| Organize the Neighbors
When confronted with the ominous task of fuel reduction, the power of numbers cannot be overstated. By working with neighbors, or through neighborhood associations, larger scale improvements become possible. In addition, common areas like roadways and open space can be addressed along with individual parcels.
Cost Savings
Perhaps the most significant advantage of community organizing is the potential for cost savings, especially with respect to professional advice and rental equipment. Chipping machines, for example, might cost from $50- $150 a day to rent, but moving the chipper from house to house over the course of a day can divide the cost to just a few dollars per household. The key is organization. Debris piles should be prepared in advance to keep the chipper operating at full speed all day and someone needs to coordinate the overall effort.
Large Scale Fuel Reduction
Fire protection immediately around your home is important but the broader neighboring landscape cannot be ignored. During a fire, while firefighters circle the wagons to protect your house, all of the trees, brush, outbuildings, and other amenities can vaporize. The intense heat from a raging firestorm could ignite a home from a great distance, despite having adequate "defensible space." This is why fuel reduction is very important on a large scale. A well maintained landscape dramatically reduces the risk of fire from reaching catastrophic proportions and significantly increases the ability of firefighters to extinguish it before significant damage occurs. Sometimes, defensible space and important landscape modifications can only be made in cooperation with neighboring landowners, whether resident or absentee. For example, since we value privacy, we desire a view screen of vegetation, usually shrubs or trees, between our house and the neighbor's house. Two landowners working together can create an effective view screen and break up continuous stretches of vegetation by staggering vegetation on either side of the property line. This way, the visual effect of solid vegetation is created, though in reality, there is a firesafe distance between clusters of flammable landscaping.
Reluctant Neighbors
Community organization can also help with those problem neighbors that won't clean up their property. An active community may be able to exert some peer pressure on those who need a little prodding. Though there are always legal mechanisms to force compliance with state fire regulations, there are more "neighborly" type approaches. Untreated vacant lots present another tough problem which will require creative solutions.
With the reluctant neighbor education may be the key. Mention to them that there appears to be some fire risk on their property and provide them with some printed information (available from the El Dorado Fire Safe Council, UC Cooperative Extension, Resource Conservation Districts, US Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or local fire districts) that will assist them in developing a more firesafe condition. If this approach fails, offer your help if possible. There are people who lack the physical ability, geographic proximity (absentee owners), or the financial resources to solve their own problem.
Help Your Neighbor, Help Yourself
Organizing your community is a lot like democracy - messy but worth the effort. Fire risk is a community problem. By pooling resources, you not only help your neighbor, you help yourself. Saving money, treating communal areas, and encouraging community interest are all potential benefits of taking the firesafe concept beyond your fence line. |
