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First - Learn how fires spread ... What you can do ...
Fires spread in a "chain reaction" by first, drying, heating and then igniting the adjacent "pre-heated" combustibles in the presence of air (oxygen).

The greater the distance between fire and adjacent combustibles, the longer it takes to dry and heat.  This reduces the possibility that the fire will actually spread in the "chain reaction".

 1. Remove weeds and any dead vegetation from your yard.

2. Thin trees or large bushes and remove any dead branches.  When possible create a light "canopy appearance" and remove "ladder fuels" below branches which could catch fire and then spread fire to the tree above.

3. Remove leaves and pine needles from your roof.

4. Remove dead palm fronds.

5. Remove tree limbs which are within 10' of chimney outlets.

6. Remove or severely thin junipers wherever possible.  They are one of the most dangerous plants because they have a high concentration of flammable oils and they usually retain dead growth which easily ignites.

7. Replace your chimney spark arrester if necessary.

8. Call Edison to evaluate any trees which are growing into power lines.

9. If you have a wood-shingle roof, consider replacing it with a non-combustible roofing.  Wood shingles easily catch fire.

10. Be observant and promptly report any odor of smoke or unusual observation of people in brush areas.

If you live in La Verne and have other question, please do not hesitate to call Fire Prevention at (909) 596-5991.  We will be happy to meet with you and review any fire safety concern at you house.

 
So ...
It is important to remove combustibles such as lawn furniture, weeds, etc., between your house and threatening brush fire.  Increasing the distance between combustibles will reduce the chance that a fire will spread from the brushfire to your house.
Also ...
It is especially important to removing dry "fine fuels" such as dead weeds, trees or bushes, which have large surface areas compared to their weight.  When they are held upright (as leaves in a dead bush), they burn quickly because air (oxygen) and heat can easily contact all surfaces.  Similarly, a piece of paper held vertically, could easily catch on fire and burn quickly.

However, if those same "fine fuels" are on the ground as mulch, they do not pose a serious fire problem because air is prevented from easily contacting the underside of the fuel and if fire does occur, the heat rises (convection) and does not easily pre-heat the adjacent mulch.  Similarly, it would be difficult to ignite a piece of paper which is laying on a flat surface.