SAFE Landscapes Project

CLICK HERE to get a copy of the 2009 Los Angeles County SAFE Landscapes Calendar. 

CLICK HERE to get a copy of the 2009 Ventura County SAFE Landscapes Calendar and Guidebook.

SAFE (Sustainable and Fire SafE) Landscapes is developing guidelines for creating and maintaining fire-safe, environmentally-friendly landscapes in the wildland-urban interface that minimize the use and spread of invasive plants.  The project is a collaboration between the University of California Cooperative Extension--Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council, the Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division, and numerous other governmental, nonprofit and business organizations.  Support is provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Fire safety in the wildland-urban interface starts in the home, observing good practices:  avoid starting fires in and around the home; plan a good fire response strategy for your family; and employ fire-resistant building materials and architectural features.  Beyond the home, develop a fire-resistant landscape where plants and hardscape are maintained to avoid easy fire transmission.  Also, establish a defensible space to reduce the risk of fire transmission to your property.

Fire is a part of the natural environment in Southern California.  There is no way to completely ensure that your home will not be exposed to wildfire.  If you live in a high fire hazard severity zone in the wildland-urban interface, it is not a question of IF a fire will occur, but WHEN.  Preparation for wildfire requires that you take responsibility for your safety, property and pets.  Maintain your property to reduce the risk of damage during a wildfire, and be fully prepared to evacuate.

For more information, please visit Cooperative Extension's Web page on Landscaping for Wildfire Protection.

FACT SHEETS:  Making Your Property Fire-safe & SAFE Landscapes in the WUI

Fern Canyon in Griffith Park, May 2007

Griffith Park Recovery
UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists are assisting the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to develop a fire recovery plan for Griffith Park that allows natural recovery of the ecosystem, while protecting landmarks, cultural resources and adjoining neighborhoods.

For more information on the Griffith Park fire, please visit http://www.laparks.org/.

                  UC Fire Links                                                      Non-UC Fire Links

(Brochure:  Invasive Plants and Wildfires in Southern California )