Wildfire is a major concern for mountain homeowners. Fire danger has increased dramatically in the last few years due to the current drought conditions and the massive increase in dead fuel from the mountain pine beetle. Protecting you home against a wildfire is important not only to your property but also the safety of the men and women that battle the mountain blazes.

TigerTree employees have many years of experience as wild land firefighters. The most important experience we can pass along to private landowners is this. Homeowners that have made an effort to reduce the fire hazard around their property will get increased firefighter assistance during a wildfire. While we were working on wild land fire crews we oftentimes “black flagged” mountain homes that did not have adequate defensible space along with good egress and ingress.

Defensible space is described as an area around your mountain home or cabin in which fire carrying or causing materials have been reduced. The biggest misconception about adequate defensible space is that it requires a clear cut, destroying the aesthetics of your property. This is a myth. Adequate defensible space often times improves the view around your property by removing dead and dying trees that are unsightly to look at. It also enhances the forest health, creating a property that is naturally resistant to wildfire, insects and disease.