Having endured major wildfires the past four years that affected a huge amount of acreage and at least 140 homes and other structures, the City of Poway in San Diego County, has adopted some strict new guidelines in hopes of minimizing any future wildfire damage in the community of Poway.
Many of Poway's homes are adjacent to open spaces and the City of Poway is imposing, effective September 19, 2008 new clearance guidelines to help mitigate any future fire loss.
The soon-to-be enforced guidelines include clearing 100 feet of space around the residence or other structures of flammable chaparral fuels. The creation of the 'defense of space' program throughout the community of Poway is an important part of the fire loss reduction strategy as reported by the Poway Fire Department.
The only contentious part of the new ordinance has to do with land owners of vacant land when adjacent to other parcels with residences on it. The ordinance states that if 100 feet of defensible space is determined and only for example 70 feet is located on the property where there is a residence, then the defensible space improvements of 70 feet would be performed by that homeowner and the other 30 feet by the adjacent vacant land owner.
The ordinance was specific as to what constitutes flammable chaparral fuel. It includes chaparral species, annual weeds, dead or dying trees, etc. It does exclude ornamental landscaping, and Palm's and Eucalyptus trees, steam beds and banks of streams and venal pools.
City of Poway officials have approved the hiring of two compliance officers to help implement the program to assist in identifying where the risks are. The identified properties for risks will then be prioritized by the Fire Martial with notices sent out to the property owners for inclusion in the program. Certificates of compliance will be issued.
A smart trip to REALTORS listing and selling Poway real estate that might be involved in this program would be to prepare a disclosure about the new ordinance, it's compliance standards and the required maintenance of the 'defensible space' requirements.
This effort by Poway to take this initiative should be applauded by all in the community and it certainly sets up a wonderful standard example that could be adopted county wide to minimize the hazards of these wildfires on structures in the back county and even on human life.
Editorial note: I can't help but to visualize that these maintained clearings may also provide some refuge to the wildlife which commonly live in the chaparral areas. This little side benefit although not part of the plan, certainly gives me pause that the community of Poway looks well after its own- including the wildlife.
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Excellent, William. This is SOOO needed in many areas. Enforcement will be a challenge, I suspect. I would think it would also impact insurance. Companies may start NOT insuring, or perhaps not paying claims on homes that have not complied. There were lots of reports of homes that were not burned aparently becuase of the lack of nearby brush. This is important information for local agents, and buyers, to be aware of. Hmm. wonder if buyers will start NOT moving forward on a deal becuase the home is not in compliance with the new regulation?
Jeff
Hi Jeff, I think this should have been implemented county wide after the Cedar fires. Or even long before that. Seems the bureaucracy is a tad slow to act. At least hopefully many homeowners will seize this opportunity to get it right and same their homes and animals.
William...this obviously makes a lot of sense but I can't help but think there will be vocal objection!
Hi Joan, It won't do any good though, this is designed to save property. It is what it is and truth be know, if this were implemented county wide here, it might have saved a lot of homes form the fires. The homes themselves became fuel because of proximity to canyons and chaparral.
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William,
Great information for buyers and Agents, they should comply with the new regulations, thanks for the information ! and keep those great posts !
Ray Saenz
Hi William,
More cities need to implement things like this.
Hi Ray, Always appreciate you stopping by.
Hi Lynda, I would guess that more and more cities will implement programs like this. I know that many parts of San Diego county are imposing these new requirements and I would think the Vally areas NE of LA, would have it already. Laguna and Orange county, I have heard are discussing things like this. I don't know what riles there are in play but after their fires, I am sure they would take some sort of action.