Wildfire & Tree Care
Reduce Wildfire Risk
Pruning for Fire Abatement
Prune trees to keep the canopy lifted and approximately 10ft from ground level, or for shorter trees not ⅓ more than the total tree height.
It’s not a matter of if, but when.
Wildfires are more intense and larger than ever. In 2020 1,100,000 acres burned in Oregon, people lost their lives, and thousands were displaced from their homes. Weather changes, decades of fire suppression, and the fact more people are moving to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) require property owners to take action to protect themselves and their homes from wildfires. Some states like Oregon have established High Fire Risk Zones that are more likely to see an ignition event during dry summer conditions.
What you need to do before fire season
If you’re living near the WUI or in a high fire threat zone here are things you should do that are recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
Prune trees to keep the canopy lifted.
Adequately space trees and groups of trees.
Remove all dead and/or dying trees and vegetation.
Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) to prevent a surface fire from rising into the canopy of trees.
Our tree pruning, removal and tree stand thinning can help reduce fire risk while maintaining the natural beauty around your home. For more information to keep you and your home aware of preventative steps please contact me.
Tree Spacing
Tree placement should be planned to ensure the mature canopy is no closer than ten feet to the edge of the structure and trees are spaced adequately to impede fire from spreading. The NFPA recommend the following measurements for tree spacing:
Trees 5 to 30 feet from the home should have at least 18 feet between canopy tops.
Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops.
Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.
If you have acreage or tree stands, thin them to remove smaller conifers and to break continuity in the groupings.
