Gorgeous
Landscape design

That protects you
and your family from wildfire

Welcome to Pelican Wildfire Consulting LLC

Pelican Wildfire Consulting specializes in Wildfire Risk Assessments and Landscape. Regardless of your goals, there are no wrong answers; lower insurance rates, keep your current rates or policy, create an outdoor space that fits your life, or reinforce your wildfire defense. Protecting people and their homes is more than a passion; for us, it’s personal.

Start with a survey to see if we fit your needs.

Learn More About Us

Wildfire Risk Around the Home

The property is divided into zones in a bull’s eye shape, with the home in the center. Each area has a multitude of potential hazards which increase the danger of your property being negatively affected by wildfire.

Intermediate Zone: 5′ – 30′

This area is where our landscape design can pay dividends. Planning out this area to create and maintain fuel breaks and spacing between trees and shrubs is critical. Often trees are planted without considering where the tops will be when the tree matures. Too frequently, there are trees or shrubs in close proximity, which creates extreme fire behavior when ignited. Trees also tend to have undergrowth that act as a ladder for the fire to spread from the ground into the branches. Hardscape features such as patios and walkways are great ways to create fuel breaks.
Read more

Immediate Zone: The Bull’s Eye, 0′ – 5′

This area begins with the house and is one of the most crucial. Simple tasks such as removing leaves or plant debris from your roof and gutter or ensuring any vent or opening is covered by a metal mesh screen with no larger than one-eighth-inch holes can make a big difference. Things that may increase your risk include; trees or shrubs which touch your siding or deck, open spaces under stairs or decking where sticks or leaves can gather, firewood piles, and wood mulch up to the foundation.
Read more

Extended Zone: 30′ – 100′

This area may or may not be directly under your control; however, there still are things that you can do to improve this area. Preparing for a Wildfire is a community task, and working with your neighbors can be a significant advantage. The same kind of risk factors in the previous zone can exist here.
Read more

Immediate Zone: The Bull’s Eye, 0' - 5'

This area begins with the house and is one of the most crucial. Simple tasks such as removing leaves or plant debris from your roof and gutter or ensuring any vent or opening is covered by a metal mesh screen with no larger than one-eighth-inch holes can make a big difference. Things that may increase your risk include; trees or shrubs which touch your siding or deck, open spaces under stairs or decking where sticks or leaves can gather, firewood piles, and wood mulch up to the foundation.

Intermediate Zone: 5' - 30'

This area is where our landscape design can pay dividends. Planning out this area to create and maintain fuel breaks and spacing between trees and shrubs is critical. Often trees are planted without considering where the tops will be when the tree matures. Too frequently, there are trees or shrubs in close proximity, which creates extreme fire behavior when ignited. Trees also tend to have undergrowth that act as a ladder for the fire to spread from the ground into the branches. Hardscape features such as patios and walkways are great ways to create fuel breaks.

Extended Zone: 30' - 100'

This area may or may not be directly under your control; however, there still are things that you can do to improve this area. Preparing for a Wildfire is a community task, and working with your neighbors can be a significant advantage. The same kind of risk factors in the previous zone can exist here.

Get Free Consultation Here

We can help!

Wildfire Assessment

The assessment conducted by Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist gives you more than the existing hazards but gives you the tools and knowledge to do something about it.

Click here to find out more

Landscape Design

Our ability to combine the principles of fire safety, local knowledge of what to plant and where, a design style that is flexible and unique, and meticulous attention to detail is a combination you won’t find anywhere else.

Click here to find out more

Wildfire Assessment

The assessment conducted by Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist gives you more than the existing hazards but gives you the tools and knowledge to do something about it.

Click here to find out more

Landscape Design

Our ability to combine the principles of fire safety, local knowledge of what to plant and where, a design style that is flexible and unique, and meticulous attention to detail is a combination you won’t find anywhere else.

Click here to find out more

How your landscape service is different

Wildfire Assessment

The assessment is done by a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist who has attained certification through the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The NFPA is the organization that writes fire codes, standards, and best practices for the nation. The Pelican Wildfire Consulting assessment items are highlighted by NFPA 1144 and expanded the report to give you a fully informed view of the risk factors. We start by doing background research on your property and community, compiling information such as fire spread potential, rate of fire spread, and estimated flame length.

Once on-site, we will inspect each zone and note strengths, such as existing fuel breaks, and weaknesses, such as tree crowns or tops within ten feet of the house. Though being present for the inspection is optional, we do recommend that you be there so we can best understand your goals for the property to present mitigation strategies that best suit you. Some mitigation recommendations are very cut and dry, like the metal screens used to cover gutters, leaving no wiggle room. On the other hand, others leave room for creative solutions such as vegetation types and utilizing hardscape features.

The final report will include all hazards, why they are hazards, and mitigation recommendations with supporting photos and illustrations, ensuring a complete understanding. You can elect to have a follow-up consultation to plan how you would put the report to use (sentence needs work).

Survey

The assessment is done by a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist who has attained certification through the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The NFPA is the organization that writes fire codes, standards, and best practices for the nation. The Pelican Wildfire Consulting assessment items are highlighted by NFPA 1144 and expanded the report to give you a fully informed view of the risk factors. We start by doing background research on your property and community, compiling information such as fire spread potential, rate of fire spread, and estimated flame length.

Once on-site, we will inspect each zone and note strengths, such as existing fuel breaks, and weaknesses, such as tree crowns or tops within ten feet of the house. Though being present for the inspection is optional, we do recommend that you be there so we can best understand your goals for the property to present mitigation strategies that best suit you. Some mitigation recommendations are very cut and dry, like the metal screens used to cover gutters, leaving no wiggle room. On the other hand, others leave room for creative solutions such as vegetation types and utilizing hardscape features.

The final report will include all hazards, why they are hazards, and mitigation recommendations with supporting photos and illustrations, ensuring a complete understanding. You can elect to have a follow-up consultation to plan how you would put the report to use (sentence needs work).

Survey

Landscape Design

The assessment is very much a building block of any design we do. We never sway from your priorities, vision, or concerns. Our mission is to use the existing building blocks to fit your vision, time, and budget. We begin with the areas of most concern and are the most challenging. For example, this property had a large amount of overgrown vegetation along the side yard and posed a significant threat to a very old Douglas Fir. The homeowners did not want to lose their privacy screen or dust abatement from the dirt road. I began with a concept sketch illustrating how using slope and layering could replace the hazards while keeping their benefits.

Then created a scale version of the sketch, including the types of shrubs which could be planted in that area and how many would fill the space, and used hardscape features to ensure they would not pose the same overgrowth hazard that already existed.
To help the client decide what vegetation and hardscape would best fit their design style, I created a 3D mockup so they could visualize how the space would change while I showed them options of plant type and hardscape design. This allowed them to consider their budget, timetable for completion, and how the overall design would come together.

Every design comes with this personalized consultations and meticulous attention to detail. As a result, each design fits you and your life, all built on fire safety principles. One of the pinnacle parts of the process is making sure your style and priorities are never overshadowed. Our design concepts, extensive knowledge of plants, and hard-won experience in wildland firefighting separate our designs from all the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have Questions? We’re here to help!

Where should I start?

Find what Wildfire potential exists around you. The Utah Department of Natural Resources has a wildfire risk portal that is a great place to start. You can also find a self-assessment tool on our website to help you determine if our service is needed for your home.

Do I need to remove all the vegetation from my yard?

No. While there may be some hard truths, a pine or fir tree is usually planted too close to the home; trees and shrubs are not enemies. The goal of our company is to find a balance in the amount and type of vegetation planted around the home.

How can I afford to make the necessary improvements to protect my home?

There may be grants through the Federal, State, or Local Government and funds available through your HOA. There are also a wide variety of methods to mitigate the risk around your home.

Do I need to make all the improvements at once?

No. At Pelican, we make your priorities our priorities. We help you understand what factors pose the most significant risk to your home and create an attainable plan that satisfies your needs.

If I get an assessment done, where does that information go? If there are improvements needed, will my insurance rates increase?

The information goes where you tell us to send it. We do not work for insurance companies; we work for you. It is to protect you and your property.

At the conclusion of an assessment and/or a landscape design, you will receive a report of the assessment findings with annotated pictures detailing the hazards, why they are hazards, and recommended mitigation actions. With the design, you will receive all the same and each iteration of the design and a potential timeline to follow to accomplish your goals according to your time and budget constraints.

Suppose you need a letter written to your insurance company to keep your insurance rates or policy. In that case, we will provide one written by the Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist upon completion of adequate work and a final assessment by the Mitigation Specialist. In some cases, we can write a letter asking for an extension before your policy is terminated.

With all the resources, why do I need Pelican Wildfire Consulting?

The truth is, you don’t. However, there are an infinite amount of resources out there for you to gain the information you need to significantly improve your home’s odds of surviving a

wildfire. Firewise.org is a great place to start, and your local home improvement store probably has courses on creating an outdoor space.

However, our company combines knowledge of the most recent Wildfire Standards and Guidelines, over a decade of experience fighting fire, a background in design, an eye for aesthetics, and the passion to bring it all together.

About Pelican Wildfire Consulting LLC

Pelican Wildfire Consulting is owned and operated by Phil Taylor and Alissa Johnson, both Park City locals. The company was founded after life changes caused Phil to make the tough decision to leave the Federal Firefighting world. Over his career, he saw devastating fires that cost people their homes, businesses, and sometimes their lives. This inspired him to do something about it, and the company was born.

Phil Taylor has over a decade of wildland firefighting and fire mitigation experience. He has worked both as a structural and wildland firefighter and has experience on a city engine and a helicopter crew, as a hotshot, on a wildland engine and a fire use module. His extensive experience in many arenas has afforded him a depth of knowledge in both the operational side of fire as well as the science of how a fire starts, how it behaves, and how to best mitigate a fire situation.

Phil has worked to prevent fires before they start by participating in prescribed burns and mechanical thinning of landscape to prevent wildfires. He has worked with both private and public entities. In addition, he has landscape design and construction experience and has worked for residential landscape firms. Alissa Johnson works closely with Phil, providing valuable consultation in landscape design and business development.
Phil Taylor and Alissa Johnson are Park City locals. Alissa had lived in Park City since 1993 when her family relocated to Park City to encourage Alissa in her pursuit to become a professional ski jumper. Alissa’s family continues to live and work in Park City. Phil moved to Utah while working for the Federal Government as a Wildland Firefighter. He settled in Park City within the last five years. Phil and Alissa have deep roots in the Park City area, and both work to serve the community they love.

Pelican Wildfire Consulting is owned and operated by Phil Taylor and Alissa Johnson, both Park City locals. The company was founded after life changes caused Phil to make the tough decision to leave the Federal Firefighting world. Over his career, he saw devastating fires that cost people their homes, businesses, and sometimes their lives. This inspired him to do something about it, and the company was born.
Phil Taylor has over a decade of wildland firefighting and fire mitigation experience. He has worked both as a structural and wildland firefighter and has experience on a city engine and a helicopter crew, as a hotshot, on a wildland engine and a fire use module. His extensive experience in many arenas has afforded him a depth of knowledge in both the operational side of fire as well as the science of how a fire starts, how it behaves, and how to best mitigate a fire situation.

Phil has worked to prevent fires before they start by participating in prescribed burns and mechanical thinning of landscape to prevent wildfires. He has worked with both private and public entities. In addition, he has landscape design and construction experience and has worked for residential landscape firms. Alissa Johnson works closely with Phil, providing valuable consultation in landscape design and business development.
Phil Taylor and Alissa Johnson are Park City locals. Alissa had lived in Park City since 1993 when her family relocated to Park City to encourage Alissa in her pursuit to become a professional ski jumper. Alissa’s family continues to live and work in Park City. Phil moved to Utah while working for the Federal Government as a Wildland Firefighter. He settled in Park City within the last five years. Phil and Alissa have deep roots in the Park City area, and both work to serve the community they love. Read more