Time Is Running Out

Time is running out for removing vegetation and debris before fire season starts in April-May. Early removal and maintenance of excess vegetation, brush, and other fire hazards within defensible space zones is your best defense. From a low fire hazard perspective, Winter months with high humidity and rain are the best times to remove vegetation, brush, and down or dying trees.  Removal of tall, drying vegetation and grasses are best accomplished during the Spring months before the vegetation becomes too dry. It is extremely critical that removal and maintenance occur when fire risks are low. It’s never safe to remove vegetation or maintain defensible space zones when it is HIGH FIRE SEASON

Our own HOA Rule 2, based on County Code 9.32, requires annual fuel abatement measures, including: 

1. Maintain one hundred foot (100′) defensible space around all buildings/structures. 
2. Keeping annual grasses and weeds at four (4) inches or less. 
3. Limbing tree branches six feet from the ground and removing dead wood. 
4. Avoiding dense accumulations of ladder fuels. 
5. Removing climbing vines from trees and structures. 
6. Ensuring gutters are clear of debris. 

Note that County code also requires that owners maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance of vegetation next to the roadside.