Types of dead fuels and recommended practice

Standing Dead Tree. Remove all standing dead trees from within the defensible space. If desired, leave one or two standing dead trees per acre to provide wildlife habitat and remove lower tree limbs to height of 15 feet.

Down Dead Tree. Remove all down dead trees within the defensible space if they have recently fallen and are not yet embedded into the ground. Down trees that are embedded into soil and which cannot be removed without soil disturbance should be left in place.

Dead Shrubs. Remove all dead shrubs from within the defensible space.

Dead Branches. Remove all dead branches from living shrubs and trees and from dead trees to be retained for wildlife purposes to a height of 15 feet. Gather and remove branches which are lying on the ground within the defensible space.

Cured Grass and Forbs. Once grass and forbs have dried out or cured, cut down and remove clippings from the defensible space.

Dead Needles (on the ground). For thick layers of needles lying on the ground surface, reduce the amount of needles. A thick layer of needles would be accumulations of needles that are more than three or four needles deep. Reduce excess needles to create a thin layer of needles. Do not remove all needles. Take care not to disturb the duff layer (area at the ground surface where needles are decomposing).

Dead Needles (other than on the ground). Remove all dead needles still attached to living trees to height of 15 feet. Remove all dead needles which accumulate on the roof and in rain gutters on a routine basis.

--from the Defensible Space and Healthy Forest Handbook.