KELSEYVILLE >> Since it began meeting regularly earlier this year, the Big Valley Advisory Council has not placed on its agenda wildfire preparedness, but the topic was duly noted at the BVAC meeting, September 11.
District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska alerted attendees that valuable Cal Fire resources are available at the website firesafelake.org. But one of the most important initiatives to undertake and to have, a Zone Zero as part of one’s defensible space surrounding the perimeter of a home residence. While fire season has been in place since spring, September is known as ember season, prompted by wind driven events where embers could travel miles and cause severe damage. “It is not something you do once like weeding,” she said. “Pull all the vegetation litter away from trees and make sure there’s no ladder fuels,” Pyska cautioned.
She went on to state that it requires regular maintenance, and homeowners are advised to make sure gutters are cleared and tree branches are cut away from the house. “Right now, laws are changing and a new law in time will mandate a zone zero to have access to fire insurance.”
Zone Zero is defined as starting from the structure to five feet out by Cal Fire. The say keeping the area closest to buildings, structures, and decks clear, will prevent embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home, and the majority of homes lost to wildfire are ignited by flying embers. Embers can travel miles ahead of the active front of wildfires.
Cal Fire also says use hardscape such as gravel, pavers, or concrete, and no combustible bark or mulch. Remove all weeds, leaves and needles from your roof, gutter, deck, porch, stairways, and under any areas of your home. Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet. Also, limit combustible items (like outdoor furniture and planters) on top of decks.
It is also advisable, to relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2. Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors attached to the home with noncombustible alternatives. As well, relocate garbage and recycling containers outside this zone. And consider relocating boats, RVs, vehicles, and other combustible items outside this zone. Meanwhile, for Zone One, keep it lean, clean and green, within 30 feet of the house. And for Zone 2, reduce potential fire fuels within 100 feet.
“Zone Zero is where firefighters go. because they know that house is a house they can save and the firefighters are safe near that structure when spot fires flare up,” she added. Pyska also urged home hardening, yet it involves taking specific steps to make it more resilient.
Home hardening includes using fire-resistant building materials, adopting safe landscaping practices, and implementing preventative measures to reduce fire risk and enhance property safety, according to the Cal Fire website. At a minimum, install a noncombustible gutter cover to reduce the buildup of debris. Exterior siding, which is combustible, has gaps, holes, or rot, and is vulnerable to both embers and flame. Plug or repair all gaps, holes, or rot in your exterior siding. Consider replacing combustible siding with a noncombustible material option.
If a full replacement of your exterior covering is not possible, then consider a partial replacement by using a noncombustible siding material for the bottom two feet from the ground and add metal flashing to protect the bottom edge sheathing.
Concerning fencing; replace attached combustible fencing or gates with a noncombustible option for the first eight feet. Parallel combustible fences on a property should be at least 10 feet away. If closer than the recommended distances, replace with an ignition-resistant or noncombustible fencing option.
What to do about outlier sheds? Ensure the accessory building door is not facing your home. Create a 10 feet ember-resistant zone around the accessory building. Upgrade the accessory building with noncombustible and ignition-resistant materials. Recommendations for combustible sheds are; 50 feet away if larger than 120 ft. square, 40 feet away if between 120 to 64 ft. square, 30 feet away if smaller than 64 ft. square.
Maintaining a Zone Zero and defensible space is going to be a requirement as it moves into enforceable law. Also, insurers are coming to rely upon drone surveillance and satellite footage so, a lot more responsibility will be borne by the homeowner in future years, Pyska cautioned.
