Improve your Property’s Defensible Space and Get Yard Waste Recycled for Free!

Submitted by Tia Rancourt from North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

Residential Curbside Yard Waste Recycling Collection will be offered May 6 through July 19, and

September 30 through November 1, 2024, courtesy of Waste Management.

Here’s How:

• At the end of April each residential customer in Incline Village/Crystal Bay, NV received an envelope containing 96 ‘Yard Waste Only’ recycling stickers from Waste Management.

• Conduct your property cleanup by filling heavy duty bags (any color except blue) with vegetative yard waste.

• Securely close/tie the bags. Each bag cannot exceed 40 lbs.

• Attach one sticker to each bag.

• Place the stickered bags curbside on your regular service day during the designated timeframe, May 6-July 19 and September 1 – November 1, 2024.

• If you need additional stickers, you can purchase them from Waste Management’s Incline Village office at 1076

Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451.

Questions? Please call Waste Management 775-831-2971 or email inclinevillage@wm.com.

PREPARE FOR EVACUATION

Visit Washoe County Emergency Management to sign up for emergency alerts, then visit Tahoe.LivingWithFire.info to learn more about evacuation and defensible space.

DEFENSIBLE SPACE EVALUATIONS

Improve your Defensible Space and help prepare your home and neighborhood for wildfire by requesting a free defensible space evaluation.

CURBSIDE CHIPPING

Fire district hand crews will chip your curbside vegetation pile upon request. Please do not include pine needles, stumps, roots, garbage, nails or finished lumber. Branch diameter cannot exceed 6 inches and pile size cannot exceed 1000 cubic feet or (20’x6’x6’).

Defensible Space Evaluations & Curbside Chipping programs begin Monday, May 13, 2024.

Visit www.nltfpd.org to sign up online.

DEFENSIBLE SPACE & CHIPPING SERVICES

Five Steps to Create Defensible Space – North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

Defensible Space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified to reduce the wildfire threat. Defensible Space is simply a homeowner’s properly maintained property. Use the information below as a guide. For more advice on defensible space, visit nltfpd.net or tahoe.livingwithfire.info.

Step 1- Know Your Distance – The recommended distance of defensible space is different for all homes. The types of vegetation and terrain are key factors when deciding how far out to extend the Defensible Space Zone. Most properties need 100-200 feet of defensible space.

Step 2- Remove the Dead – Within the Defensible Space Zone, remove all dead vegetation including dying trees, shrubs, branches, grass, weeds, needles, and leaves. Remove fallen needles and leaves within 30 feet from the house every spring. Do not allow a depth of more than 3 inches of duff and needles beyond 30 feet from the house.

Step 3- Create Separation Areas of dense vegetation that pose significant wildfire threats. Shrubs and trees should be thinned out so they are no longer continuous. Separate shrubs by a distance that is twice their height. Tree spacing varies but typically should be separated by 10’ between branches on average. Large trees (>14” in diameter at 4.5’ from the ground) cannot be removed without a permit issued by NLTFPD or TRPA.

Step 4- Remove Ladder Fuels Vegetation allowing fire to climb up from the forest floor to the canopy, are known as ladder fuels. Smaller vegetation such as shrubs and young trees should be cleared away from beneath larger trees.

Step 5- Lean, Clean, and Green – Remove fuels that ignite easily such as dead shrubs and trees, dried grass, pine needles, firewood, etc. Create a 5-foot noncombustible zone around the perimeter of your home, and keep your landscaping well-maintained