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Getting tough on fire prevention |
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Saturday, 04 July 2009 |
Fire Safety Tip of the Week
By Brent Harper, Fire Chief
Mammoth Lakes Fire Dept.
 Over the next few weeks, we will institute the “ugly side” of fire prevention.
As most of you are aware, we have enacted a defensible space ordinance based on California state laws and standards. Using the requirements of that ordinance we have been doing property inspections for more than two years. Many of you have been great in developing a defensible space around your home.
Unfortunately, some have not.
This year we will re-inspect homes and issue citations to those who have not cleaned up their property – the first violation is up to $500. This will be due and payable at the end of September, if you haven’t rectified the situation. We would rather see the $500 go toward cleaning the property.
Subsequent violations are also up to $500 with the third violation charging the property owner with a misdemeanor, at which point we will take steps to have the property cleaned up by a contractor and billed back to the property owner. In addition, this information will be made available to local insurance companies.
The fire department endeavors to be the “good guys.” We don’t like to issue citations or fine the members of our community, but we have a responsibility to make this a fire-safe community. Various property owners who have created an excellent defensible space complain to us almost daily about the overgrown and trashy properties of their neighbors.
As many of you from Southern California know, these same ordinances are being enacted throughout California. In fact, we tend to be more lenient.
Firewood
We will also start handing out notices concerning firewood. Our ordinance requires that all firewood be stored at least 30 feet from the structure from June through September. We do allow smaller stacks of firewood to be covered by fire-resistant tarps; these covers must be fire resistant. If the firewood is not moved or covered within 30 days of notification, we will issue a citation.
Firewood is one of the most dangerous components to the spread of wildfire through a community like ours. When I lived just outside of Reno, I moved the firewood 50 feet from our house. When a fire went through our property, the burning firewood still scorched the side of my house.
Some of you may still feel that this is not fair. You are always welcome to attend our Board of Fire Commissioner meetings, which are usually held on the third Tuesday of the month, at 2 p.m. Contact our office to confirm the date and time (934-2300). Better yet, join our Mammoth Lakes Fire Safe Council, which meets the third Wednesday of the month, 5 p.m. at our Station on Main Street. This is an excellent venue to express your concerns, talk with your neighbors, and get up-to-date information on what we are doing to make this a fire-safe community. All of our ordinances are posted at www.mammothlakesfd.com. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 13 July 2009 )
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