Carbon Canyon Brush & Weed Clearance Deadline Today

A card was received yesterday from the Chino Valley Fire District reminding residents in Carbon Canyon about brush and weed removal.  Today was the official deadline for getting rid of the flammable material that makes this area particularly susceptible to wildfires.

In particular, the card reminds residents that there are two zones to create defensible space with a total of 100 feet around the house to clear.

The first is a 30-foot perimeter around the residence is where dead or dying leaves, grasses and brush should be cleared from the ground, needles and leaves cleaned off of roofs and out of rain gutters and tree limbs cut back from at least six feet above ground and ten feet from chimneys.  In addition, vegetation should be pruned and taken away from near windows and it is recommended to have fire-resistant plants in landscaping around houses.

Then, there is an additional 70 feet in which leaves, twigs and branches should be removed and tree canopies maintained so that branches are at least ten feet away from other trees as well as any structures.

Finally, and this is key in hot and dry conditions, such as those experienced late last week and which likely will be the norm for much of the summer and fall, mowing, trimming and other use of power equipment should take place prior to 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on hotter days.  Dry vegetation, like weeds and grasses, should not be removed by a mower, but with a trimmer.  Finally, the district recommends having a cell phone handy to call 9-1-1 in case of a fire and implores residents not to put themselves in harm's way when putting out a fire.

It is worth restating, incidentally, that this was one of the driest winters since official records were begun in the late 1870s.  The Los Angeles Times had an article just yesterday (read it here) pointing out that the lack of rainfall for most of January not only created early conditions for dried-out vegetation, but that a small burst of precipitation at the end of the month did not actually relieve the situation, but made it worse by allowing for new growth that would not have arisen if there had been more rain and which then dried out quickly in succeeding weeks, creating more hazardous conditions.  The massive fire in Ventura County was evidence of what can happen in these situations.

Fire preparedness has improved by a high order of magnitude in recent years compared to what it was in such conflagrations as 1990, 1978, 1958, 1929 and other major wildfire years, but conditions are also changing, as witnessed with the massive Freeway Complex Fire, which is already nearly five years old now.  Vigilance by everyone with a stake in Carbon Canyon from fire fighters, elected officials and residents continues to be crucial in minimizing the risks and hazards associated with wildland fires.

Carbon Canyon Brush Pickup a Success

Volunteers from the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council hard at work with brush brought by Canyon residents to the drop-off site on Canon Lane near Western Hills Park and Fire Station 64.

Today the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council held the first of its two brush pick-up days for Canyon residents next to Western Hills Park and Chino Valley Independent Fire District Station 64. 

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., teams of Fire Safe Council volunteers assisted residents in off-loading approximately 14,000 pounds of plant material onto two large roll-off bins provided by Chino Hills Disposal with assistance from the City of Chino Hills.

Working as a well-oiled and coordinated team, these dedicated volunteers helped fill two of these roll-off bins with about 14,000 pounds of plant materials brought in about two-dozen loads.

With a deadline of 15 May looming for Canyon residents to remove brush as directed by inspectors of the Fire District, this program goes a long way towards removing plant material as part of a larger fire suppression effort.  Work of this kind is especially important this year because we had another low yield of rainfall, only about five inches, which means that, though there is still some greenery out there, the hills are getting browner, drier, and more fire-prone as we edge closer to summer.

With the second roll-off bin full and ready for removal, Fire Safe Council volunteers head home after a busy day.

With the fall fire season being historically the time when the worse blazes occur, the Council will be having another brush pick-up day at the same location and time at a date to be determined soon, so keep an eye on this blog for more information by logging onto www.CarbonCanyonFSC.com or calling the fire district at (909) 902-5280, extension 409.

Carbon Canyon Brush Drop-off Day This Saturday!

The Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council will be presenting its Spring brush drop off day this Saturday, 27 April from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of its program for fuel reduction to mitigate fire hazards in the Canyon.  The location is next to Western Hills Park and Fire Station 64 on Canon Lane, just off Carbon Canyon Road, in Chino Hills.

With the support of the City of Chino Hills absorbing the cost of providing roll-off bins from Chino Hills Disposal, Fire Safe Council volunteers will be on hand to help those with special needs to offload brush and green waste from their vehicles into the bins, though others should be ready to unload their own brush.  In all cases, the waste has to be bundled to be accepted.

This service is provided free to residents only, who are asked to bring their identification, utility bill or canyon resident emergency access pass to prove Canyon residency.

With fire inspections by the Chino Valley Independent Fire District beginning on 15 May, it is to the advantage of Canyon residents to take the opportunity to clear brush on their properties and take it down to the site for free removal.  Those who don't have their lots clear by the inspections face the prospect of fines.

There will be a second drop off day in the late summer/early fall and residents can learn more by logging onto www.CarbonCanyonFSC.com or calling the fire district at (909) 902-5280, extension 409.