Wildfire Season is Upon Us

With the warm weather and winds, grasses are drying out and can pose a fire hazard.  All residents should inspect their property and cut and remove all dry grasses and dead/dry vegetation from their property.  Notices of this were mailed to all properties advising residents to have this completed no later than Sunday, June 3rd.  Our firefighters, along with Fire Prevention staff from North County Fire Authority, drove through all streets in Brisbane this week (both commercial and residential) and noted any properties that appeared not to be in compliance.  Notices will be sent out next week to all properties that were deemed not in compliance.  Note: All property owners are responsible to abate dead plants, grass and weeds located on their property.  Should a property owner fail to correct an issue the Fire Department deems unsafe, a lien may be placed on the property by the City to recover all of the cost to abate the violations.

Fire Prevention staff also want to remind residents that they should inspect their roofs and gutters and remove pine needles, dry leaves, and debris from them.  It has been found that wind-driven embers crated by burning grasses, shrubs, and trees are one of the largest causes of homes being lost to fire; that dried out debris on your roof is fuel for a fire.  It is widely recommended to install 1/8" to 1/4" metal mesh to protect your attic spaces from ember intrusion.  For more information on creating a proper defensible space and legal requirements, please visit www.readyforwildfire.org.