Amador County – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Amador-El Dorado Unit launched its “Ready-Set-Go!” fire and life safety campaign Monday.

Teri Mizuhara of the Amador-El Dorado Unit said the unit released part one of its comprehensive educational program: “Surviving a Wildfire.” Unit Chief Kelly Keenan in the release said “living in the Sierra Nevada foothills is a dream come true but with that dream comes a responsibility that many urban and/or suburban dwellers do not face.”

He said “fire is a natural part of our ecosystem” clearing weeds and brush creates “a healthy forest dynamic. But with so many homes scattered throughout the rural foothills, naturally occurring fire is not allowed to do what it should because fire agencies must suppress fires that threaten lives and property.” ¶ Keenan said “people must do their part and create a space around their homes where fire can be better controlled as it approaches.”

“Defensible space” works, he said, and “creating a buffer zone between your home and the radiant heat or flying embers. These embers can destroy homes and even entire neighborhoods that are far from the actual flame front of a wildfire.”

Keenan said “wind driven embers can fly up to one mile during a wildland fire,” so “hardening” your “home with fire resistive material, creating a solid buffer zone of defensible space” is critical.

Keenan broke down defensible space into zones. He said “Zone One” extends up to 30 feet from every structure on the property, or to the property line if it is closer. Remove all dead and dying vegetation, and also leaf litter from the roof and gutters. Relocate woodpiles well away from the home. Trim trees so that they are a minimum of 10 feet from the chimney and roof line. Remove “ladder fuels,” which are “low-level vegetation that could allow fire to spread from the ground to shrubs and bushes to the tree canopies.”

“Zone Two” extends from 30 feet to 100 feet, or to your property line whichever is closer. “The key is to keep plant material separated from each other both horizontally and vertically. This prevents the vegetation from acting like a ladder and allowing the fire to move from the ground to the tree canopies.” Cut annual grasses down to a maximum of four inches in height.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.