Defensible space
Defensible space, tracked properly
Mitigation only counts if you can show what was done. SATYR Property keeps the record for a single property — treatments, dates, photographs and what's still outstanding.
Defensible space is usually described in zones: the immediate area around the structure, then progressively out. The requirements are well documented. What's rarely handled well is the record — which trees came down in which year, when the gutters were last cleared, what the inspector flagged and whether it was addressed.
That record matters when an insurer asks, when a property changes hands, or when you're trying to remember whether the far slope was thinned two seasons ago or four.
What it keeps track of
- Treatment history — what was done, when, and by whom.
- Photographs with dates, so change over time is visible rather than remembered.
- Zone status across the property, and what's still outstanding.
- Inspection findings and whether each one was resolved.
Who it's for
- Landowners in the wildland-urban interface keeping a defensible record.
- Property managers handling mitigation across a portfolio — see SATYR Admin.
- Anyone dealing with insurance who needs to demonstrate work was actually done.
Common questions
What is defensible space?
It's the treated area around a structure designed to slow a fire's approach and give crews somewhere to work. It's normally described in zones measured outward from the building, with the strictest requirements closest in. Exact distances vary by state and county, so check your local requirement.
How do I prove I've done mitigation work?
Dated photographs and a treatment record are what hold up. SATYR keeps both against the property, so the history exists as a record rather than a memory.
Does defensible space actually reduce risk?
Research consistently finds that the condition of the structure itself and the first few feet around it matter most — embers landing on flammable material near the building cause a large share of home losses. Clearing further out helps, but it doesn't compensate for an untreated immediate zone.
What's the difference between SATYR Property and SATYR Admin?
Property is for a single property, kept by whoever owns or manages it. Admin is the portfolio side — assigning inspections and reviewing submitted work across many properties.
Start here
Model the risk first: FUELBREAK
Before you decide what to treat, it helps to know which approach carries the risk. FUELBREAK models spread and exposure across the parcel, so mitigation goes where it changes the outcome.
See what FUELBREAK does