At Jeremiah’s Tree Service, we help protect homes, properties, and families from the increasing threat of wildland fires in the Lake Tahoe Basin. With decades of experience in tree care and vegetation management, we specialize in creating and maintaining defensible space that not only meets local fire safety standards, but also brings peace of mind to homeowners across the region.
We emphasize the importance of creating space between trees and clearing dead or dry vegetation to enhance property safety. It is also crucial to consult with the fire department for local fire safety regulations that may exceed state minimum requirements. If you operate a Short Term Rental (STR)—including Airbnb or VRBO listings—in California, you are required to pass a fire department defensible space inspection as part of the STR permitting process. We can help ensure your property is prepared and compliant.
Whether you live in Tahoe City, Truckee, Incline Village, Kings Beach, or anywhere in North Lake Tahoe, our team is ready to help you reduce wildfire risk through thoughtful, safe, and effective land management.
Why Defensible Space is Essential
In wildfire-prone areas like Lake Tahoe, fire safety is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and loved ones. Defensible space is a buffer zone between your home and the natural landscape, designed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire by reducing fuel sources near your structure and preventing your home from catching fire.
It also gives firefighters a safer area to defend your home and can significantly increase the likelihood that your property will survive a wildfire. Defensible space helps mitigate risks such as direct flame contact, radiant heat, and embers during wildfire events.
What We Do to Keep Your Property Fire Resistant
Jeremiah’s Tree Service provides comprehensive forestry and fire protection services that help reduce hazards associated with wildfires, keeping your property safe and compliant with local and state fire regulations.
Creating defensible space not only protects homes but also ensures the safety of firefighters defending the property.
Our services include:
- Mastication of underbrush (mechanical clearing of dense vegetation)
- Removal of dead or dry leaves
- Prune flammable plants
- Trimming of shrubs and trees to reduce ladder fuels
- Tree thinning and spacing to prevent crown fires
- Use of charts to determine spacing distance for planting
- Limb up mature trees to reduce ladder fuels
- Removal of dead branches
- Importance of vertical spacing between tree branches and the ground
- Vegetation clearance from structures, decks, and fences
- Chipping and hauling of debris
- Removal of exposed wood piles
- Guidance on fire-resistant landscaping and replanting options
We work with property owners, the local fire department, HOAs, and contractors throughout the Tahoe region to develop long-term fire mitigation plans tailored to each property. We know this is an ongoing concern, so we can help trim trees regularly to ensure a minimum of 10 feet of clearance.
Understanding Defensible Space Zones
Defensible space is divided into two primary zones, including the reduced fuel zone, each with specific guidelines recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and local fire districts like the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.
It is crucial to reduce potential fuel and propane tanks within these zones to create a defensible space around properties, ensuring a clean and well-groomed area to mitigate fire risks.
Zone 1: 0–30 Feet from Your Home or Structure
- Remove dead plants, trees, shrubs, pine needles, dry leaves, and debris from around your home, including the roof and gutters
- Eliminate flammable vegetation and materials from under decks, porches, and stairs
- Trim tree branches at a minimum of 10 feet away from your structure and chimney
- Relocate wood piles outside of Zone 1
- Remove or replace plants near windows, wooden decks, and fences with fire-resistant alternatives
- Protect against flying embers by maintaining a defensible space and using fire-resistant materials
Zone 2: 30–100 Feet from the Structure
- Mow annual grass and weeds to 4 inches or shorter
- Thin out small or closely spaced trees, maintaining at least 10 feet of spacing between canopies
- Ensure more space between trees and shrubs based on land slope and vegetation height
- Remove dead or dying shrubs, small trees, and surface fuels
- Manage other vegetation, including grasses and brush, to reduce fire risks
- Limb up mature trees to reduce ladder fuels
- Maintain an open, park-like appearance that limits fire spread and improves visibility
Each property is unique. Our team can assess your land and determine the safest and most effective way to meet defensible space requirements while keeping your landscape healthy and attractive.
Licensed, Bonded, and Trusted in the Tahoe Basin
Jeremiah’s Tree Service has been proudly serving the Lake Tahoe area since 1985. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and we take pride in offering professional, reliable, and high-quality tree services with safety at the forefront.
We understand local fire safety regulations and are familiar with defensible space requirements in the Tahoe Basin. Our crew is experienced in working with local fire districts and local jurisdictions and can assist you in meeting compliance for insurance, fire inspections, and permit approvals. It is also important to understand local responsibility areas to ensure full compliance with varying regulations.
We provide protection services throughout:
- Tahoe City
- Truckee
- Incline Village
- Kings Beach
- North Lake Tahoe
- Surrounding mountain communities
If you think your property is at risk, contact us today so that we can get started cleaning up any dying vegetation, combustible fencing, or wood piles.
Fire-Smart Landscaping: Lean, Clean, and Green
Removing flammable vegetation doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the beauty of your grass, shrubs and trees. We can recommend or install fire-resistant, low-flammability plants that allow you to maintain a natural, attractive landscape while improving safety. Using fire resistant plants is crucial in creating a fire-safe landscape that prevents the spread of fire to homes.
Adopting a ‘lean clean and green’ approach to fire prevention is also essential, which involves regularly clearing dead vegetation and managing tree spacing to create a safe buffer around structures. These drought-tolerant, non-volatile plants are ideal for properties in the Tahoe region and contribute to both fire safety and water conservation.
Reduce Fire Hazards Today With Our Defensible Space Program
Wildfire threats are a reality in the Lake Tahoe area — but proactive steps like removing vegetation can improve your home’s chance of surviving. Creating defensible space and removing flammable materials is crucial for surviving a wildfire, as it acts as a buffer between your home and surrounding vegetation, slowing or stopping the spread of fire.
Let Jeremiah’s Tree Service help you protect what matters most with expert defensible space services designed for your property and your peace of mind.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation or get a free quote. We’re happy to answer questions and help you meet all local fire safety standards.