Defensible Space Advisory Visits

Friendly, knowledgeable advice on what you can do to reduce the threat of losing your home in a wildfire.

The Defensible Space Advisory Visit (DSAV) program provides a one-on-one consultation at your home with a volunteer trained through the Fire Safe Council.

What Is a DSAV?

A DSAV is a one-on-one consultation conducted at your home covering:

What you can do to make your house and other structures more fire resistant or “hardened”.
How to treat the vegetation around your house and other structures to meet the legal defensible space requirements found in California Public Resource Code 4291 and local ordinances.

A visit usually takes 1-2 hours. The Advisor will help you come up with an action plan, including specific recommendations about hardening your house and improving the 100 feet surrounding your home. Many people are confused or have difficulty understanding exactly what needs to be done. A DSAV is designed to take the mystery out of what to do.

Advisors conduct "visits," not inspections, as there is no threat of enforcement. The advisors provide friendly advice and have no authority to issue citations. DSAVs are just that—"advisory." When and if you act on your Advisor’s suggestions is up to you. The advice is for your use only and it is not reported to anyone, (e.g., insurance companies, government entities). Advice from your visit is shared with no one but you, the property owner or resident.

Greenhorn's Advisor

The Greenhorn Firewise Community is fortunate to have a trained Defensible Space Advisor living in our community (Paul Tebbel), and an Advisor in training (Bill Ryerson).

Paul lives in Manion Canyon (about 3 miles up Greenhorn from Brunswick) and has worked many hours with his neighbors to create defensible space in their area. Paul is dedicated to helping others understand how to harden their home and create defensible space around their home to protect their property. Paul is also a member of our Greenhorn Firewise Community board of directors.

To schedule your Defensible Space Advisory Visit contact Paul at (916) 215-6172. You can also contact the Fire Safe Council at (530) 272-1122. It just could end up saving your property and possibly your life!