The California Department of Forestry opened fire season in San
Benito County on Monday and with about 137 percent more rain in the
area than usual, wildland grasses have flourished creating an
abundance of fuel to burn.
The California Department of Forestry opened fire season in San Benito County on Monday and with about 137 percent more rain in the area than usual, wildland grasses have flourished creating an abundance of fuel to burn.
Since January, there have already been more than 1,200 fires in the state, according to the CDF Web site. And with summer weather patterns getting established, it’s time to start thinking about your home’s safety.
Local firefighters have been training this month to prepare for wildfire season and a total of 75 paid, volunteer and seasonal firefighters at the county’s four stations will be protecting county residents and their homes this summer, but we can make their jobs easier by taking some simple precautions:
Clear weeds and brush to provide a 30-foot defensible space around your home. The area closest to your home is the most important to protect
Trim any tree branches that extend over your roof and trim trees at least 10 feet from your chimney
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves and rain gutters
Take care when grilling or barbecuing
Mow the lawn in the morning when it’s cool and moist
Consider using fire-resistant plants in your landscaping and maintain them with regular watering and weeding
More than 1,700 structures are destroyed by wildfire each year within CDF’s jurisdiction alone. If we all take these simple steps and use common sense, we’ll keep ourselves and our property safer. It’s not a lot to ask and the payoff is enormous.
For more information visit www.fire.ca.gov.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to ed****@fr***********.com.
