November 2026 Defensible Space Training for Landscape Professionals

This course will include sessions from UNR Extension staff and other experts, covering a wide range of topics related to wildfire risk reduction, better plant choices, fire behavior, horticulture, and more.

Whether you are a City, County, HOA leader, landscape architect, arborist or defensible space professional, this one-day program will give participants a robust understanding of the role that defensible space plays in mitigating the wildfire risk to communities. It will also equip them with the knowledge of how to create and maintain effective defensible space in Nevada communities. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts in a classroom setting. They will then be able to apply the concepts and knowledge gained during a field site visit, putting theory into practice. Participants who complete this training will be listed on the Living With Fire website.

Cost: $50. Fees include food, course materials, certificates of attendance and Continuing Education Units.

8:00 – 9:10 Background Information on Wildfire and Defensible Space

• Welcome and Introduction to Fire
• Defensible Space and Home Hardening

9:20 – 10:20 Perspectives from Local Fire Fighters

• (40 minutes) Perspectives from the frontline fire fighters
• (20 Minutes) Applied activity on planning defensible space zones

10:30 – 11:30 Choosing the Right Plants

• Putting the right plants in the right place to reduce fire risk

11:30 – 12:30 Lunch

• Lunch provided

12:30 – 1:30 Best practices in tree care when doing defensible space work

• How to maintain tree health while doing defensible space work

1:40-2:40 Firescaping Workshop

• Participants draft and receive feedback on solutions to common landscaping challenges around the Reno area.

-Travel to field site-

3:00 – 4:00 Field Assessment

• Scenario: Draft work plans for the lot(s) in question
• Recieve feedback from experts on draft work plans

Continuing Education Units Offered

More details on the CEUs offered will be shared closer to the event date. We aim to provide 8 CEUs for Landscape Architects in Nevada.

If you have any questions about this event, please email Spencer Eusden at seusden@unr.edu.

An EEO/AA Institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Paul Lessick, civil rights & compliance coordinator, at least 14 days prior to the scheduled event at 702-257-5577 or PLessick@unr.edu.

Funding for this event was made possible from the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Division of Forestry, and U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with University of Nevada, Reno Extension along with fees from the training.