Wednesday, April 18, 2012

RE: [californiadisasters] KCFD Holds Fire Meeting With Residents About Hazard Reduction



The law requires cutting all above 6” (six inches) of combustible fuels AND REMOVING THE cuttings.  Cutting is not enough, remove the fuels.  Limbing up (removal of) low branches and other abatements may be required.  Your fire department is there to assist and guide you (though YOU have to cut it :-) they’ll advise).

 

Also note that the law allows the fire authority to adjust to local conditions, which may be MUCH tighter than expressed here.  The 100’ (or property line whichever is closer) is the BARE MINIMUM, there are several factors that may increase that requirement (slope, aspect, fuel types, previous history, typical weather patterns etc.).

 

Once again, the bottom line is that if you don’t take the time to give your property a chance to survive a disaster, the fire department won’t either.  They’ll drive right on by to save the house(s) that have prepared for the worst.  The unprepared properties are called ‘losers’ and you can make your own inference from that.

 

Rick

 


From: Redhart
 

We are attending. We also are registered weed abatement contractors, so I would like to remind everyone to please follow the recommendations of the Fire Department and clear a minimum of 100 feet of grass and combustibles from your house (or to the property line).  Also, clear out around out buildings that may be further than that...at least 10 feet, and propane tanks.

 

For high risk areas, you must remove/mow grasses and weeds to 100' from your residence (or to the property line) by June 15th, or risk a citation.

 

Also, please remember that the fuel is starting out green and lawn mowing is great for that. But when it dries out, you may want to leave the mowers in the shed and pull out the weed whackers instead.  Every year someone uses a mower on "dry" grass and weeds and seems to start a fire while even trying to reduce the danger. This can happen easily when metal blades from a mower strike hidden rocks or scrap metal and creates sparks.

 

If your house is on a steep slope, you may want to go as far as 200' away from your residence on the down hill side, as flames can burn faster and higher on moderate to steep slopes.

 

Remember to also trim trees up to 6-10 feet above the ground, as low branches can create a "fire ladder" up a tree.

 

Remove combustibles at least 30 feet from your house (fire wood piles, for instance) and rake up dead material and litter.  Be careful of the kind of mulch you use. Stay away from wood and rubber types that combust. You don't really want those against your home.

 

Clean out your gutters!  Litter in the gutters is an easy spark point for embers ...embers can travel more than a mile in good sized fires, creating new spot fires.

 

Redhart

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