The TCSD Board of Directors, in an attempt to assist property owners in maintaining their parcels in a “fire-safe” condition throughout the hot summer months, has adopted guidelines for weed/hazard abatement. But the complete cooperation of all who live here is needed if we, as a community, wish to avoid the kind of devastation wildland fires have caused in towns like ours during recent years. Fortunately, although Templeton had several grass fires last year, these fires were all surrounded by properly maintained properties, aiding in the quick control of them.
Property owners are required to keep properties clear of all accumulated weeds, rubbish, and refuse between May 1 and November 30. Every year fire department personnel go through a very time-consuming process to identify and notify non-complying parties, hire a contractor to clear the properties, and process liens against the parcels. To compensate the District for all of this time, the weed abatement ordinance allows for an administrative charge that reflects the cost of all related work performed by Fire Department and District staff. This charge can be substantial, so please get out those lawnmowers, tractors and weed eaters, and start cutting! And remember, when property owners act responsibly, by taking care of their own parcels promptly, fire personnel are then free to focus on other emergency services issues and programs.
A
defensible space can be created by:
- Eliminating dry grass, brush, and dead leaves within
30' of your home and other structures (100' if your
home is on a slope).
- Clearing brush and mowing grass along your property
- Spacing native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet
apart.
- If your property includes creek beds or has native
oaks, pruning branches within six feet of the ground
to keep ground fires from spreading to treetops.
Don’t forget to have all motorized equipment
inspected by a qualified mechanic to be sure it has
a properly functioning spark arrestor! And please, discarding
concrete pieces, wire, rocks, and other debris makes
it nearly impossible to cut/remove vegetation. Please
refrain from using “the other side of the fence”
as a place to discard unwanted trash and debris.
Also, don’t start a fire in an effort to prevent
one. Be sure you mow early and stop before 10am unless
you get approval to do otherwise by the Fire Chief.
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