Fire officials outline defensible‑space steps, chipping program and home‑hardening guidance for Incline Village

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District fuels specialist Ryan Dominguez and Spencer Houston of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Living With Fire program gave a joint presentation on defensible space and home hardening at the Incline Village–Crystal Bay Citizens Advisory Board meeting. The specialists gave specific, actionable guidance residents can use to reduce the chance that embers or nearby vegetation will ignite homes.

Dominguez said homeowners should create an “ember‑resistant” zone from 0 to 5 feet around structures, keep firewood at least 30 feet from canopies or inside garages, and remove accumulated pine needles and other ground fuels. “On those days, we want to make sure everything’s cleaned up within 5 feet,” he said. He described a second “lean, clean and green” zone from 5 to 30 feet and a 30–100 foot zone used where properties have larger defensible areas.

The presentation stressed how embers — not only direct flame — cause most home ignitions in wildfires, and the two presenters recommended combining defensible space with home hardening to reduce risk. Houston said the paired approach matters because embers…