By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Since 2014, the Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council has applied for and received grants to help “in a reactive mode – after you get a notice.”
That’s what Laura Dyberg, the Council’s president and CEO, said as she announced the formation of a new home assessment program.
The program will help homeowners identify wildfire vulnerabilities and give them guidance on how to overcome them – protecting their homes before a wildfire occurs.
To that end, the MRFSC has had defensible space assessors trained. Once the program is launched, homeowners can request to participate. An assessor will visit the property, armed with a checkoff list of potential issues.
They will look for combustible materials within Zone 0 (0-5 feet from the home), which Dyberg said is likely to be enacted this year. They will check the roof, gutters, decks, steps and siding, making sure they are free of flammable materials and debris. There should be no vegetation touching the home.
From 5-30 feet from the home – Zone 1 – all dead or dry plants, grass, weeds and flammable debris should be removed. Tree branches should be pruned to create a 10-foot clearance from chimneys. Ladder fuels should be removed. Wood piles should be relocated outside Zone 1, unless in a fire-resistant enclosure.
In Zone 2 (30-100 feet from the home), the density of trees and brush should be reduced. Grass should be mowed to three to four inches. Fallen leaves, needles and leaves deeper than three inches should be removed. Trees should be trimmed up to six feet above the ground.
In addition to the grounds, the assessors will examine the home itself for home hardening features. They will look at the roof; gutters; vents and openings; windows; walls and siding; eaves, soffits and fascia; decks, porches and balconies; fences and gates; garage and exterior doors; sheds and outbuildings; driveways and access; water supply and hoses.
In the past, Dyberg noted, some homeowners and contractors went beyond what was needed, incurring unnecessary expense.
“We want people to know what the needs are, rather than guessing,” she said.
The assessors will leave the homeowners with a sheet indicating work that should be done that they can share with their contractor.
When asked how the assessors are being paid, Dyberg said that funding comes from grants the fire safe council already has. She added that the assessors cannot charge for their services; they will be paid a flat rate per property by the MRFSC.
The MRFSC is currently seeking funding for home hardening. They currently have grant funds to help with abatement and the removal of hazardous trees.
“This is our effort to help our communities be more prepared,” Dyberg said. She anticipates the program launching in the spring.
For more information on the MRFSC, visit firesafenow.org.
0 Comments