Annual defensible space inspections begin in mountain communities this June

A county contractor in safety gear clears brush in a wooded area near a wooden utility pole. — *Crews clear overgrown foliage during seasonal mountain inspections to maintain safety and protect surrounding infrastructure.*

Beginning this June, the county’s Fire Hazard Abatement Team will launch its annual defensible space inspections in mountain communities across the region. Property owners in Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Valley of Enchantment, Cedar Pines Park, Rim Forest, Twin Peaks, Green Valley Lake, Arrowbear, Fawnskin, Angelus Oaks, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village, Wrightwood and Lytle Creek are urged to prepare their properties to reduce wildfire risks.

The inspections are part of the county’s ongoing effort to protect mountain communities by ensuring that properties are maintained in accordance with local fire safety regulations. Property owners can avoid receiving an Abatement Notice by proactively creating and maintaining defensible space around their homes and structures.

To comply with fire hazard abatement guidelines, landowners should:

Cut weeds and grasses to a height of less than four inches
Prune plants and trees to remove dead material
Remove dead trees and plants
Remove trees that are smaller than four inches in diameter and stand within 10 feet of other trees and within 30 feet of a structure
Trim trees to remove branches that are within six feet of the ground on trees that are more than 12 feet in height and stand within 100 feet of a structure, or within 10 feet of a road or driveway
Remove dead branches, debris, and leaf litter from the ground and the roofs of structures
Remove pine needles greater than two inches in depth off the ground
Remove shrubs and plants with high pyrophytic characteristics such as Manzanita, Juniper, Service Berry, Mountain Whitethorn, Sage, Ironwood and Spanish Broom that stand within 15 feet of a structure, or 10 feet of a road or driveway
Space shrubs and plants with high pyrophytic characteristics that stand within 15-30 feet of a structure

Residents are encouraged to visit the county’s Fire Hazard Abatement website (https://lus.sbcounty.gov/fire-hazard-abatement-home/) for additional guidelines, resources and information on how to protect their properties.

Creating defensible space not only helps safeguard our very own properties, but also contributes to the overall safety and resilience of the mountain communities during fire season.

Additional County Update News – June 5, 2025