Are your trees fire ready? Your property fire secure?
Wildfire season is here. As I sit here and write this, the Kinky Creek Fire is burning 29 miles east of Jackson in Teton County, WY and has already destroyed 900 acres. Teton County, Idaho is no stranger to wildfire danger.
Defensible space is crucial for protecting your home and overall wildfire safety. It’s the buffer zone between your property and the surrounding wildland area. This space is instrumental in slowing or stopping wildfire spread and safeguarding your home from embers, flames and heat. It also gives firefighters a safer and more accessible area to defend your property.
Fire-resistant landscaping involves much more than basic yard maintenance. It combines plant selection and upkeep to help stop fire from reaching your home. With smart planning and regular care, you can create a beautiful, water-efficient and fire-resistant landscape.
TIPS:
- Protect the Perimeter of the home: Remove all dead vegetation, leaves, needles, wood piles and combustible debris from around the foundation.
- Clean Your Roof & Gutters monthly: Leading up to and during fire season, regularly sweep leaves, twigs and pine needles from the roof and keep out of rain gutters.
- Remove combustible items from deck: Remove all flammable materials from underneath decks and screen off open areas with 1/8-inch metal wire mesh to stop debris from accumulating.
- Prune branches below 6 feet on yard trees.
- Prune branches overhanging roofs, away from the windows.
Do you have any questions? Call today and schedule your free wildfire prevention consultation. 206-822-3178.
Let’s work together to keep our community safe.
-Beni Tupou, MD Nursery ISA TRAQ Arborist
Additionally, as of 7/7/26, fire restrictions have been issued for Alta, Wyoming.
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution during Tuesday’s meeting issuing a partial fire closure prohibiting open fires in the unincorporated area of Teton County west of the Teton Range, generally referred to as the Alta area.
Fire danger in Alta is currently high due to drought. Teton County, Idaho went into fire restrictions last week. This decision is based on a number of factors, including the predicted fire potential, conditions of the fuels, the number of regional fire starts, available resources, and an expected increase in human activity. Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Chief Mike Moyer says entering fire restrictions in conjunction with Teton County, Idaho ensures consistent messaging and helps to reduce fire risk for the entire Teton Valley community.
Violations of the resolution could result in a misdemeanor and a $100 fine or imprisonment in the County jail, not to exceed 30 days. The following exceptions are allowed:
1. Trash or refuse fires are permitted between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., inside containers with a maximum ¼ inch screen spark arresters and located within a cleared area 15 feet in radius.
2. Campfires contained within an established fire ring at an established campground are permitted to be located within a minimum of 15 feet cleared radius of burnable materials.
3. Charcoal fires within enclosed grills are permitted.
4. Use of acetylene cutting torches, electric arc welders, or metal grinding in cleared areas of 15 feet in radius is permitted.
5. The use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel, or fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stoves and open fire branding activities in cleared areas 15 feet in radius are permitted.
6. Use of home fire pits and bowls is permitted, so long as used with maximum ¼ inch screen spark arresters.
7. Current Teton County Board of County Commissioners Resolution 13-027, banning fireworks pursuant to W.S. §35-10-202 remains in effect.
Currently there are no fire restrictions in Teton County, Wyoming east of the Teton Range; however, Chief Moyer says that may change soon if conditions remain dry. Jackson Hole Fire/EMS continues to monitor and discuss conditions with local, state, and federal partners on a weekly basis. To review the signed resolutions, please visit this link: 07076-Alta-Area-Stage-1-Fire-Restrictions.
