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OUTSIDE YOUR HOME, MAINTAIN A 'DEFENSIBLE
SPACE' IN CASE OF FIRE
Each year, thousands of acres of California wildland and
hundreds of homes are destroyed by fire, during a fire season that lasts
from May through October. Living along bluff areas or in the hills,
although very beautiful, present serious fire safety risks to you and your
property. These risks are caused by the combustible construction of your
property combined with steep terrain and dense dry vegetation. Fire
protection is everyone's responsibility. The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire
District would like to offer you a checklist that will assist you in
making your home and surrounding area more fire safe.
Roof
- Remove dead branches overhanging your roof
- Remove all branches within 10 feet of your chimney
- Clean all dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters
- Install a roof that meets the fire resistance classification of 'Class
C' or better
- Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a nonflammable screen of ½
inch or smaller mesh
Landscape
- Create a 'Defensible Space' by removing all flammable vegetation at
least 30 feet from all structures and replacing it with fire resistive
plants
- Space native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart
- For trees taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within six feet of
the ground
- Choose ornamental landscaping plants that are fire resistive
- Maintain all plants by regularly removing dead branches, leaves and
needles
Yard
- Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and clear away
flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles
- Locate LPG tanks at least 30 feet from any structure and surround them
with 10 feet of clearance
- Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and
other debris from your yard
- Contact your local fire department t see if open burning is allowed in
your area; if so, obtain a burning permit
Emergency Water Supply
- Maintain an emergency water supply, that meets fire department
standards, through one of the following:
- A community water/hydrant system
- A cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors
- A minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons o your property
- Clearly mark all emergency water sources
- Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source
- If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to
operate the pump during a power failure
Access
- Identify at least two exits routes from your neighborhood
- Design driveways and road width, grade and curves to allow access for
large emergency vehicles
- Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as dead-end
roads, weight and height limitations
- Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have turnaround areas wide
enough for emergency vehicles
- Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet
from driveways
- Cut back overhanging tree branches above roads
- Construct fire barriers, such as greenbelts, parks, golf courses and
athletic fields
- Make sure that your street is named or numbered, and a sign is visibly
posted at each street intersection
- Post your house address at the beginning of your driveway, or on your
house if it is easily visible from the road
For Safety's Sake
- Designate an emergency meeting place outside your home
- Practice emergency exit drills regularly
- Make sure all children know how to dial 9-1-1 and know their address and
phone number
- Install smoke detectors in every bedroom, check them monthly, and change
the battery at least once a year.
For more information feel free to contact the Sacramento Metropolitan
Fire District,
Community Services Division at (916) 566-4000.
Download a Printer friendly checklist
here.
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