Then there is this article,
https://smdp.com/news/environment/c...on-keeps-getting-longer-and-more-devastating/
California law requires creating a buffer by clearing out trees, brush and grass within 100 feet around homes in wildfire-affected areas. Fire officials say it can increase the likelihood of a house surviving a wildfire eight-fold. In addition, homes with wood or shingle roofs are at high risk of being destroyed. Consider materials such as composition, metal or tile.
...
Investor-owned utilities must prepare
wildfire mitigation plans that describe what they are doing to prevent, combat and respond to wildfires. The three largest utilities, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, all plan to spend billions clearing brush and trees away from transmission lines, insulate or underground power lines, install or maintain a network of remote cameras and weather stations to detect wind, smoke and other dangers.
But a
state audit found that some of the wildfire plans were “seriously deficient” and concluded that state officials are failing to hold California’s electric utilities accountable for preventing fires caused by their equipment. The report to the California Legislature found that the new
Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety approved utility companies’ wildfire prevention plans even when they were “seriously deficient.”
...
On March 22, 2019, Gov. Newsom declared a
wildfire state of emergency for California and waived environmental regulations to speed up forest management projects aimed at reducing the fuel load for the upcoming wildfire season. By removing dead trees or clearing brush, the programs aim to reduce the threat of wildfires by creating fuel breaks, defensible space and safe travel corridors around vulnerable communities.
Then from LAFD:
Owners of property located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) shall maintain their property in accordance with the Fire Code (L.A.M.C. 57.4906.5.2). Year-round compliance shall be maintained as described below on all native brush, weeds, grass, trees and hazardous vegetation within 200 feet of any structures/buildings, whether those structures are on the owner’s property or adjoining properties, and within 10 feet of any combustible fence or roadway/driveway used for vehicular travel.
1. Areas within 200 feet of structures and/or 10 feet of roadside surfaces or combustible fence: Grass shall be cut to 3 inches in height. Native brush shall be reduced in quantity to three inches in height. This does not apply to individual native shrubs spaced a minimum of 18 feet apart, provided such shrubs are trimmed up from the ground to 1/3 of their height with all dead material being removed (see diagram below).
2. For trees taller than 18 feet, trim lower branches so no foliage is within 6 feet of the ground, and remove all dead material. For trees and shrubs less than 18 feet, remove lower branches to 1/3 of their height, and remove all dead material (see diagram below).
3. Trees shall be trimmed up so the foliage is no closer than 10 feet from the outlet of a chimney (see diagram below).
4. All roof surfaces shall be maintained free of substantial accumulation of leaves, needles, twigs and any other combustible matter. Maintain 5 feet of vertical clearance between roof surfaces and portions of overhanging trees (see diagram below).
5. All cut vegetation and debris shall be removed in a legal manner. Cut vegetation may be machine processed (i.e.,chipped) and spread back onto the property at a depth not to exceed 3 inches within 30 feet of structures and 6 inches beyond 30 feet of structures. In addition, spread material shall not be placed within 10 feet of any usable roadside (in accordance with Fire Prevention Bureau Procedure No. 25)
*Please watch the following videos for Brush Clearance Information* Brush Inspection Training- Target Hazards Brush Clearance Training- On Site Inspections
lafd.org
The largest single landowner in California is the federal government. Wouldn't they be exempt from CA laws on brush clearing?
You know CO has frequent wildfires. You both have the same sort of humidity levels. We both know fires have gotten into Estes and Boulder. How did those communities get hit?
My brother lives in LA in the winter, I asked him today how he's doing. He said that he is fine, but the smoke in the air makes it difficult to be outside without a mask. But the high winds, which have reached 60-70mph, have made it so you don't want to be outside anyway. 11% humidity and a 60mpg gust on top of 30-40 mile sustained winds makes it pretty tough to stop any fire.
The numbers below are from 2022. California lost less land to wildfires than TX and a lower percentage. The same is true for OK and NM.
Explore the states most affected by wildfires in the United States. Learn about the factors contributing to wildfire risk and the impact on residents and the environment. Get comprehensive insights from Filterbuy.
filterbuy.com
Weirdly, KY is hard hit by wildfires. I can understand the states without moisture. Even worse is Florida, which lost about as much as CA. It rains in FL, a lot. Humidity is high. How do they lose 339,000 acres to wildfire?
Florida
- Total acres burned: 339,783
- Total number of fires: 828
- Burned acreage as a proportion of total land area: 0.4%
- Total acres of human-caused fires: 11,843
California
- Total acres burned: 309,287
- Total number of fires: 7,884
- Burned acreage as a proportion of total land area: 0.3%
- Total acres of human-caused fires: 250,394
Oklahoma
- Total acres burned: 355,133
- Total number of fires: 2,811
- Burned acreage as a proportion of total land area: 0.8%
- Total acres of human-caused fires: 383,950
Texas
- Total acres burned: 671,800
- Total number of fires: 12,571
- Burned acreage as a proportion of total land area: 0.4%
- Total acres of human-caused fires: 584,691
ballotpedia.org
