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• 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• 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 SierraWere very open and park-like

Defensible Space – PRC 4291

• 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 1Zone 1 extends 30 feet* out from buildings, structures, decks, etc. Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (keep irrigated,

soft vegetation).

Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters. ( Okay to leave 3 inches of duff to protect soil.)

Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet of separation from other trees.

Remove dead branches that hang over your roof and keep branches 10 feet away from your chimney.(it’s okay to leave green branches over 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)

Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.

Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

Zone 1Zone 1 extends 30 feet* out from buildings, structures, decks, etc. Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds; keep 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. ( Okay to leave 2-3 inches of duff to protect soil.)

• Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet of separation from other trees.

• Remove dead branches that hang over your roof and keep branches 10 feet away from your chimney. It’s okay to leave green branches over 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

• Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.

• Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

Zone 2

Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.

Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches if erosion control is an issue.

Remove ladder fuels

* San Diego County requires 50 feet of clearance in zone 1. Check with your local fire department for any additional defensible space or weed abatement ordinances.

Zone 2

• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.

• Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

• Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram)

• Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, duff may be permitted to a depth of 2-3 inches to keep soil cool and prevent erosion control.

• Remove ladder fuels

• * San Diego County requires 50 feet of clearance in zone 1. Check with your local fire 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

• 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 Nevada2014

On Our Websitewww.amadorfiresafe.org

• Fire Plans, maps, programs, weather and active fire resources, planning documents, landscaping

Other Resources:

http://www.fireadapted.org/ Firewise Communities Certification, landscaping