[ 01 ]Background
Retired Division Chief, USFS.
Will Spyrison took his first fire assignment in 1977. He worked on the Ojai and Fulton Hotshot crews, then rose to Division Chief of the Los Angeles River Ranger District on the Angeles National Forest.
He is an instructor in the Campbell Prediction System, a method firefighters use to predict how a fire will behave from fuels, weather and terrain, and has served as an expert fire witness.
Will writes Wetline's guides on defensible space, landscaping, fire behavior and the Lake Tahoe and Sierra communities we serve.
Areas of expertise
- Wildland fire behavior
- Campbell Prediction System
- Defensible space and vegetation management
- Santa Ana and Sierra fire weather
- Wildland firefighting operations
[ 02 ]Articles
Written by Will.
Santa Ana Winds Return This Weekend: Prepare Your LA Home
Southern California is warming up this week, with Santa Ana winds forecast by the weekend. Forecasters call the event mild, but last month showed why a few simple steps still matter.
By Will SpyrisonNov 03, 2026 · 6 min read
Defensible Space Inspection in Incline Village and Tahoe NV
On the Nevada side of Tahoe, two fire districts run defensible space inspections. Here is what the inspector checks, how to book, and how to use the report with your insurance carrier.
By Will SpyrisonOct 31, 2026 · 9 min readLA Halloween Rain: What Burn Scar Homeowners Should Do
A rare wet Halloween weekend is heading for Los Angeles. Here is what the forecast means for homes near the Eaton and Palisades burn scars, and what to do before the rain arrives.
By Will SpyrisonOct 30, 2026 · 7 min read
Los Angeles Brush Clearance Requirements: City vs. County Rules
Brush clearance in Los Angeles depends on who inspects your parcel: LAFD or LA County Fire. Here is what each requires, what the 2026 fees were, and how to keep proof of compliance.
By Will SpyrisonOct 25, 2026 · 9 min readLake Tahoe Tree Removal Permit Rules for Defensible Space
Most defensible space work at Lake Tahoe needs no permit, but larger trees do. Here is how the 14-inch rule works, when it is stricter, and who issues permits.
By Will SpyrisonOct 23, 2026 · 10 min read
Santa Ana Fires Test Southern California Homes: What We Learned
The season's first Santa Ana event sparked the Norte, Bryson and Henderson fires. Most homes were spared. Here is what happened and what it means for your home.
By Will SpyrisonOct 19, 2026 · 5 min readDefensible Space Zones Explained: Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2
Defensible space is organized into zones radiating out from your home. Here is what belongs in each zone and how they work with home hardening.
By Will SpyrisonOct 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Fire-Resistant Landscaping for Hillside Homes in California
You don't have to choose between a beautiful garden and a safer home. Here's how to design landscaping that resists fire on hillside lots.
By Will SpyrisonOct 09, 2026 · 3 min read
Lake Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness: Lessons from Angora and Caldor
Two fires reshaped how Tahoe thinks about wildfire. Here's what they teach homeowners in Incline Village, South Lake Tahoe and around the basin.
By Will SpyrisonSep 22, 2026 · 3 min read