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DEFENSIBLE SPACE & HOME EVALUATION NOTICE

May 11, 2020

Dear Resident,

Fire Department’s throughout Marin have been in continuous contact with the Marin County Health and Human Services Department regarding the current state of the COVID-19 health crisis, and more importantly on what are the best practices during the Shelter at Home Order as restrictions begin to ease. Certain activities, such as fire hazard mitigation and defensible space clearance, have been allowed to continue with social/physical distancing and proper utilization of face coverings.

During the months of June through September, the newly created Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority “MWPA”, supported by your local fire agency, will begin conducting individual defensible space and home hardening evaluations in West Marin, Ross Valley, Kentfield, Larkspur, and Corte Madera. The MWPA evaluation teams, wearing proper facial coverings, will be going door-to-door requesting access to the exterior of your property to conduct a complete and comprehensive 360-degree evaluation of your home and property. The evaluations will be used to assist homeowners in making their homes and properties defensible from fire.

The evaluation teams will be evaluating whether your home currently meets wildland-urban interface “WUI” defensible space and construction requirements and will make recommendations on how to improve your homes ability to survive a wildfire. The evaluation will also determine if your property meets the requirements for defensible space as required by the California Public Resource Code Section 4291 and the California Fire Code Section 4907.2 and 4908 (see the attached requirements). Properties that are determined to be in violation of the defensible requirements may be referred to your local fire department for further action.

Homeowners can choose to accompany the evaluators during the home evaluation; however, it is not required. Please do not hesitate to contact your local fire agency (email information below) if you should have any questions.

DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Home

  • Maintain all roofs, gutters, and decks clear of leaves, needles, and dead vegetation.
  • Remove tree branches/limbs that are within 10 feet of a chimney outlet.
  • Remove all tree branches and limbs that overhang within 6 feet (vertically) of a roofline or deck.
  • Remove all vegetation from underneath decks.
  • Remove all combustible storage from underneath decks.
  • Firewood should be relocated to at least 30 feet away from the home or placed in a fire-resistant enclosure.

From the home out 100 to 150 feet or to the property line

  • Cut all dead grasses to below 3 inches in height.
  • Remove all dead vegetation and brush piles on the ground.
  • Remove all dead branches, leaves and foliage from all trees, bushes and ground cover.
  • Remove low hanging tree branches/limbs that are less than 4 inches in diameter a minimum of 10 feet from the ground on mature trees over 30 feet in height, or 1/3 the height from the ground on trees less than 30 feet in height.
  • Remove all fire prone plants located within 30 feet of the home.

Roadway and Driveways

  • Remove all fire prone vegetation within 10 feet of all roadways and driveways horizontally.
  • Maintain a minimum of 15 feet of vertical clearance over roadways and driveways.

Ø  The following fire prone plant species have been identified as very flammable and/or hazardous. Property owners are strongly encouraged to have them removed if they are located within 10 feet of a roadway or driveway, and within 30 feet of your home.

1.     Juniper

2.     Bamboo

3.     Italian Cypress

4.     Acacia

5.     Pampas Grass

6.     Broom/Gorse Species

For more information regarding defensible space, home hardening and emergency evacuation planning, please visit www.firesafemarin.com .

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