Defensible Space Advisory Visit (DSAV)
Defensible Space Advisory Visit
The Defensible Space Advisory Visit (DSAV) program provides a one-on-one consultation at your home with a trained Volunteer Advisor from the Fire Safe Council. The Advisor will walk around your home with you and provide friendly, knowledgeable advice on what you can do to reduce the threat of losing your home in a wildfire.
To schedule a visit, click the button below and enter your contact information. Please enter’ DSAV’ in the Message Box.
If a fire comes, the best action is to follow evacuation advice. Saving yourself and your family is priority #1. But if you have to evacuate, wouldn’t it be nice to come back to find your home still standing? Studies have shown that homeowners who take a few simple steps to ‘harden’ their homes and create ‘Defensible Space’ greatly increase the likelihood that their home will survive. California law (Public Resource Code 4291) requires that homeowners create defensible space around their homes by ‘limbing up’ trees and reducing brush and other vegetation within 100 feet of all structures. But what exactly does that mean? That’s where a DSAV comes in.
What is a Defensible Space Advisory Visit (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”. One important difference between DSAVs and assessments from some other organizations is that others may not examine your house and other structures to make recommendations about fire vulnerability. Knowing how to protect your home may be the most important result of a DSAV.
- · 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.
- A visit usually takes about an hour. 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.
- If you are wondering, Advisors conduct ‘visits’, not inspections, as there is no threat of enforcement. Our advisors provide friendly advice and have no authority to issue citations. Defensible Space Advisory Visits are just that—'advisory’. When and if you act on your Advisor’s suggestions is up to you.
How is the Information about my House Used? The advice is for your use only and it is not reported to anyone, (e.g., insurance companies). Advice from your visit is shared with no one but you, the property owner or resident.
It seems that everywhere you look you see information urging you to get ready for the inevitable fire. It is not a matter of if, but when a fire sweeps through our area. But, just how do you get ready? That’s where our Defensible Space Advisors come in. Sign up now and give us a chance to help!
Please consider making the suggested tax-deductible donation of $25 (to cover cost of training and materials) after your visit.
Are you interested in becoming a trained Defensible Space Advisor, and conducting Advisory Visits? If so, join our waitlist! We'll notify you when the next training becomes available.