Transcript Amador Fire Safe Council

Amador Fire Safe
Council
Cathy Koos Breazeal, Executive Director
UCCE Master Gardener & EMT Lockwood FPD
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Amador Fire Safe
Council is to protect the people of Amador
County and their property from the
catastrophic effects of wildfire through
outreach and education, innovation and
action.
• 501c3 Nonprofit, stand-alone agency, operate solely on grants
Free Programs and Projects
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Low income senior and disabled defensible space
Community roadside chipper
Community Wildfire Protection Plans
Landscape-scale shaded fuel breaks
Public outreach and education
Founded the animal evacuation and shelter group
• All these programs and projects are grant-funded and offered to the community at
no cost
Community Wildfire Protection Plans
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Driven by the National Fire Plan of 2002
Countywide Plan - 2005
Pioneer/Volcano completed early 2012
Greater Pine Grove – 2013
High Country – in progress – watch for stakeholder meetings
Fiddletown – just starting
• Plans include: fire risk, fire history, assets at risk, neighborhood risks and
evacuation plans
• Plans also designate projects by priority, which drives future grant funding
http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/preparing-for-a-wildfire/
Before Settlement, the forests of the Sierra
Were very open and park-like
Defensible Space – PRC 4291
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It’s the “new” law – 2006
Previous law was 30 feet perimeter around the structure
Current law - 100 feet OR the Property Line – whichever comes first
Broken into 2 zones– first 30 feet around the structure; 70 feet beyond
Structure – house, garage, barn, well house (walls, roof)
Green, Clean, Lean
Zone 1
Zonestructures,
1
Zone 1 extends 30 feet* out from buildings,
decks, etc. Remove all dead
Zone 1 extends 30 feet* out from
buildings,
structures,
decks,
etc. Remove
all dead plants, grass and weeds; keep
plants,
grass and
weeds (keep
irrigated,
soft vegetation).
irrigated, soft vegetation; keep mulch very thin or use gravel. Embers/fire brands.
Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters. (
• Remove deadOkay
or dry
leaves
and pine
needles
fromsoil.)
your yard, roof and rain gutters. ( Okay to leave 2-3 inches of
to leave
3 inches
of duff
to protect
duff to protect soil.)
Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet of separation from other
• Trim trees regularly
trees. to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet of separation from other trees.
• Remove dead
branches
that
hang over
keep
branches
10branches
feet away 10
from
Remove
dead
branches
thatyour
hangroof
overand
your
roof
and keep
feetyour
awaychimney. It’s okay to
leave green branches
over
the roof, but
theover
chimney.
from your
chimney.(it’s
okay10to feet
leaveaway
green from
branches
the roof, but 10 feet away from the
chimney)
• Relocate wood piles into Zone 2. Clear all brush/grass/trees at least 10 feet from propane tank
Relocate wood piles into Zone 2. (Clear all brush/grass/trees at least 10 feet from propane
• Remove vegetation
tank) and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.
• Create a separation
trees,
shrubs
could
suchand
as under
patio furniture,
Removebetween
vegetation
and
itemsand
thatitems
couldthat
catch
fire catch
from fire,
around
decks. wood piles, swing
sets, etc.
Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as
patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.
Zone 2
Zone 2
• Cut or mow annual
a maximum
of 4 inches.
Cut or grass
mow down
annualtograss
down toheight
a maximum
height of 4 inches.
• Create horizontal
spacing
between
shrubs
and trees.
(Seeand
diagram)
Create
horizontal
spacing
between
shrubs
trees. (See diagram)
• Create verticalCreate
spacing
between
grass,between
shrubs grass,
and trees.
(Seeand
diagram)
vertical
spacing
shrubs
trees. (See diagram)
• Remove fallenRemove
leaves, needles,
twigs,needles,
bark, cones,
small
branches.
However,
duffHowever,
may be permitted
to a depth of
fallen leaves,
twigs,and
bark,
cones,
and small
branches.
they
2-3 inches to may
keepbe
soilpermitted
cool andto
prevent
erosion
control.
a depth
of 3 inches
if erosion control is an issue.
• Remove ladder
fuels ladder fuels
Remove
• * San Diego County
requires
50 feet
of clearance
1. Check
with1.your
local
fireyour
department
* San Diego
County
requires
50 feet in
ofzone
clearance
in zone
Check
with
local firefor any additional
defensible space
or weed abatement
ordinances.
department
for any additional
defensible space or weed abatement ordinances.
Curb Appeal
• Triage ahead of fire
• Clearly visible, reflective
address sign
• Is your driveway wide enough
for an engine?
• Do you have a knox box or
other aid to open a locked
gate?
• Is your driveway clear or is it a
tree tunnel?
• Firefighter safety
• Is there a turnaround at the
end? (60 foot Y)
8 homes are at the end of this road
• Agency triage prior to entry
may preclude assistance
• Are there turnarounds,
hammerheads, or laybys on
your road?
Low overhead clearance on gate
• Does your gate have adequate
overhead and side-to-side
clearance for a fire engine or
box-style ambulance?
Reflective metal street signs are
code on private roads
What is Firewise and Fire-Adapted
Communities?
• Firewise is a national program to help educate homeowners who live in the
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) to better be prepared for wildfire
• Firewise Community Certification
• Fire-Adapted Communities is a national multi-agency umbrella program
encompassing Fire Safe, Firewise, Take Responsibility, and other programs
• Learn more at www.fireadapted.org
• Excellent tool for promoting disaster
awareness and readiness in your immediate
neighborhood.
• Great choice for a Firewise Communities
project
• Gather neighbors, draw a map showing
streets, house numbers and # of residents
in each home, contact information
• Special needs such as elderly, latch key
children
• AFSC can assist with development
Sheltering for you and your pets
• Leave early – don’t wait
• Animal Control coordinates with Red Cross for combined human and pet
shelters
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Post Katrina Federal Pet Act – don’t leave home without ‘em
ACART activated by Animal Control
Will set up shelter for evacuated pets adjacent to human shelter
Prepare a Go Bag for each family member and each of your pets
A Homeowner’s Guide
to Living in the Forest
of the
Sierra Nevada
2014
On Our Website
www.amadorfiresafe.org
• Fire Plans, maps, programs, weather and active fire resources, planning
documents, landscaping
Other Resources:
http://www.fireadapted.org/ Firewise Communities Certification,
landscaping