Goal: Create a non-combustible perimeter to stop embers from igniting your home.

The Immediate Zone includes the house itself and the area within 1.5 metres of the exterior walls and attached structures, such as decks.

• Materials: Choose non-combustible building materials when constructing or renovating.
• Ground Cover: Clear all vegetation and combustible material down to mineral soil. Cover these areas with non-combustible materials like gravel, brick, or concrete.
• Landscaping: Avoid planting woody shrubs or trees. If they already exist, ensure they are pruned and meticulously maintained.
• Decks: Keep the area underneath and around decks completely clear of debris or stored items.

Goal: Manage landscaping and storage to prevent fire from spreading to your home.

• Plant Selection: Use only fire-resistant vegetation and select non-combustible landscaping materials.
• Mulch: Avoid using wood chips or any woody debris/mulch, as these ignite easily.
• Storage: Keep firewood piles, construction materials, tools, and decorative items out of this zone.
• Large Items: Move trailers, recreational vehicles, and storage sheds into the Extended Zone.
  • Note: If you cannot move them, store firewood inside a mitigated, ember-resistant structure (like a garage).
• Pads: Create a non-combustible ground cover (such as a gravel pad) extending 1.5 metres around any trailers or sheds.

Goal: Reduce fire intensity and prevent "crowning" (fire moving through tree tops).

• Tree Spacing: Selectively remove evergreen trees to ensure at least 3 metres of horizontal space between tree crowns (the tops of the trees).
• Pruning: Remove all branches up to 2 metres from the ground to prevent ground fires from climbing into the trees.
• Surface Fuels: Regularly clean up fallen branches, dry grass, and needles to eliminate fuel for surface fires.
• Beyond 30m: If your property is larger or on a steep slope, continue applying these spacing principles and consider seeking guidance from a forestry professional