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| ENCINITAS FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIREWISE & DEFENSIBLE SPACE INFORMATION |
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| In August 2008 the City of Encinitas Fire Department was awarded a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to develop a public education program to help Encinitas residents understand the importance of defensible space and how it can slow the spread of wildfires and save lives and homes. |
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| The key elements of the project are two firewise gardens within the City of Encinitas; a defensible space miniature exhibit house and garden at Quail Botanical Gardens and a firewise plant demonstration garden at Sun Vista Park. |
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| The following website is to provide more detailed information about defensible space and firewise plants and landscaping. |
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| This project was developed in partnership with Quail Botanical Gardens and the Encinitas Parks and Recreation Department. |
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SUN VISTA PARK |
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| Located at 2011 Avenida La Posta, Sun Vista Park was selected for this project due to its proximity to Olivenhain which is an area that contains wildland/urban interface and its visibility from a Rancho Santa Fe Road.
The park contains a firewise demonstration garden containing plants that are fire resistive. What is firewise?
Firewise plants:
Are less likely to burn
Or will burn less hot for less time
Tend to be low maintenance, slow growth
Many of the plants in the firewise garden are also waterwise and California friendly, making them not only beautiful and safe but economical as well. |
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| COMING SOON – Map of plants located at Sun Vista Park |
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| LIST OF FIREWISE PLANTS AT SUN VISTA PARK |
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| The following photos show the development of the firewise garden at Sun Vista Park over a three month period from May 2009. |
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QUAIL BOTANICAL GARDENS |
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| The Defensible Space Exhibit House and Garden at Quail Botanical Gardens is located adjacent to the existing firewise garden, just north of the Ecke Building (Quail Botanical Gardens Map). This unique project contains a miniature house that models fire resistive construction and the area around the house is landscaped with miniature plants to model good defensible space. |
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| The miniature exhibit house is the cornerstone of the defensible space exhibit. It allows viewers to see the scale of defensible space needed around a home but it also models fire resistive construction. |
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| FIRE RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION |
| The main elements of fire resistive construction include: |
| · Class A (non-combustible roof) such as tile | · Non combustible wall material such as stucco |
| · Boxed eaves with screens | · Dual pane or tempered glass windows |
| · Metal screens on vents to prevent the intrusion of firebrands or embers | · Chimney covered with a spark arrestor |
| · Address numbers should be reflective and easily seen from the street | · Driveway should be wide enough for easy access by fire apparatus |
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| The following photos show the development of the miniature exhibit house. The house is designed to withstand the elements as it will be in an outdoor environment. The house is made of construction grade materials and is expected to last for many years. |
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| The garden around the miniature house demonstrates the elements of defensible space within 100 feet of the home. |
| Zone 1 (within 30 feet of your home) |
| · Plants should be fire resistive and not contain oils, resins or waxes |
| · Prune vegetation away from the roof, chimney and driveway and keep gutters free of litter |
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| Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet from your home) |
| · Should have low growing fire resistive plants that are maintained |
| · Maintain vertical and horizontal separation between plants and trees |
| · Trim trees so branches are six feet from the ground |
| · Remove dead trees |
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| Residents who live in the wildland urban interface are encouraged to visit the miniature exhibit house at Quail Botanical Gardens to see how defensible space can be created while maintaining an attractive garden. |
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| INTERPRETIVE SIGNS |
| Interpretive signs throughout the defensible space exhibit garden explain the concepts of defensible space and fire resistive construction. |
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DEFENSIBLE SPACE |
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| WHAT IS DEFENSIBLE SPACE? |
| Defensible Space is the area around a structure where combustible vegetation that can spread fire has been cleared, reduced or replaced. This space acts as a barrier between a structure and an advancing fire. Defensible space provides room for firefighters to do their jobs. Your house is more likely to withstand a wildfire if grasses, brush, trees and other common forest fuels are managed to reduce a fire’s intensity. |
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| Defensible Space is the Law in California |
| Why 100 Feet? |
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| This graphic provides a very simple illustration of how to create defensible space around your home through the use of management zones.
Zone 1 is within 30 feet of your home
Zone 2 is 30 - 100 feet of your home |
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| WHY CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE? |
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| Proper management of defensible space dramatically increases the chance of a home surviving a wildfire and provides for firefighter safety as they defend structures. |
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| The amount of defensible space around a home is directly related to a home’s ability to survive wildfire. |
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| HOW DO I CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE? |
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| California Guidelines for Defensible Space |
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| - Plant fire-resistant, irrigated landscaping in the first 30 feet of the 100 feet from your structure. These plants need to be maintained all year around.
- Keep natural vegetation in the remaining 50 feet of the 100 foot space. This would be the area furthest away from your structure. The plants need to be thinned and cut back to no more than 6 inches above the ground.
- You may need to do this several times a year since the plants grow back.
- Do not completely remove all vegetation which would leave the ground bare. Some vegetation is necessary to prevent erosion. When native vegetation is removed for fire control the bare soil is particularly vulnerable to soil erosion.
- Do not remove or disturb the existing plant root system to prevent any future erosion.
- Remove dead and dying vegetation.
- Trim trees that overhang or touch your structures.
- Properly irrigating plants will help prevent plants from igniting.
- Trees and shrubs can be maintained by deep watering at least once a month for drought tolerant species and once a week for high water requiring plants.
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| FIREWISE PLANTS |
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| San Diego County List of Firewise Plants |
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| Firewise plants typically: |
| · Grow close to the ground | · Have low sap or resin content |
| · Are easily maintained and pruned | · Are drought tolerant |
| · Grow close to the ground | · Have low sap or resin content |
| · Are easily maintained and pruned | · Are drought tolerant |
| · Grow without accumulating dead branches, needles or leaves |
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| It is important to note that firewise plants are “fire resistant” not “fire safe” as all vegetation is potential fuel for fire and will burn under extreme conditions |
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| What makes landscapes firewise? |
| · Plants, shrubs and trees that do not promote fire spread |
| · appropriate placement of plants |
| · management, maintenance |
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| RESOURCES | |
| Encinitas Fire Department | Firewise Communities |
| Encinitas Fire Department - Fire Prevention Division | San Diego County |
| Calfire | Fire Safe Council of San Diego County |
| US Fire Administration (FEMA) | |
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| The following publications and websites provide further information on defensible space. |
| Firewise Landscaping Check List | Defensible Space and Danger Spots |
| Ready, Set, Go - Your Personal Wildfire Action Plan | Wildfire - Are You Prepared? |
| Firesafe Landscaping Can Save Your Home | |
| Homeowners Guide to Fire and Water Management in the Chaparral/Urban Interface |
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