Maintaining your defensible space is a year-round activity. However, to safely prepare your property, you will need to take precautions when using yard equipment. Knowing the right way to operate yard equipment can prevent wildfires from starting on your property. Here are some tips to practice when using equipment to make your property wildfire ready:
Use the RIGHT tool:
- Lawn mowers are designed to mow lawns. Never use lawn mowers in dry vegetation. Instead, use a weed eater to cut down dry weeds and grass.
The RIGHT way:
- Remove rocks in the area before you begin operating any equipment. A rock hidden in grass or weeds is enough to start a fire when struck by a metal blade.
- Give your equipment adequate time to cool down before placing it back into a garage. (An hour is generally adequate)
Sparks
- When welding or grinding on your property, be sure to have 10 feet of clearance to bare soil, and keep a shovel, and a fire extinguisher ready to use
Refueling
- Be sure the engine is off and engine components are cool when fueling. Hot engine components are capable of igniting gasoline vapors produced from refueling. Never set hot yard equipment down on dry receptive fuels.
Equipment Maintenance
- Unmaintained equipment can catch fire, which can spread into nearby vegetation. Maintain lawn mowers and weed eaters by reading the owners manuals.
- Spark Arrestors: In wildland areas, spark arresters are required on all portable gasoline-powered equipment including tractors, harvesters, chainsaws, weed eaters, mowers, motorcycles, and All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
To learn more about doing defensible space RIGHT, check out Cal Fire’s webinar back on Defensible Space and Wildfire Prevention titled, “Keeping it Clean in the Heat- Don’t Do the Right Thing the Wrong Way.” If you are interested in learning more about safe equipment and vehicle tips, go to Cal Fire Wildfire Prevention: Safe Equipment & Vehicle Use Tips | CAL FIRE (readyforwildfire.org).
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