Dear District Residents:                                     

Here are some of the things you can do to improve your defensible space: 

   Clear your roof and gutters of leaves – use screens to keep the gutters clean.

   Avoid the use of plastic gutters – they can bring a grass fire up to your roof.

   Select fire-resistant curtains for all large window areas.

   When re-roofing, select metal, tile, or fiberglass – avoid wood or asphalt.

   Make sure your chimney is equipped with a metal screen

   Make sure all attic vents and air intakes are covered with ¼-inch metal screens to prevent embers (and furry friends) from getting into   your attic.

   Enclose all open foundations with ¼-inch metal screens to prevent embers from blowing into leaf piles that may accumulate there.

   Keep leaves and other organic matter (fuel) cleared from your property.

   Remove all “ladder” fuels from near your home.  A ladder fuel brings the fire to your home.  An old cedar fence can be a ladder fuel if it brings the fire from the creek behind your home up to your roof joists.

   Trim all cedars below 10 –12 feet above the ground—they will be healthier and they will look better.

   Remove all small cedars below 10 feet in height and replace them with oak and other more fire-resistant species.

   Remove dead limbs from all trees—they provide fuel that can kill the tree during a wildfire.

   Keep all trees at least ten feet from the house and try to keep all cedars at least 30 feet away.  If you have a shade tree (including “keeper” cedars) that are closer, make sure the tree is always well-watered and trim all low-hanging branches that are below the edge of the roof line—that way, if it burns, it may not take your home with it.

   Keep well-watered vegetation and ground cover, including grass, adjacent to your home as a fuel break.

   Store flammables such as firewood, gasoline, and compost at least 30 feet from your home.

 

Remember, if you would like the Fire Department’s suggestions on improving your survivability, please call us at 327-9405 ext 20.

 

Gary Warren, Chief

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 Last updated 05/31/2006 return to main page