Encinitas Fire Marshal Gives Tips on Protecting Home from Wild Fires

City of Encinitas:

With the recent Chariot Fire in the Laguna Mountains and Idyllwild Fire uppermost in homeowners' minds, Encinitas Fire Marshal Robert Scott states, “Fire season is year-round. It’s not a question of IF, but WHEN the next wildfire will occur.”

He notes, “Living in Southern California, especially here in North County, is wonderful. However, for homeowners who live near brush-covered areas, wildfires pose a significant threat to people, property and our community.”

Once started, wildfires spread quickly due to embers and firebrands that can travel one mile or more ahead of a fire. Wildfires can burn out of control and be difficult to extinguish due to many factors, including terrain, weather, lack of emergency vehicle access, combustible construction and landscaping. 

Defensible Space is Key

Scott strongly advises, “Homeowners must be vigilant by providing adequate ‘defensible space’ around their home.” Defensible space is an area that extends up to 100 feet from your home. When properly maintained, it gives your home more than a 90% chance of surviving a wildfire.

Adequate defensible space can be achieved by following the three R’s:

• Remove dead or dry brush within the first 100 feet of your home. Keep rain gutters clear of leaves and debris. Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Reduce vegetation by pruning and thinning natural vegetation up to 50%. Trim low-hanging tree branches a minimum of six feet above ground level and ten feet from rooftop and chimney outlets.
• Replace hazardous vegetation such as shrubs, trees and groundcover within 30 feet of your home. Replant with fire-resistant plants and trees.

Visit Our Firewise Garden for Landscaping Tips

The Fire Department has created a Firewise Demonstration Garden at Sun Vista Park, 2011 Avenida La Posta in Encinitas. The garden is intended to provide residents with examples of fire-resistant plants that can be used to create defensible space around homes that slows the spread of wildfires. As garden visitors discover, firewise landscaping can be both protective and attractive.

Take Additional Precautions

In addition to lack of defensible space, another major cause of a fire spreading into a home is the intrusion of embers through attics, eaves and/or roof vents. If you live in a fire-prone area, consider replacing your vents with fire-safe screened vents that resist intrusion of embers. These vent covers are available at most hardware stores and are easy to install.

Fire Marshal Scott concludes, “Wildfires are unpredictable and dangerous. Now is the time to prepare. Protect your family, home and community by providing and maintaining adequate defensible space.”

For more information, visit these websites or call your Encinitas Fire Department at 760-633-2800.

• California Emergency Management Agency www.calema.ca.gov/PlanningandPreparedness/Pages/Fires.aspx
• Encinitas Fire Department www.cityofencinitas.org/index.aspx?page=193
• Ready San Diego www.readysandiego.org/