It
’s almost fire season throughout California. The California
Department of Forestry beginning Monday will increase staffing
levels and open seasonal fire stations throughout the state,
including four in Santa Clara County: Coyote, Almaden, Stevens
Creek and Pacheco.
It’s almost fire season throughout California. The California Department of Forestry beginning Monday will increase staffing levels and open seasonal fire stations throughout the state, including four in Santa Clara County: Coyote, Almaden, Stevens Creek and Pacheco. The Santa Clara County Fire Department, which serves Morgan Hill, also is gearing up its fire-fighting efforts. With rainfall totals well above normal this spring and winter, wildland grasses have flourished, creating an abundance of fuel to burn. And with summer weather patterns already getting established, it’s time to start thinking about making your home and neighborhood more fire safe.
Fire officials said it is too early for any doom-and-gloom predictions about the impending fire season, but with the rainfall pretty much finished for the year, they are urging property and home owners to clear away fire fuel before it becomes a hazard. Since January, there have already been more than 1,200 fires in the state, according to the CDF.
The effort included firefighters at “checkpoints” in certain unincorporated areas, such as those near Croy and Eastman canyons west of Morgan Hill – where a destructive 2002 fire burned 3,200 acres – and handed out weed abatement and fire safety information.
Firefighters will be on duty around the clock, ready to respond, but everyone, especially those in hillside areas, can help by taking some simple precautions:
n Trim any tree branches that extend over your roof and trim trees at least 10 feet from your chimney
n Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves and rain gutters
n Take care when grilling or barbecuing
n Consider using fire-resistant plants in your landscaping and maintain them with regular watering and weeding
n Mow the lawn in the morning when it’s cool and moist
n Around homes in the city: Keep weeds mowed during dry months – excessive tall, dry weeds that cover the majority of a lot may be considered a hazard
n Undeveloped lots in the city: Disc the entire parcel and mow strip along right-of-way
n Undeveloped lots in hillside area: Maintain mowed firebreak (not more than 4 inches high) 15 feet wide around entire perimeter of property
n If applicable clear weeds and brush to provide a 30-foot defensible space around your home. The area closest to your home is the most important to protect
n Grazing or agricultural land: May be exempted from weed abatement, but dry vegetation should be grazed or mowed to maximum of four inches by July 4
More than 1,700 structures are destroyed by wildfire each year within CDF’s jurisdiction alone. If we all take these simple steps and use common sense, we’ll keep ourselves and our property safer. It’s not a lot to ask and the payoff is enormous. For more information visit www.fire.ca.go
