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Storm response checklist
A four-stage storm checklist, from pre-season prep to the week-2 follow-up. Tick items and print it.
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Wildfire and trees: defensible space basics and safe tree care
Trees and wildfire are a serious topic. This page gives general ideas only. Your state forestry agency and your local fire department set the real rules and distances for your area, so always start with them.
By Umair Nawaz, Lirevon. Last reviewed: October 2026. See all storm guides.
In danger or a downed power line? Call 911. Call your utility for downed lines. Stay away from the tree and anything it touches.
For homeowners
Staying safe around your trees
Safety first. If a wildfire threatens your area, follow evacuation orders from local officials. Tree work is never worth staying behind for.
Start with your official source
Look up your state forestry or fire agency, your county and your local fire department. Many offer free guidance, home assessments and maps. They know your local rules.
Clear what burns near the house
Common advice from fire agencies includes clearing dead plants, dry leaves and needles from the roof, gutters, decks and the ground near the house. Do this on a regular schedule.
Take care with tree spacing and height
Fire agencies often advise removing dead or dying trees and limbs, and raising the lowest branches of larger trees so fire is less able to climb into the crown. Spacing and distances differ, so use your local guide.
Keep firewood and fuel away
Fire agencies commonly advise storing firewood, lumber and fuel away from the house. Check your local guidance for how far.
Watch the weather before using tools
Mowers, saws and chippers can throw sparks in dry grass. Check for fire restrictions and red flag warnings before you work, and do not use power tools on high-risk days.
Hire a pro for big trees
Large trees, trees near lines and hazard trees need an insured crew. Ask them to follow your local fire rules. Use our guide to how to hire a tree service.
After a fire, wait before judging a tree
Burned trees can be weak inside and may fall, and roots can burn underground. Stay out of burned areas until officials say it is safe. Then ask a certified arborist to check which trees are hazards. Not every scorched tree dies, so do not rush to cut.
Related pages: is my tree dangerous?, tree permits, how to hire a tree service and when to prune. Official guidance: the US Forest Service. Short explanation, not legal or insurance advice.
Lirevon does not do tree work and does not list or rank tree companies. You can find local pros on Google Maps and read their reviews. Get two or three written quotes, and check for insurance.
For tree companies
Planning the work and the phones
Wildfire work can bring steady demand for defensible space and hazard-tree jobs, and real risks for your crew. These habits keep both under control.
Learn the local rules
Check fire season dates, red flag days and any limits on power equipment with your state forestry agency and local fire department. Rules change by area and by day.
Carry fire tools and a plan
Keep water, a shovel and an extinguisher on every job, use working spark arresters on equipment, and agree on a fire watch and an exit route before you start.
Schedule around the weather
Do the work earlier in the day or on cooler, calmer days, and stop when conditions turn. Tell customers in advance that you may reschedule for safety.
Do not promise protection
Say what you will do, such as removing dead limbs or raising crowns, and not what it will prevent. No one can promise that a property will survive a fire.
Follow the agency standard
Point customers to their local fire agency guide, and write your scope to match it. This keeps you honest and keeps the job simple.
Plan for smoke and heat
Poor air, heat and low visibility are crew risks. Plan breaks, water and the right masks, and call off work when air quality or conditions are unsafe.
Be careful after a burn
Burned trees can fail without warning and the ground can be unstable. Treat every burned tree as a hazard, work with trained assessors, and do not enter closed zones.
Make it easy to book early
Wildfire prep is a pre-season job. Offer clear service pages, answer calls fast, and follow up on quotes. A missed-call text-back keeps early callers from drifting to the next company.
Helpful pages: the job site safety guide, storm season, seasonal cash flow and follow-up.
Other storm pages: all storm guides, hurricanes, ice storms and high winds and derechos.
Want help catching every call? See our services and pricing, or ask for a free audit. Lirevon is new and has no tree-service clients yet, so we make no claims about results.
Common questions
What is defensible space?
It is an area around a building where plants and trees are managed so a fire has less to burn near it. Fire agencies set the exact rules, so check with yours.
How far from my house should I clear?
It depends on your state, county and local fire agency. Please use their guide and not a general number from a web page. Many agencies offer free home checks.
Should I cut down every tree near my home?
Not necessarily. Fire agencies usually focus on dead and dying trees, spacing and removing low branches. A local certified arborist or fire official can advise on your property.
Can trimming trees cause a fire?
Yes, power tools can throw sparks in dry grass, and hot weather and wind add risk. Check for fire restrictions and red flag warnings, and do not work on high-risk days.
Will a tree company guarantee my home will survive a wildfire?
No honest company can. Tree work can reduce some fuel near a home, but it never makes a home fireproof. Be careful with anyone who promises it.
Is a burned tree dead?
Not always. Some burned trees recover, and others are weak inside and may fall. After officials say it is safe, ask a certified arborist to assess it before you cut.
Are there rules for tree work in high fire-risk areas?
Often, yes. Rules vary by state, county and city, and may cover equipment use, permits and timing. This is a short explanation, not legal advice, so ask your local fire agency and city.
How can a tree company prepare for fire season?
Learn local rules, carry fire tools, plan work around weather and write clear scopes that match the agency guide. Our job site safety guide covers crew habits.
Where can I find official wildfire guidance?
Start with your state forestry or fire agency, your local fire department and national sources such as the US Forest Service. They publish current, local advice.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Follow local officials, your utility and your local fire agency.
Answer early callers, before fire season
Lirevon helps tree companies answer every call and follow up on every quote. Get a free audit, see the services or read about the Never-Miss-A-Job System.