Wildfire Preparedness Event

With temperatures rising, Cal Fire is increasing the number of staff at the Three Rivers station and is expecting the fire risk to transition to critical levels. With that in mind, the Three Rivers Fire Safe Council and the Tulare County Red Cross are co-hosting a Wildfire Preparedness Event on June 15th from noon to 3pm at the Memorial Building. There will be informational booths and refreshments for sale to support our local schools.

The presentations will start at 1pm, and will feature the following:

• Red Cross –  Wildfire Preparedness 
• Supervisor Eddie Valero
• Richie Sayavong from the California Dept. of Insurance
• Tulare County Forest Health – FIREWISE COMMUNITIES

Guidance from the Fire Safe Council

Defensible Space Clearing:

Defensible space clearing is an essential practice for wildfire safety. It involves creating a buffer zone around your home that is clear of flammable vegetation and materials. This helps to slow the spread of fire and gives firefighters a better chance of containing it. Here’s a breakdown of defensible space clearing by zones:

Zone 1 – 1’ to 5’: Remove all vegetation and flammable ground cover, except plants in moveable in pots.

Zone 2 – 5’ to 30’: Clear ground of dead leaves, branches, etc. Trim tree branches away from buildings (at least 5 feet). Trim dead branches and limb trees up to 6 feet off ground. Maintain a park-like appearance.

Zone 3 – 30’ to 100’: Clear potential ground fuels, limb up trees, and remove dead branches.

Additionally:

• Remove any dead or dying trees from your property.
• Mow your lawn regularly and keep it (or your seasonal grasses and other vegetation) trimmed to a height of no more than 4 inches.
• Make sure your driveway is wide enough and clear of obstructions so that firefighters can easily access your home.
• Do not stack firewood or place containers with flammable liquids against your walls.

Home Hardening:

Home hardening doesn’t have to be overwhelming! It’s about taking small steps to make your home more resistant to flying embers, a major cause of wildfire house destruction. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Clear your roof: Use a blower to remove any leaves, pine needles, or debris that could ignite from embers. Pay close attention to valleys and around chimneys where embers can easily lodge.
2. Trim tree branches: Keep tree branches at least 5 feet from your roof. This reduces the chance of fire climbing from the branches to your house.
3. Clean gutters: Regularly clean your gutters to prevent buildup of leaves and debris that can ignite from embers. Clogged gutters can also cause water damage to your roof, which can weaken it and make it more susceptible to fire.
4. Replace vents with ember screens: Replacing attic and basement vents with 1/8 inch metal mesh screens helps prevent embers from entering your home and starting a fire inside the attic or crawlspace.
5. Clear decks: Remove any flammable furniture or decorations from on or under your decks.
6. Maintain fireplace: Ensure your chimney and fireplace are properly sealed and maintained.

For more information and guidance and to sign up for Fire Safe Council email notifications, go to https://www.3rfsc.org/.

[SOURCE: Three Rivers Fire Safe Council]