Defensible Space (0–100 Feet): What Every Western Slope Homeowner Needs to Know

By Parker Specialized LLC — Wildfire Mitigation • Defensible Space • Property Safety

Wildfire risk on Colorado’s Western Slope is increasing. Hotter temperatures, longer fire seasons, and heavy fuels mean that more and more insurance companies — and county guidelines — are requiring defensible space around homes and structures.

But what exactly is defensible space? And more importantly, what does an effective 0–100 ft mitigation zone actually look like?

This guide breaks down the essentials every homeowner should know.

Why Defensible Space Matters

In nearly every major Colorado fire, the majority of home ignitions begin from embers landing near the structure, not from a wall of flames. Embers can travel over a mile, landing on roofs, in gutters, under decks, or in thick surrounding vegetation.

Defensible space:

• Reduces extreme heat near the home

• Limits ladder fuels

• Protects structures from ember ignition

• Creates safer access routes for firefighters

• Helps ensure insurance eligibility and compliance

  
  

For homeowners across Delta County, defensible space is no longer optional — it’s essential

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Understanding the 3 Defensible Space Zones

The 0–100 ft area around your home is divided into three zones. Each zone has a specific purpose and requires different levels of treatment.

ZONE 0: 0–5 Feet — The Immediate Zone (NON-COMBUSTIBLE AREA)

This is the most critical zone for preventing home ignition.

What Zone 0 should look like:

• No flammable vegetation touching the home

• No shrubs, tall grasses, wood mulch, or dead leaves

• Gravel, rock, or bare soil perimeter

• Clean roofs, gutters, and decks

• Firewood and lumber stored 30+ ft away

This is your home-hardening zone, and it’s where most home ignitions start.

ZONE 1: 5–30 Feet — Reduced Fuel & Fast Cleanup Zone

This is where Parker Specialized LLC removes the majority of high-risk fuels.

What we typically do in Zone 1:

• Remove all ladder fuels

• Limb trees up 6–10 ft

• Thin or fully remove flammable shrubs

• Mulch oak, sage, piñon, and juniper

• Clear invasive brush and overgrowth

• Create clean, open spacing between vegetation clusters

Our equipment is built for this exact purpose — fast, safe, and efficient removal of heavy vegetation around homes.

ZONE 2: 30–100 Feet — Thinned Vegetation & Horizontal Spacing

This zone slows the fire down before it reaches Zone 1.

Zone 2 includes:

• Thinning tree stands

• Creating breaks between oak, sage, and brush patches

• Removing dead/down fuel

• Eliminating ladder fuels

• Clearing slash + debris

• Improving driveway/egress visibility

Our fleet of machinery and attachments allows us to create large-area fuel breaks efficiently, even on steep, rocky Western Slope terrain.

What Defensible Space Looks Like on Colorado’s Western Slope

Vegetation here — piñon–juniper, gamble oak, Utah serviceberry, and sagebrush — burns fast and hot, producing long flame lengths and extreme ember production.

That means:

• Gambel Oak = ladder fuel + high oil content

• Utah Serviceberry = dense, twiggy, ember-catching shrub that spreads fire quickly

• Juniper = explosive ignition + ember bombs

• Sagebrush = fast-moving surface fire

• Piñon Pine = heavy embers + resin-rich fuel

Proper thinning and spacing does not make your land “bare.” It makes your home survivable.

How Parker Specialized LLC Performs Professional Mitigation

We don’t “weed whack” defensible space. We use professional forestry equipment designed for heavy fuels and rugged terrain:

✔ Case TV450B 90hp high-flow skid steer✔ 72" SkidPro X4 Extreme High-Flow Brush Cutter✔ Mastodon Turbo Mulching Head✔ 84" Extreme Rock Grapple✔ 84" High-Flow Hydraulic Scarifier & Road Leveler✔ 9-ton Mini Excavator with Flail Mower Head

This equipment allows us to safely:

• Remove thick oak and brush

• Mulch material in place

• Clear rock, slash, and debris

• Improve driveways and egress routes

• Work efficiently on steep, curved, rocky terrain

This is wildfire mitigation done right — fast, safe, and compliant with Colorado’s evolving HB1182 standards.

How Often Should You Update Defensible Space?

For most Western Slope properties:

• Annually , near the home

• Every 2–3 years for extended zones

• After storms that drop branches or debris

• Before insurance inspections or renewals

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We offer recurring maintenance to keep your property in compliance year-round.

Schedule a Home Ignition Zone Assessment today.

If your home needs wildfire mitigation, heavy brush clearing, or professional defensible space work, we can help.

Call or Text Parker Specialized LLC

970-987-6027 * 970-856-4484

Serving Delta County and Colorado’s Western Slope.