Fuel Reduction & Defensible Space Services in Portland, OR
Protect Your Home, Family, and Neighborhood from Wildfire
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive across Oregon. Our fuel reduction services remove hazardous brush and create defensible space zones to protect your home, family, and neighborhood. As one of Portland’s leading providers, Urban Timber delivers expert, local wildfire prevention you can trust.
What is Fuel Reduction?
Fuel reduction is the process of strategically thinning and removing flammable vegetation such as brush, dead branches, ladder fuels, and dense undergrowth to slow or stop the spread of wildfire. This work reduces the amount of fuel available to a fire and helps protect homes, families, and entire communities. By creating defensible space zones around your property, fuel reduction lowers the chance that wildfire will spread to structures while improving the health and appearance of your landscape.
Why Fuel Reduction Matters in Portland
Portland and the surrounding areas are experiencing hotter, drier summers and longer wildfire seasons, and the city’s mix of dense tree canopy, overgrown lots, and wooded hillsides makes many neighborhoods especially vulnerable. Homes near Forest Park, the West Hills, and other greenbelt areas sit right next to heavy fuel loads that can carry fire quickly. Combined with climate change and years of vegetation growth, this creates conditions where even a small spark can threaten entire blocks.
Creating defensible space through fuel reduction is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect your home. Removing flammable material and properly spacing vegetation reduces the intensity of fire and gives firefighters a safer area to work if a wildfire does approach.
Reduce Wildfire Risk
Lower the chance of fire reaching your home or structures. Create Egress, for safe evacuation or passage for fire crews.
Protect Your Family & Property
Gain peace of mind knowing your home is better prepared.
Improve Community Safety
When neighbors take action together, the whole area is safer.
Stay Compliant
Meet Portland’s wildfire hazard requirements and inspection notices.
Preserve Your Landscape
Our approach improves yard appearance and keeps trees healthy while focusing on fire safety.
Enhance Air Quality
Reduce smoke and particulate matter by keeping vegetation well maintained.
Defensible Space Zones & Wildfire Protection
We follow Oregon’s recommended best practices for defensible space and divide your property into three zones that work together to reduce wildfire risk.
Our ISA Certified Arborists and trained crews complete every project using the latest wildfire prevention standards so your property is safer and your landscape stays healthy.
This is the closest area around your home. We clear away combustible debris, firewood stacks, dry vegetation, and anything that could ignite near the foundation. The result is a clean, ignition-resistant buffer around the house.
In this middle zone we thin and space shrubs, prune low-hanging tree branches, and remove ladder fuels that could carry flames into the tree canopy. This step slows fire spread and keeps flames on the ground.
This outer zone creates your property’s widest fire buffer. We selectively clear brush, thin dense vegetation, raise tree canopies (ladder fuels), and remove dead or downed material to stop wildfire from moving toward your home.
How Fuel Reduction Has Protected Communities
Comprehensive Fuel Reduction Services
Our fuel reduction services cover every step of wildfire prevention, from clearing hazardous vegetation to maintaining defensible space year after year. Once we assess your property and map out the 0–5, 5–30, and 30–100 foot zones, we create a customized plan to remove fuels, improve tree health, and keep your property fire-ready.
Brush Clearing and Removal
Brush clearing is the foundation of defensible space. We remove overgrown vegetation, weeds, and ground fuels that allow fire to spread quickly across your property. Our team works carefully to reduce wildfire risk while maintaining the natural beauty of your land, and we finish every project with full cleanup so your property is left safe and ready for fire season.
- Residential brush clearing for small and large lots
- Clearing of underbrush, weeds, and invasive plants
- On-site chipping or complete debris haul-away
Tree and Branch Management
Healthy, well-spaced trees are critical to slowing wildfire spread. Our ISA Certified Arborists inspect your property, prune or remove hazardous limbs, and create proper spacing between trees and structures. This keeps fires on the ground, improves firefighter access, and maintains the long-term health of your trees.
- Tree trimming and pruning for fire safety
- Hazard tree removal and branch chipping
- Clearance between tree canopies and structures
Seasonal and Ongoing Maintenance
Vegetation grows back quickly, so keeping defensible space clear is an ongoing process. Our seasonal and annual maintenance services help you stay fire-safe year after year with proactive checkups and clearing at key times in the fire season.
- Pre-fire-season yard cleanup and inspection
- Mid-season brush clearing and weed control
- Annual or semi-annual defensible space maintenance
Proactive Protection for Communities
Wildfire safety is most effective when neighbors work together. Our community and HOA fuel reduction services make it easy for entire neighborhoods to create defensible space at the same time.
We coordinate group brush clearing days, handle tree and shrub removal across multiple properties, and ensure everything is hauled away so the whole area is safer when we’re done. Shared service keeps costs lower for each homeowner and helps protect the entire community from wildfire risk.
Practical Tips for a Safer Landscape
Small changes to your yard can make a big difference in wildfire safety. Here are a few simple steps we recommend, based on OSU Extension research:
1. Fire-Resistant Plants
Choose plants with moist leaves and open branching patterns. Avoid flammable picks like untrimmed juniper or tall ornamental grasses near your home.
2. Clear the First 5 Feet
Keep the first 5 feet around the house plant-free. Use gravel or decorative rock to create a safe, ignition-resistant buffer.
3. Ongoing Maintenance
Prune trees, mow grass, and remove dead leaves or needles throughout the season to keep fuel loads low.
4. Space Trees & Remove Ladder Fuels
Ensure trees and shrubs are not touching. Remove low branches or tall grass that could let fire climb into the canopy.
5. Clean Roofs & Gutters
Regularly clear dry leaves and needles so embers have nothing to ignite.
6. Skip Flammable Mulch
Avoid bark or rubber mulch near the house. Opt for rock or gravel instead for added safety.
Extra Resource
For a complete list of recommended fire-resistant plants for Oregon landscapes, see OSU’s Fire-Resistant Plant Guide.
Our Simple 3-Step Process
We make fuel reduction straightforward for homeowners and give you a clear plan to protect your property.
Property Walkthrough & Wildfire Risk Assessment
We start with a full walkthrough of your property to look for wildfire hazards. Our team reviews vegetation, tree health, and slope conditions, then maps out the three defensible space zones around your home. You receive a clear, actionable plan to reduce fuel and meet Oregon fire safety guidelines.
Clearing, Pruning, & Fuel Reduction
Once you approve the plan, our crew gets to work. We clear brush, thin vegetation, prune or remove hazardous trees, and chip or haul away all debris. Every project is handled by trained professionals so your property is safer and fire-ready when we leave.
Seasonal & Annual Maintenance
Wildfire prevention needs ongoing care. We offer seasonal checkups and yearly maintenance to keep brush and weeds under control and your defensible space effective. Regular visits help keep your property protected every fire season.
Local Experts You Can Trust
We’re Portland locals who understand the wildfire risks unique to the Pacific Northwest.
- Over 120+ 5-Star Reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp
- Voted Portland’s Best Tree Service of 2024 by Willamette Week
- Fully Licensed & Insured (CCB License #212995)
- ISA Certified Arborists on Staff for Expert Tree Care
- Knowledge of Oregon Wildfire Safety Standards
When it comes to fuel reduction and fire prevention, you want a team you can trust. We combine professional expertise with local experience to deliver safe, high-quality results for every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clear brush around my house?
At least once a year, usually before fire season begins. For Portland homeowners, we recommend late spring or early summer. Large properties or fast-growing vegetation may need a mid-season follow-up.
What is defensible space and why is it important?
Defensible space is the cleared area around your home that helps slow or stop wildfire from reaching your house. We follow Oregon’s three-zone approach (0–5, 5–30, 30–100 ft) to remove fuels and keep your home safer.
Do you haul away branches and debris after clearing?
Yes — every fuel reduction project includes cleanup and haul-away. If you prefer, we can leave chipped mulch or firewood on-site.
Can you help if I just got a defensible space inspection notice?
Absolutely. We work with homeowners to quickly bring properties into compliance with local fire department or CAL FIRE requirements.
Is your team licensed and insured?
Yes — we are fully licensed, bonded, and insured with CCB License Number 212995, and we have ISA Certified Arborists on staff.
Our Service Areas
We proudly serve all of Portland, including Downtown Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Gresham, and Tigard, as well as surrounding areas like Hillsboro, Milwaukie, West Linn, Oregon City, and Happy Valley, and the entire Portland metro region.
Don’t wait until fire season is here. Our professional fuel reduction and defensible space services help protect your home and give you peace of mind.
Phone: 503-449-4066 – Email: office@urbantimbertree.com – Hours: Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm