Protecting Your Family & Your Home From Wildland/Vegetation Fires

Many people in our district live in what is called the “urban/wildland interface”—those areas where developed property butts up against the natural-state wildland—which exposes them to the consequences of wildland fires.

Homeowner responsibility is key to urban/wildland interface fire safety. If you live in the urban/wildland interface, you must take special precautions to protect your family and property. Wildland fires move swiftly. Because the fire is in wildland—not in the middle of town—it can take the fire engines a long time to get there. Steep terrain, dense brush, poor quality roads create further delays. Significant burning can occur before the fire department arrives. Therefore it is critical that property owners give the fire department a head start by creating what is called “defensible space” around their homes.

Under California law you must create 100 feet of defensible space clearance around your home and any other structures on your property. This defensible space will only dramatically increases the chance of your home surviving a wildfire, it provides added safety for the firefighters who are working to protect your home during a wildland fire. Wildland fire season generally runs from May through October, when high temperatures and low humidity combine to dry vegetation.

Following are defensible space guidelines. If your property does not meet any/all of these requirements, please bring it into compliance NOW, before the dangerous high-heat, low-humidity weather arrives. (Further information is available at www.firesafesonoma.org; read or download the “Living with Fire in Sonoma County” guide. You may also obtain a copy at Windsor Fire Station 1, 8200 Old Redwood Hwy.)

• Create a “LEAN, CLEAN and GREEN ZONE” by removing all flammable vegetation within 30 feet immediately surrounding your home

• Create a “REDUCED FUEL ZONE” in the remaining 70 feet, or to your property line.

• Remove lower tree branches at least six feet from the ground

• Landscape with fire resistant plants

• Maintain all plants with regular water, and keep dead braches, leaves and needles removed.

• When clearing vegetation, use care when operating equipment such as lawnmowers. One small spark caused by the blade hitting a rock can start a big fire. A string trimmer is much safer. If you must mow, do so only in the morning when temperatures are low, the air is still, and the fuel is still damp with dew.

• Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles

• Locate butane and propane tanks at least 30 feet from any structure and maintain 10 feet of clearance

• Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves, and other debris from your yard

Additional things you can do to optimize your safety:

• Post your house address so it is easily visible from the street, especially at night
• Address numbers should be at least 3 inches tall and on a contrasting background
• Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood
• Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways; further is preferable
• Cut back overhanging tree branches above access roads so that fire apparatus (tall and wide) can reach you
• Construct roads that allow two-way traffic – provide pull-out lane, for example
• Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have turn-around areas wide enough for emergency vehicles
• Design bridges to carry heavy emergency vehicles. Contact your local building official for engineering requirements
• Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as dead-end roads, weight and height limitations, etc.

Roof

• Install a fire resistant roof. Contact your local building official for current roofing requirements.
• Remove dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters
• Remove dead branches overhanging your roof and keep branches 10 feet from your chimney
• Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a nonflammable screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh

Emergency Water Supply

• Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards through one of the following: A) a community water/hydrant system B) a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors C) a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on your property (a pond or pool)
• Clearly mark all emergency water sources
• Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source. If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure.

Past Monthly Safety Messages:

Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: October is Disaster Preparedness Month
Monthly Safety Message: Wildland/Vegetation Fires
Monthly Safety Message: The Do's and DO NOTs of Calling 9-1-1
Monthly Safety Message: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Use Caution with Turkey Fryers
Monthly Safety Message: Tips for Halloween Trick-or-Treating
Monthly Safety Message: The Do's and DO NOTs of Calling 9-1-1
Monthly Safety Message: 4th of July Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Defensible Space
Monthly Safety Message: Disaster Preparedness
Monthly Safety Message: Move Right for Sirens & Lights
Monthly Safety Message: Saving A Life…Heart Attack & Stroke
Monthly Safety Message: Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child
Monthly Safety Message: Holiday Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Fireplace, Wood Stove, & Space Heaters
Monthly Safety Message: Candle Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Disaster Preparedness
Monthly Safety Message: How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Monthly Safety Message: Wildland Fire Safety Tips
Monthly Safety Message: Water Safety
Monthly Safety Message: Rags & Ashes — Caution Required
Monthly Safety Message: Change your Smoke Detector Battery
Monthly Safety Message: How to Survive a Fire in Your Home

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