Fire Chief: now is time for residents to create fire `buffer zones’

Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins today urgedresidents to begin making preparations for fire season, mainly by clearing theimmediate space around their homes of deadwood, overgrowth and anything elsethat might fuel a brush fire.

“With summer rapidly approaching, vegetation will continue to dry out,creating even more dangerous fire conditions than we are alreadyexperiencing,” Hawkins said.

“I urge residents and property owners to do their part in not onlyprotecting your home and family against an approaching wildland fire, but helpto protect our firefighters from potential harm when they are tasked withprotecting homes that do not have defensible space, as required by law,” hesaid.

The California Public Resources Code identifies defensible space as thearea extending 100 feet from a dwelling.

There are two so-called “buffer zones.” Zone No. 1 is the first 30feet from the house, and includes outdoor decks, sheds and similar structures,according to the fire department.

Zone No. 1 must be cleared of dead grass, weeds and plants, as well asexposed wood piles. Fallen pine needles, leaves and other debris from trees andshrubs should be cleared from yards, rain gutters and roofs.

Dead branches and live tree limbs should not be closer than 10 feet froma chimney, while all fire-prone shrubbery should be cleared away from decksand windows, according to the fire department.

Zone No. 2 is the space extending 30-100 feet from the primaryresidence. According to the fire department, all fallen leaves, twigs, bark,cones and branches — with some exceptions for erosion control — should beremoved, and “sufficient vertical and horizontal spacing” should be allowedbetween trees and bushes.

Failure to maintain a property in accordance with state and localordinances can result in fines. In the city of Riverside, the Department ofCode Enforcement monitors properties for compliance.

The fire department emphasized the need for property owners to becareful about they type of equipment used for brush clearance. Gasoline-poweredweed eaters, mowers, tractors, chainsaws and harvesters must be fitted withspark arresters.

County residents were encouraged to check out the following website forguidelines on brush removal: readyforwildfire.org.