Olympic Valley Fire Department (OVFD) conducts an annual wildland fire prevention program with a simple goal at hand: to prevent life and property losses from forest fires. California’s defensible space laws are designed to help firefighters protect your community during a wildland fire, and more importantly, help your home stand alone when firefighting resources are limited. Please have your property in compliance, and maintain it until the fall moisture arrives.

OVFD will inspect all homes and lots in our jurisdiction for defensible space compliance annually. The initial inspection usually occurs in June/July, please review the Pre-Inspection Checklist each spring so that your property passes the first inspection.

Defensible Space Zone Requirements

  • Zone 0: 0′-5′ Keep your home and the first 5′ noncombustible and ember resistant. Use Hardscape like gravel, pavers, concrete, and other noncombustible mulch materials.
  • Zone 1: 5′-30′ Think lean, clean, and green. Remove dead vegetation and ladder fuels and ensure there is adequate spacing between shrubs and trees. Relocate wood piles to Zone 2 and maintain grasses and weeds 4″ or less.
  • Zone 2: 30′-100′ (or property line) Remove dead vegetation and create adequate spacing between trees, shrubs, and grasses. Remove fallen needles, twigs, cones, and maintain grasses and weeds 4′ or less.

Fire Aside

Starting in 2023, the District will be using a defensible space platform, Fire Aside. Following the initial inspection, a door hanger will be provided that contains a custom code to unlock your Property Report through Fire Aside. The online property report includes pictures, illustrations, and comments specific to each property and provides simple information to reduce wildfire risk and improve community safety. It also allows residents to take pictures of the amended violations and upload them for approval, please correct violations within 30-days of the inspection date. If you will not be at your home or have not received your door hanger by the end of July, please email [email protected] for help establishing an account. To learn more about Fire Aside click here.

Help Maintain the Firewise Community Certification

In order to maintain the Olympic Valley Firewise Community Certification, please respond to the Firewise survey documenting the hours/expenses spent on defensible space. Thank you for your participation!

Defensible Space Resources

Other Defensible Space Services

picture of forest

Photo Credit: Peter Tye

Olympic Valley Fire Department thanks you for your efforts to mitigate the wildland fire threat in our beautiful community.