DEFENSIBLE SPACE - IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY & THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST FIRE There are two zones around your home. LEAN, CLEAN & GREEN IS ZONE 1. This best describes the area of 30 feet immediately surrounding your house or other structures on your property. Remove all flammable vegetation and any dead or dying plants. Single trees or other vegetation that is trimmed and well pruned and maintained is acceptable. Shorter plants (less than 2 feet) are safer than taller ones. If kept green, grass and non-woody flowers are better choices than shrubs and trees. REDUCED FUEL IS ZONE 2. This is the remaining 70 feet or to the property line, for the total of 100 feet. In this zone you must remove all surface litter such as fallen leaves, needles, twigs, cones, small branches, etc. Grasses should not exceed 4 inches in height. In some situations where necessary to stabilize the soil, grasses may reach a height of 18 inches.

People should take advantage of the winter months to trim up trees while the limbs are bare, to clear away dead brush and to put in some new fire resistive plants. Making your home fire safe is a YEAR ROUND JOB. Not just in the springtime. Starting in January 2007 CAL FIRE and Tehama County Fire Department personnel will be doing a county wide canvas of neighborhoods and meeting with residents to discuss how to make their home safe from fire and how to comply with the State Law. California law (PRC4291) requires property owners and/or renters to create 100 feet of defensible space around all structures. Of course you can always contact the nearest fire station and set up an appointment that is convenient for you and the firefighters.

A good thought to remember is that if your property is not protected by required defensible space and is unsafe for you, it will also be unsafe for firefighters trying to save your home during a wildfire.For any additional information you may contact the Fire Prevention Bureau personnel, 528-5199.

Children & Fire – Tehama County Fire Department along with CDF have a Juvenile Intervention Program for young people who start fires. This program is also available to parents who believe that their child has a tendency to play with fire.
Contact Mickie Jakez, Fire Prevention Specialist/Juvenile Intervention Officer at 528-5199 to arrange for a conference.