CREATING “DEFENSIBLE SPACE”
Defensible Space is the landscape between your house and the potential fuel source (dense stands of native or naturalized vegetation) that is your responsibility as a homeowner to maintain to reduce fire risk. The City’s Municipal Code* regulates brush management and creates two Brush Management Zones with different requirements. The Code was amended in October 2005 to make these Zones total 100 feet of defensible space from the structure. (However, your property may be governed by a previous entitlement requiring different zone widths. If in doubt, check with the Fire-Rescue Department or Development Services Department before you begin your work!)
ZONE 1:
␣ Generally must be permanently irrigated to maintain succulent growth. ␣ Shall consist primarily of low-growing plant material, less than 4 feet in height with the
exception of trees. Plants shall be low-fuel and fire-resistive. ␣ All portions of trees, other than the trunk, which extend within ten feet of a structure or the
outlet of any chimney must be cut back. ␣ Trees adjacent to or overhanging any building must be free of dead wood. ␣ Roof and rain gutters of any structure must be free of leaves, needles, or other dead
vegetative growth.
␣ Irrigation from Zone 1 must not run into Zone 2 as it encourages growth of
flammable vegetation.
Brush Management Zone 2 is the remaining 65 feet that extends beyond Zone 1 and is usually comprised of native and/or naturalized vegetation.
ZONE 2:
␣ Can have NO permanent irrigation. ␣ Must be thinned and pruned on a seasonal basis to reduce the fuel-load of vegetation
greater than 24 inches in height without harming native plants, soil or habitats, as described below.
** Check your insurance policy. It might require more than 100 feet of Defensible Space!**
Handouts:
Bulletin #1 Brush Management Guide
Bulletin #2 Fire Safety and Brush Management for Private Property
(includes Fire Safety Checklist - Roof, Landscape, Yard, Access, Fire Escape Plan)
http://www.californiachaparral.com/images/Vegetation_Management_CitySanDiego_2004.pdf
Official Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map- City of San Diego, inc. Emerald Hills
http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/pdf/maps/grid16.pdf
Family Disaster Plan and Personal Survival Guide ( San Diego County Office of Emergency Services)
http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/oes/docs/FamilyDisasterPlan.pdf
Plan Familiar de Desastres y Guía de Supervivencia Personal (en espanol)
Wildfires - SD County Defensible Space Days ( June 10-12, 2011)
http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/oes/ready/wildfire_campaign/Wildfire.html
Includes info./ videos from "Before the Threat" DVD passed out at the May/June EHNC meetings
List of suggested plants for Defensible Space (County of San Diego)
- Grow close to the ground.
- Have a low sap or resin content.
- Grow without accumulating dead branches, needles or leaves.
- Are easily maintained and pruned.
- Are drought-tolerant.
http://sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/docs/SuggestedPlants.pdf
Make sure that your cell phone has an ICE phone number listed. What is ICE, you ask? In Case of Emergency
Put "ICE" and the name of your emergency contact in your phone list, for emergency providers to know who to call first.
Alert San Diego - register your cell phone, VOIP phone and email address to be alerted of an emergency or disaster in the County of San Diego that puts you at risk
(Home phones/land lines are already listed in the region's 9-1-1 database).
http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/oes/ready/signup.html
Add to your Emergency Supply Checklist
http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/checklist.pdf
Thank you to Edward Baskin, San Diego Fire Bureau/ Fire Rescue, Proactive/ Complaint Fire Prevention Code Compliance Officer for the presentations at the May and June meetings of the Emerald Hills Neighborhood Council, and assisting President Gayle Reid and other members regarding Code Compliance in the neighborhood.
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