The Holiday Farm Fire changed how a lot of Lane County homeowners think about wildfire. Whether you live up the McKenzie, in the south hills of Eugene, or on rural land near Lowell or Cottage Grove, the trees and vegetation around your home affect how it fares when fire comes through.
How defensible space is organized
Most guidance divides the area around a home into zones:
0–5 feet (immediate zone). Keep it as non-combustible as possible. No branches overhanging the roof, no bark mulch or dry debris against the siding.
5–30 feet (intermediate zone). Space out shrubs and trees so fire can’t move easily from plant to plant. Remove ladder fuels.
30–100 feet (extended zone). Thin dense stands, remove dead trees, and keep downed material under control.
Where an arborist helps
Limbing up (crown raising) so ground fire can’t climb into the canopy
Thinning dense conifer stands to open spacing between crowns
Removing dead and dying trees that act as fuel and become hazards
Clearing overhanging limbs from roofs, decks, and chimneys
Chipping and hauling debris so the cleared material doesn’t become new fuel
Good defensible space work protects the healthy trees you want to keep. Clear-cutting isn’t the goal; reducing the paths fire can take is.
Wolfpack Tree Care handles defensible space clearing for residential and commercial properties across Lane County. Check with your local fire district for requirements specific to your property, then call us at 541-556-9256 to plan the work.
