Fire Safety Zone Reference (Dennis)

Zone 1/3: (made up of Segment A, B, and C) Segment A (extending from structure about 3-5 feet)
Dispose of all debris/slash through chipping and hauling away. If the structure or home has non-combustible siding, shrubs and plants can be placed widely between each other, (2-3 feet apart). (Continuation for non-combustible siding...) Do not plant anything near windows or foundation vents; this can enable a fire to enter into the interior of the house. If the structure or home does have combustible siding, use decorative rock or gravel around the immediate perimeter of the structure, (3-5 feet), instead of small shrubs and plants. Make sure trees do not have the possibility of falling on the structure or house. Do not store firewood or other combustible materials in Zone 1. Do not use the area under the deck for storage.

Segment B (extending from Segment A for about 15 feet)

Allow 10-15 feet between trees in this area Prune trees so that lowest branches are 8-10 feet above the ground. Remove all ladder fuels beneath trees (i.e. small shrubs, other trees, tall grasses, and tree limbs that can enable a fires accessibility to tree tops). Isolated shrubs can remain, but prune them regularly. Remove all dead stems from trees and shrubs annually. Mow grasses periodically throughout dry seasons such as summer and fall. Locate firewood and propane tanks in the outer perimeter of Segment B area. Do not locate firewood or propane tanks under trees, instead locate propane tanks were service trucks can reach them and are ideally on gravel pads.

Segment C (extending between the edge of Segment C of Zone 1 to the edge of Zone 2)
Small groups of trees and widely separated individual trees may be left unpruned for landscape purposes on the outer perimeter. Cut or mow grasses, the maximum height should be 8 inches, in throughout summer and fall.

Zone 2/3: (the size of Zone 1 and Zone 2 combined should extend at least 75-100 feet from the structure or house)
Dispose of slash/debris through piling, chopping, and burning or hauling off. If slash/debris is disposed of through burning, contact your local City Fire Department to ask about the procedure in which you need to follow. A few small, widely distributed bushes may be left for wildlife purposes, but no more than two or three per acre. Do not leave large concentrations of slash/debris within Zone 2. Limit the number of dead trees in Zone 2. Be aware of snags that can fall onto house or block access to roads and driveways. Prune trees to a height of about 8 feet at the inner portion of Zone 2, gradually decreasing to a height of about 5 feet at the outer portions of the zone. Mowing is only required under trees.

Zone 3/3: (extends from Zone 2 to the property line)

Regulate dead trees to 1 per 2-3 acres; this is necessary for good wildlife habitat. Any approved method of slash treatment is acceptable, (piling and burning, chipping and scattering). Thinning is recommended as it sanitizes and improves the forest by removing trees that are damaged, attacked by insects, or infected by disease. For specific information on how to conduct traditional forest management thinning, call the local Forest Service Station or City Fire Department.