County requests more support for brush clearing

Two recommendations for better fire prevention were forwarded to appropriate State of California representatives at the request of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote January 29 directs the county’s Chief Administrative officer to draft a letter for the signature of board chairman Greg Cox urging increased funding for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s vegetation management program and indicating the county’s support for changing the state code to increase the allowable defensible space around structures from 100 to 300 feet.

“We know that brush clearing works,” said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price. “Adequate responsible brush clearing is a proactive way to combat a serious threat in our region.”

Vegetation management includes not only adequate defensible space around structures but also removing dead and dying trees, prescribing controlled burns, maintaining fire breaks, and inspecting properties.

“Vegetation management is the single most important thing that we can do in managing and trying to protect against another wildfire,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has an aggressive vegetation management program in place but does not have adequate funding to pursue fuel treatment projects and also carry out property inspections.

The supervisors’ letters to Governor Schwarzenegger and the San Diego County delegation of the state legislature express the supervisors’ support for increased funding and additional staffing for the Cal Fire vegetation management program.

The county has previously supported a change in the state code to increase the allowable defensible space around homes and other structures from 100 to 300 feet, and State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth has led efforts to change the state code.

Those efforts have not been successful in the past, but the supervisors’ letters to the governor and state legislators indicate the supervisors’ support to increase the allowable defensible space.