Santa Fe Standard

As the peak fire season approaches, the Santa Fe County Fire Department is urging residents to participate in the County’s Defensible Space Program. This initiative, aimed at those living within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas, is designed to protect homes and structures during a wildland fire. The concept of defensible space refers to the area between a structure and the WUI region, which can act as a buffer zone to slow or stop the spread of fire and prevent ignition due to direct flame contact or radiant heat.

The program is authorized under Section 104.2 of the 2021 International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) and forms part of Santa Fe County Ordinance 2023-06. It establishes a procedure for property owners within WUI areas to obtain a letter confirming their property's compliance with Fire Code requirements and recommendations related to defensible space. The Fire Marshal expects that this program will encourage compliance with defensible space guidelines and potentially assist property owners in securing homeowners insurance.

For those interested in applying for a defensible space certification, please visit: Santa Fe County Defensible Space Regulations.

The program highlights the County’s dedication to fire safety and promotes proactive measures among property owners. Jaome Blay, Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal, emphasizes this point by stating, "While Santa Fe County Fire Department is poised to respond and protect our community during a wildfire, successful mitigation requires property owner’s collaboration.”

To ensure your home and family are protected ahead of any potential fires, further information about the Defensible Space program can be obtained by contacting Remington Gillum at (505) 995-6532 or rgillum@santafecountynm.gov. Additional details can also be found at https://www.santafecountynm.gov/fire and Santa Fe Ready, Set, Go Guide.