City Begins Wildfire Mitigation Efforts

The City announced the beginning of its hazardous vegetation mitigation on Wednesday.

The Fire Department announced this year’s effort under overcast weather and colder temperatures at La Casitas Del Arroyo in the Arroyo Seco.

“It’s cold,” said Fire Marshall Anthony James. “There’s moisture in the air, no winds, but it’s important that we’re not lulled into a false sense of security as everything looks lush and green around us. All it takes is a few days or weeks of consistent hot and dry temperatures to evaporate the moisture from the grasses and shrubs, creating a perfect environment for a potential fire. As we have no control over the temperatures, winds, or community levels, we do have some control over fuels, through abatement.”

The area received a lot of rain earlier this year which has caused the vegetation to grow. However, periods of dry weather with reduced humidity will evaporate the moisture leaving the brush dry as the weather heats up during fire season.

Over the next three months, the City’s Fire Department will inspect approximately 3,900 residential properties located within the City’s very high fire hazard severity zone.

The zones are based on evaluations of fuels, topography, and fire history.

The 2023 fire season in California was exceptionally mild. Fires burned more than 325,000 acres and damaged 70 buildings across the state.

The season was one of the least destructive in the past decade and a significant departure from recent fire years.

The annual inspections are in accordance with California Fire Code and Pasadena’s hazardous vegetation ordinance.

In March, residents within the very high fire hazard severity zone received a brochure outlining the requirements mandated by the state.

“Our program focuses on safeguarding residential property and the surrounding community in the event of the wildfire,” said James. “Our program is designed to minimize fire danger by controlling the density location of flammable vegetation and creating defensible space between residential structures and the surrounding natural vegetation.”

The requirements are established to manage both fire erosion hazards to protect property and life.

If no violations are found during the initial inspection, the Fire Department personnel will inspect these properties at no cost to the homeowner.

If violations are found, a fee will be waived if property owners correct the problem within 30 days.

Many insurance carriers will accept the City’s inspection reports as proof of compliance, which they may require in order to provide coverage.

“We asked our residents to adhere to the following: remove all dead trees and keep grasses and weeds mowed within a hundred feet of any building and 10 feet of any roadway. Grass and vegetation 30 feet away from structures may be maintained to less than 18 inches. Large trees and shrubs in that area should be 18 feet apart. Remove leafy foliage, dead wood, combustible ground cover twigs branches within a hundred feet of any building. Remove dead limbs, branches or other combustible matter from trees or other growing vegetation adjacent to any structures. Maintain five feet of vertical clearance between roof structures and any overhanging portion of trees. Remove any portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of a chimney. Trim and maintain all vegetation away from the curb line up to a height of 13 and a half feet to accommodate emergency vehicles.”

For more information, please contact the Pasadena Fire Department at (626) 744-4668.