Cal Fire starting defensible space inspections

Ahead of what’s expected to be a busy fire season, Cal Fire is jumping into action. This week they’ve begun neighborhood outreach programs to teach residents about defensible space. The goal isn’t to embarrass neighbors, but to educate them. Firefighters show them what they’re doing right, and what they could work on – all tips that could save their home in a fire.

This is the second year Cal Fire inspectors have gone door to door, inspecting homes for defensible space. On Friday, they checked out Randy Lewis’ King City Home. He’s lived there for 14 years. He ripped out his lawn last year to save water, but wildfires are always in the back of his mind.

“A few scary ones that got close,” Lewis said. “We were never in any danger.”

Cal Fire says previous fires have sparked something in neighbors.

“We find many residents are exemplary in what they’re doing due to the fact that they’ve seen and experienced fire in their area,” Cal Fire Capt. Jess Thompson said. “And they are very astute and knowledgeable about what they need to do to keep their homes safe.”

Lewis’ home is considered a good example of what Cal Fire is looking for. Others, not so much.

“What we are looking for in the first 30 feet is bare mineral soil or very minimal vegetation at all,” Capt. Thompson said. “And the difference between that and the 30 to 100-feet is the hazard reduction zone, where we aren’t looking for a complete elimination of fuels but a reduction of those fuels so the fire can’t carry very well and it will slow down on its way up to a structure.”

While it’s typical for the area, people around the Central Coast may notice even more tall grass.

“Last couple of years, we’ve had very little measurable rainfall and a lot of cattle ranchers in the country have gotten rid of and sold off a lot of the cattle,” Capt. Thompson said. “So the fires are going to be starting on roadsides and carrying up hillsides and moving quickly.”

But Lewis knows his home will stand a fighting chance in the face of a fire.

“It was nice to know that somebody is out there looking and it’s nice to know that what I’ve been doing has been pretty successful,” Lewis said.

Firefighters say people like Lewis will make their jobs easier.

“When they can defend their own homes,” Capt. Thompson said, “They can help us fight the fires near their structures.”

And in the coming weeks, Cal Fire inspectors could be coming to a neighborhood near you.

“These defensible inspectors are going to be all over Monterey County and San Benito County,” Capt. Thompson said. “They’ll be going anyplace from Arroyo Seco to Carmel Valley Road to the community of Bradley. They’re going out into the deep parts of Monterey County, doing this for the citizens.”