A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) is the assessment of a property’s fire hazards related to topography, aspect and vegetation, with a proposal for mitigation of those hazards, and a prescriptive plan for future maintenance and care of the area surrounding your home or business property.
Components of the VMP may include, but not be limited to identification of hazards, survey of vegetation, proposed modification of hazards and vegetation, reduction and/or removal of fuels, fire safe landscaping, creating defensible space, shaded fuel breaks, fire breaks, maintenance of access and egress components, and other prescriptive measures needed to mitigate the hazards of wildfire.
A coupled approach, using a fire-hardened home and good defensible space, is necessary to provide the greatest level of protection. Preparing and maintaining adequate defensible space will guard against flame contact and radiant exposures from nearby vegetation. The Home Ignition Zone is an area approximately 100 feet around a home including the home itself. This is the area where defensible space work needs to take place.
