“Our climate here in California has been changing for decades. In fact, fire seasons are on average about 75 days longer than they were in the ‘70s.”
- Chief Daniel Berlant, Assistant Deputy Director CalFire
Dear neighbors:
We’ll make it brief this month, but the issues are as big - and bigger - than ever. Although it’s the end of October and we have so far been spared fire and power outages in our neighborhood, this does not mean the danger is over yet. “This year’s fire season will most likely roll right into 2021. There’s no end in sight,” said CalFire Chief Daniel Berltant, also quoted above.
The danger of wildfire is not going away, and that means the work needed to make your property and our neighborhood as fire safe as possible continues 'year-round.
In other news
The months after our first rains are the best time of year to limb up and thin out trees. Because Nevada County residents are taking the threat of wildfire seriously, our local arborists are in great demand. Keep in mind that it could take weeks or months to lock in an appointment, so plan accordingly. One neighbor said she was not able to get an appointment with the arborist she typically uses until February.
Trent Pridemore has a number of 3x12-inch red and white Nevada County Sheriff Evacuation tags provided by Nevada County that he has generously offered to deliver to 6B and Friends neighbors. When placed in a visible area, the tags alert first responders and your neighbors that you have left your premises in the event of an emergency evacuation. This can save time and eliminates the need for responders to risk their lives looking for you. If you would like a tag, email Trent at trentrpridemore@gmail.com or call him at (530) 274-8770 and he will deliver one to your newspaper tube. While you’re at it, order a reflective safety street address sign to help emergency personnel find you at night. The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County sells single-sided signs for $35 and double-sided signs for $40. Signs are all weather, made of UV-resistant metal, with 1x4-inch numbers and have pre-drilled holes to make mounting easy. A 3- or 4-foot metal mounting post is Included in the purchase. Finally, cool weather is on the way. Here are some fall reminders from the The Fire Safe Council:
Stack firewood safely. If you're stacking firewood, arrange stacks 30 feet or more from structures. Tall trees may seem like a convenient way to contain the stacks, but doing so creates a ladder fuel that can ignite foliage and cause a fire to crown. You can increase the safety of a wood pile by covering it with a fire-resistant tarp. Look for a seal from the California State Fire Marshall to ensure effectiveness. Not all tarps are created equal.
Service your fireplace and chimney. More than 25,000 chimneys will start a house fire in the United States this year. If you heat your home with wood or pellets, have your chimney serviced and your stove or fireplace checked for leaks or other hazards. Keep that flue pipe clean.
The Burn Ban is still in effect until you hear otherwise from an official source. Even if the air is cool and humidity seems higher, it's still not safe to burn green waste. If you have piles accumulating, be sure they're far from any structures and that there are hoses nearby that are already connected to a water source.
Nov. 1 is the deadline to submit the hours and money you have spent on your property for fire safety work this year. This is required for us to maintain our Firewise status. You don’t need receipts or exact numbers. Just give it your best shot.
So far, 18 of approximately 80 owners have done so, totalling a whopping $100,000 and 3,560 hours of work. This is fantastic, but we really need higher participation. Here’s a simple form you can fill out and send to Karen Pridemore at karenvpridemore@gmail.com, Call Karen with any questions at (530) 274-8770
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