots of fuel. The next step is to remove it completely. 7. Remove all dead wood and leaves from shrubs and trees. 8. If you live on a narrow street or road, trim branches away from the roadway to make evacuation routes and emergency vehicle access safe for all. These eight actions are a good starting point. More tips are available at https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace. Scroll down to the bottom to Defensible Space Zones. Let's all take steps to make our homes and neighborhoods more Fire Safe.