106-E. 30-foot clearance letter.pdfF`IRE IDEPAUITMEN'T
SAN,"m CLABA U.")LINT-V
14700 Whichester Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95032-181.8
(408) 378-4010 e (408) 378-93�2 (fax) - www,scdcLorg
I I f"ebrUary 2011
Re:
Dear Property Owner:
The fire season will be Upon LIS in as few short months. We must not become cornplacent where it
coines to protecting our homes front hillside fires. Your property, as referenced above, is located in the
designated Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area and preparations for your home need to occur over tile
next few months. This information is being; sent to all owners of hornes in hillside locations ill all
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effort to improve the chances of homes in these areas surviving as fire. Included with this letter, please
find it separate postcard, which is to be completed and returned.
Creating and maintaining; defensible space Oil YOUr property will significantly increase the chances of'
Your 1101-ne surviving a hillside fire. This is accomplished by removing the flarnmable native brush,
native vegetation, and dry grass a distance of` at least 30--feet from any structures. For sloped areas that
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exceed 20% oil the downhill side 01YOUr home, tip to 100-feet of defensible SINICC should be provided
The Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association has developed (lie following list of both required and
recommended preventative measures, When completed, your property will be in compliance with the
applicable regulations, which will greatly reduce the risk of loss or darnage to your [ionic in the event
of hillside fire.
Etiforced Safety Itegtilations (Items A-F)
A. Create 30 feet of Defensible Space arOUIld your 11011le, TO aaccompliSh this, YOU MUSt Clear all
flammable vegetation a niinihTiuni of' 30-feet around structures..
13. Clear ornamental shrubs and trees of'dead leaves and branches.
C, Remove all pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.
1), Trim tree limbs 10-feet from chimneys or stovepipes, and remove dead firribs that hang over
rooftops.
E. Cover chimney Outlets or. flues Nvith as 1/2" niesll spark arrester.
1,'. Post a clearly visible house address, using at least 4" high nun,ibers, for easy identification.
Organized as the Santa Clara COUnty Central Fire Protection District
S"ving Scouter Clarn Cotalty rAnd Ilic, cornmutidhes of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Ahos,
Los Altos Hills, Los Galos, AlonfeSercno, Morijan Hill, and Saratoga
Additional Safety Recommendations
• Limb up trees 18-feet or taller 6-feet from the ground.
• Cut and remove very low growing tree limbs to prevent a fire on the ground from climbing up and
into the canopy of the trees that surround your home.
• Stack woodpiles a minimum of 30-feet from buildings, fences and other combustible materials.
• Clear vegetation and other flammable material from underneath decks. Enclose elevated decks
with fire -resistive materials.
• If you have any trees near power lines please contact PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000 for a free
inspection. State Law requires vegetation clearance from electrical lines. For more information
please visit www.PGE.com. In most cases PG&E will trim or remove the tree at no cost to you.
• The Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council offers Defensible Space Chipping Programs to assist
homeowners, including special programs for qualified low-income, seniors and disabled
homeowners. For more information visit www.sccfiresafe.or�
For ornamental shrubs and bushes adjacent to your home, we recommend planting a fire -retardant
variety. If there is a possibility that erosion may occur, any native vegetation that is removed should
be replaced with fire -retardant vegetation.
Please complete and return the enclosed postcard on or before April 1, 2011. Beginning the first week
of April, County Fire personnel will begin conducting inspections to advise property owners who have
not implemented the fire hazard abatement measures what work is necessary in order to be in
compliance with the applicable regulations. If you are unable to complete the required work due to
late season rains or other hardship, please contact our office as soon as possible.
You may complete the brush clearance work yourself, hire your own contractor, or you may request to
schedule our authorized contractor to perform the work. If you would like this service, please check
the appropriate box on the postcard or call (408) 378-4010 prior to April 1, 2011. If you choose this
option, the charges for this work will appear on your next property tax bill.
Please note follow-up inspections will be conducted on or after June 1, 2011 of properties that
did not have the Enforced Safety Regulations implemented at the time of the first inspection. If
you do not comply with items A, B, C and D of the Enforced Safety Regulations, the compliance
work will be completed by the authorized contractor of the City of Cupertino and the charges
for this service will appear on your next property tax bill.
If you would like to schedule a courtesy inspection with one of our inspectors or have additional
questions regarding the safety compliance of your property, please contact our Fire Prevention
Division at (408) 378-4010 or 1-800-800-1793.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping to establish a fire -safe community.
Sincerely,
Kenneth L. Waldvogel
Fire Chief