High Fire Zones Targeted for Critical Brush Reduction Plans
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – An aggressive schedule is underway to clear brush and reduce fire dangers, and this week a month-long project begins in Mission Canyon.
The community behind Rocky Nook Park and the Old Mission above Foothill Road (Highway 192) is one of the more densely populated areas on the South Coast with limited access in and out of the area.
It is also a major corridor for hikers on Tunnel Trail.
The Botanic Gardens is nestled in the same area and is a fire prevention concern as well as the homes.
The brush clearing work is coordinated by the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council. It was awarded a grant to provide free curbside chipping services for residents throughout certain areas of the south coast of Santa Barbara County.
This will reduce fire risks around their homes. Part of that includes creating a year-round defensible space in designated neighborhoods.
Residents do the cutting and a contractor will chip the vegetation on-site and take it away.
Charles Harris with the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council said, “they can do this on their own but it gives the homeowner way more incentive when a local organization like ours is out here helping them do it.”
Residents in Mission Canyon and other neighborhoods where this service is taking place, have received notices via postcards. They also received a presentation at a recent town hall meeting on fire prevention hosted by the Mission Canyon Homeowners Association.
Neighborhoods in coastal Santa Barbara County were selected based off of their Fire Severity Risks determined by CAL FIRE, density of surrounding vegetative fuels, topography, and determined need by local fire authorities.
On designated weeks, homeowners can clear the brush and leave it out front or in a specific area.
Harris said, “and we will drive through the neighborhood and chip it. In Mission Canyon the roadways are tight and so it is not an option for residents to stack it right in front or the house in this case there are big turnouts where people can stack it and we can come get it.”
They are also able to get the chips from the project for free if they need them for ground cover or landscaping.
Standing next to a crew from S B Tree Care a large pile was being reduced to chips by a special grinding machine. Harris said a week ago a similar pile was there. “This is probably two tons of material right here. Through this program last year, we produced a thousand tons of chips so people make use of it.”
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