Wildfire zones expand in Carmel and Pacific Grove as inspectors go door to door

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) -The newest wildfire hazard maps from Cal Fire are putting parts of Monterey County on high alert. Pacific Grove and Carmel are now classified as high or very high fire risk areas.

Fire inspectors are continuing their annual door-to-door outreach to help homeowners prepare before new regulations go into effect.

It’s a change many residents didn’t anticipate, coastal neighborhoods, long thought to be relatively safe, are now officially in the wildfire danger zone.

"We presume in Carmel that we're fairly safe," Michael Spicer said.

However, the new Cal Fire hazard maps show otherwise. One Monterey resident said he wasn’t surprised by the updated risk designation.

"It doesn't surprise me that it's, on a high, fire zone. Yes. Because, as you know, we live in a forest," Leonard Levenson said.

In response, Cal Fire has deployed six inspectors to visit homeowners, educating them about vegetation management, structure hardening, and defensible space, the key factors that can reduce wildfire damage.

"We do our defensible space inspections every year. Right about this time, before all the grasses and fuels really start drying out," Division Chief Justin Cooper said.

"Some things that we look for in that inspection is making sure that we're maintaining our defensible space clearances, such as, making sure we don't have tall grasses going all the way up to the sides of the houses," Division Chief Justin Cooper said.

Homeowners are taking the advice seriously. One Carmel couple made every change their inspector recommended.

"We did all the recommendations that she suggested. And, we cleared some vegetation away from the house. We had some pruning of some trees," Leonard Levenson said.

"As a result, I went to the insurance company and I told them what we did. I showed them that report, and they lowered our insurance by $1,500," Leonard Levenson said.

Even in fog-covered Pacific Grove, officials warn that moisture alone won’t prevent fires, especially with the increasing wind activity.

"Vegetation was green and we saw a fast moving wildfire develop in that area and spread to the vegetation. And then start a house to house ignition spread. We can get wildfires at any point," Division Chief Justin Cooper said.

That’s why fire officials emphasize the importance of taking action now, preparing homes to stand a better chance against fast-spreading vegetation fires.

"Defensible space gives us those opportunities to make sure that we can hit the fire fast. If there is a fire that starts in the green belt areas or on someone's property, and we could contain it to prevent it from a house-to-house ignition and houset to house spread," Division Chief Justin Cooper said.

Fire inspectors will continue visiting homes and educating residents through September.

Enforcement of the new wildfire safety regulations, such as maintaining a five-foot clear zone around homes, is expected to begin in a few years.