BRUSH AND WILDFIRE PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME

More than half of the state's 101 million acres is covered with flammable vegetation, making California the highest fire-risk area in the United States!

Ninety five percent of all wildfires are caused by people. As more people move to and vacation in the state's fire prone urban wildland interface areas (where housing tracts meet rolling foothills and mountainous areas), the risk to life and property increases.

Unfortunately, many of the homeowners and vacationers in these wildfire danger zones are unaware of the land's inherent fire threats.

Scientists estimate every square inch of hillside in Southern California has burned five hundred times in the last 11,000 years. This is an average of one fire every 22 years. People of San Diego County have witnessed more than their share of wildland fires in the last 20 years. The climate, topography and occasional extreme winds make the San Diego County area particularly vulnerable to wildfires. Fortunately, there are many things that the residents of Carlsbad who live in a wildland area can do to protect their property.

Fire protection is everyone's responsibility. This information is intended to provide recommendations on what you can do to make your home as safe as possible from the wildland fire threat.

Before the Fire, Do This!
Take a few minutes to read this information, then sit down with your family to preplan your fire emergency actions and fire prevention activities. History has shown that wildland fires can happen so suddenly and with such intensity that the available firefighting forces are overwhelmed. Often there have not been enough firefighters to protect every structure. The fate of your home and personal property can rest upon your fire prevention and prefire planning.

Wood Roofs
Wood shingle roofs are NO LONGER PERMITTED on new construction or to replace existing roofs. The City of Carlsbad has established standards regulating roofing materials. The replacement of existing roofs with fire retardant roofing materials is now required as replacement becomes necessary and on all new structures. Although some fire retardant materials designed for application to existing wood roofs have been demonstrated to provide a high degree of fire resistance, home owners should be aware that long term fire protection is not guaranteed and additional treatment may be required periodically.

Brush, Weeds & Vegetation
Within 60 feet of structures, re-landscape with low fire resistive plants, such as ground covers that do not transmit fire rapidly. You may retain "specimen native shrubs" if they are trimmed and are maintained free of all dead wood, duff, dry leaves, et cetera.

Note: Prior to removing brush or weeds, contact the Planning Department to ensure you are not in an environmentally sensitive area regulated by State and Federal laws.

For hillside clearing and fire protection planting, use the following guidelines:

	Trees and shrubs should be trimmed away from buildings and chimneys.
	Remove dead leaves and pine needles from roofs and rain gutters.
	Keep your property free of accumulated combustibles such as dried vegetation, cuttings and wood piles.
	Roads and driveways should be well cleared of trees and brush to permit access for fire equipment.
	Make sure your house address is clearly marked and visible with a contrasting background.

For more information on fire resistant landscaping techniques and requirements refer to the City of Carlsbad's Landscape Manual available in the Carlsbad library's reference section. Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas also has a firescape demonstration garden that can be viewed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, by visiting the gardens located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024. There is a $5.00 adult admission fee.

No Burning of Trimmings & Cuttings
No open burning of yard waste, trimmings or cuttings is allowed in Carlsbad except for agricultural purposes. An agricultural burn permit can be obtained by contacting the Carlsbad Fire Department.

Concerns about Brush Growth in your Neighborhood?
Each year the Carlsbad Fire Department inspects over 400 parcels for abatement of fire prone brush and grasses. Property owners are notified in April of each year to clear their parcels, with most complying by a May 15, deadline. After May 15, the Fire Department identifies any non-complying parcels and causes them to be brought into compliance by a city contractor within the next two months. The cost of clearing any non-complying property is then placed on the parcel owner's property tax bill.

If you have a concern about fire prone brush near your home, please call the Carlsbad Fire Department at 760-602-4668. Someone will investigate whether brush removal or other mitigation measures are necessary.

For more information on Wildland fire safety see:
National Wildland Fire Homepage