Tree service companies busy with chipping program

The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has adopted emergency regulation involving dead or drying trees. Specifically whether homeowners or registered foresters can get an exemption to cut down sick trees without filing some necessary paperwork.

A recent aerial survey in Southern California and the Southern Sierra Nevada ranges found 12.5 million dead trees. That’s how serious the drought situation is right now. While the state considers this emergency regulations, the Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District has its own plan of attack regarding trees and branches.

Defensible space has been the major message from fire agencies across the state. At least 100 feet of defensible space can possibly save your home during a fire. To make it easy for homeowners, the MCRFPD has been holding free chipping programs all over the county, especially in Carmel Valley and Corral de Tierra.

Homeowners had to sign up, then leave their green waste near the side of the road. Contracted tree service companies would swing by and chip the branches. We caught up with crews from La Sirenita Tree Service on Tuesday. They had already visited eight homes with three more on the list.

“We’re picking up the branches from the people who cut them,” Jesus Olbera with La Sirenita Tree Service said. “The Fire Department hired us to ship out the brush. Right now, help people prepare for fire — they are fire hazards.”

The chipping program is winding down for the summer because we are nearing peak fire season. The last thing you want is to have more dry brush on the ground. Especially with the 4th of July around the corner, the brush could easily feed fires.

This emergency regulation could be approved as early as July 11th, lasting for at least six months.