Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Not too late for fire prevention around homes

SAN DIEGO — As the county enters the most dangerous part of its fire season, the San Diego County Fire Authority reminds homeowners they still have time to help protect themselves by cutting back weeds, dead and dying vegetation and potentially combustible shrubs and vegetation from around their homes.

Despite the devastating firestorms in 2003 and 2007, wildfires are still a threat within the county and homeowners are urged to help protect themselves and their property.

County codes require homeowners to create 100 feet of defensible space around houses. Ways to do that include keeping irrigated, fire-resistant landscaping around homes trimmed and watered; not planting flammable shrubs and trees beneath eaves and attic vents; trimming trees that overhang or touch homes; and keeping natural vegetation trimmed and thinned.

Homeowners are urged to be careful when creating defensible space. Use gas- and electrical-powered equipment during cooler, less windy hours before 10 a.m., when sparks are not as likely to create accidental fires.

For more information, see the county’s wildfire preparedness guide at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/docs/wildfire_preparedness_guide.pdf.

Visit the Wildfire Zone at http://www.wildfirezone.org and the Burn Institute’s “Living with Wildfire” guide at http://www.burninstitute.org/pdfs/BI-Wildfire-Guide09.pdf.

Also helpful are Cal Fire’s Web site, http://www.fire.ca.gov, and “Fire, Defensible Space and You” at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/fire_resistant.html.

 

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