Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire. This defensible space also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland fire.
See California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Pine Needle Clean Up Day and Other Defensible Space Programs offered to North Tahoe Residents

Source: June 2008 North Tahoe Public Utility District Focus
In preparation for summer and fire season, North Tahoe Fire Protection District is planning for ways residents to learn about fire risk, get work done and dispose of yard waste. Now is the time to rake your pine needles, clean up the yard and get your defensible space done. The Forest Fuels Program of North Tahoe Fire offers free defensible space inspections and can issue removal permits for fire hazard trees over 14”.

June 7th, 2008 will be the Defensible Space Clean Up Day at the North Tahoe Regional Park from 9AM to 3PM. Crews will be on site to help unload material. Pine needles, pine cones, sticks, branches and tree waste will be accepted. There is no charge for this service, and please bring only vegetation. We will not accept trash, dirt or drop-offs after 3PM. Additional opportunities for pine needles disposal are being developed.

In addition to the Pine Needle Collection Day, the Fire District offers a variety of programs to help local residents dispose of yard waste after doing defensible space work. The dumpster program offers free dumpsters, on a first come, first served basis, with preference given to neighbors doing their defensible space work together. Dumpsters are only for vegetative material. This program is offered thanks to funding from the Placer County Biomass Program. The free chipping program will be expanded this year with the addition of extra crew members and two chippers. Material must be stacked on your property, near the street with the cut ends facing the street. Material up to 10” in diameter will be accepted. For more information about defensible space, tree permits or pine needle collection, please call the North Tahoe Fire Forest Fuels Office at 530-546-2212. For information regarding the free chipping program, please call 530-546-4347.

Cost share programs are also available to help offset the costs of defensible space work. Call the Nevada Fire Safe Council for more details at 530-543-FIRE (3473).

Services are free to the public thanks to a cooperative effort between the County of Placer Biomass Program, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal Co., Integrated Environmental Restoration Services, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and North Tahoe Fire Protection District.

See: dumpsters in Refuse-disposal