Defensible Space

Illustration of a house surrounded by a grassy area with trees in the distance with text on image that says "Defensible Space."

"Defensible space" is an area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has ben managed to reduce the wildfire threat and allow firefighters to safely defend the house.

Survivable Space

Illustration showing a grassy field that acts as a gap between a house and vegetation with text saying "Survivable Space."

"Survivable space" is similar in concept to defensible space, except it emphasizes the house surviving a wildfire without significant firefighter or homeowner assistance.

Firebreak vs. Fuelbreak

Illustration of two trees with soil in between them with text saying "Firebreak" and "bare soil." Two more sets of trees are pictured with vegetation in between them saying "less flammable vegetation" and text saying "Fuelbreak."

Some sources consider the terms firebreak and fuelbreak as synonymous, while other differentiate between the terms. For the later group, a firebreak is an opening or strip of land where vegetation is absent and bare soil is usually present, and it is effective in preventing the spread of wildfire. Firebreaks can be naturally occurring (e.g., rivers and rock outcrops) or manmade. A fuelbreak is a strip of land where flammable vegetation has been removed and less hazardous vegetation is retained.

Shaded Fuelbreak

Illustration of three trees are shown where there is space between them compared to other trees in the image that are clustered together. Over the three trees, there is text saying "Shaded Fuelbreak."

This is a type of fuelbreak in forested areas where the trees have been thinned, tree canopies have been raised through removal of lower branches, and the understory vegetation has been managed to reduce the fire threat.

Ladder Fuels and Continuity

Illustration showing trees in cascading heights labeled with text saying "Ladder Fuels." Illustration of dense trees with varying heights labeled with text saying "High Continuity." Illustration of two trees far apart labeled "Low Continuity."

Vegetation that would allow a fire to ignite taller vegetation, such as tree branches, is referred to as "ladder fuel." "Continuity" refers to the uniformity and density of fuels. Plants that are growing close together with little open space between them have "high continuity" and are a fire hazard. Vegetation that is sparse and widely separated has "low continuity" and is less of a threat.

Greenstrips

Illustration showing a large gap between two groups of trees with fire-resistant vegetation between them with a label saying "Greenstrip."

A "greenstrip" is a strip of land where fire-resistant vegetation has been planted to reduce the wildfire threat. Crested wheatgrass is often planted in Nevada greenstrips.

Smith, E. 2005, Fuel Management Terms for Homeowners, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

If you need more information.

Please contact Extension's Communication Team for assistance.

Also of Interest:


Nevada (USA) range management school - Adapting an American grazing management curriculum to other continents. Schultz, B., McAdoo, K., Perryman, B., Foster, S., and Davison, J. 2015, Journal for Arid Lands Studies. 25-3: 273-276.
The Potential of Amaranth as a New Crop for Nevada Amaranth originated in South America and has been cultivated for centuries. It is grown as a high quality, gluten-free grain, and occasionally used as a leafy vegetable as well. While the seeds are sold as a grain, it is a broad-leaved plant and not a grass as are most grains. Davison, J. and Leger, E. 2012, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-12-19
Integrated Weed Management in Seedling Alfalfa Seedling alfalfa is vulnerable to weed competition because seedlings grow slowly and do not compete well with weeds. Weed competition in new alfalfa stands impedes root development and lowers forage quality and alfalfa yield. The damage caused to seedling alfalfa can last the lif... Blecker, L., Creech, E., and Davison, J. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-01
Needs Assessment for Noxious Weeds in Churchill County: Part 1 of 5 - Problem Weeds, Approaches and Methods of Control This publication discusses the results from a needs assessment conducted by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) to identify problem weeds, the approaches and methods for control. Davison, J., Powell, P., Schultz, B., Creech, E., and Singletary, L. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-72
Biomass Production of 15 Teff Varieties Grown in Churchill County, Nevada During 2009 The amount of teff produced in the United States is increasing rapidly due to the plant’s popularity as an especially nutritious grain and as high-quality horse hay. The word teff means “lost” because teff seed is the smallest grain in the world, and if you drop it on the ground ... Davison, J. and Laca, M. 2010, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-10-34

Fuel Management Terms for Homeowners