Hollister to begin wildfire prevention efforts by removing overgrown vegetation
Wildfire prevention has become a year-round process and the city of Hollister is taking its first step to prevent a big fire by reducing overgrown vegetation within city limits.
The city has dozens of locations in mind which have vegetation that needs to be cleared up.
That process will take place throughout the month and is being done as part of the city’s “Weed Abatement” ordinance.
Clearing overgrown vegetation is something Hollister does every year, however the city’s fire marshal says they seem to have to start doing it earlier each year.
Owners are told to clear out the vegetation themselves or the city will have to do it.
If the city ends up doing it, the property owners will still have to foot the bill.
“I hate to do the scare method but a lot of people realize and understand that wind-driven fires are dangerous,” says Hollister Fire Marshal, Charlie Bedolla. “They don’t want to be responsible for people getting hurt or losing their property or lives.”
Bedolla says so far no one has pushed back at the city for enforcing the ordinance. He adds that some property owners welcome it as they’re sometimes out of town and unable to take care of it themselves.
The work doesn’t end with the properties worked on this week and throughout the month.
Bedolla says the city looks into overgrown vegetation throughout the year.
Hollister isn’t alone in preparing for wildfires at this time either. Bedolla says Cal-Fire is working on “Defensible Space” inspections for the season, too.
