By Khalida Sarwari
California’s unrelenting drought has lasted three years now, with no sign up letting up anytime soon. Along with all of the other ramifications it’s created, leaving homes vulnerable and at risk for wildfires remains a concern. But fire experts say taking a few precautions can make the difference in protecting a home.
Saratoga, along with the town of Los Gatos, is one of the cities in Santa Clara County that’s considered to be in the wildland urban interface fire area, according to the county’s Fire Battalion Chief Brian Glass. The area, which mostly encompasses the hillside regions, borders Highway 9 and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.
“We haven’t had any significant wildfires in Saratoga, but over the years we’ve had the Summit fire, the Stevens fire, the Cats fire and the Lexington fire,” Glass said. “The whole valley is at risk, but there are areas that are more at risk.”
Some of those areas in Saratoga are Pierce, Mt. Eden, Bohlman, Piedmont and Montalvo roads.
Dry conditions and lack of rain brought on by the drought increases the likelihood of wildfires.
“All of the vegetation is extremely stressed,” said Glass. “What this causes is the energy release component of the fuel is significantly higher. This makes fuel more receptive to igniting.”
Glass offered safety tips for property owners who live in fire-prone areas to help reduce their home’s chances of igniting. Creating and maintaining a defensible space on your property is key. However, when doing so, care should be taken when using power tools as they can cause a wildfire.
Glass advised residents to operate power equipment–both gas and electric–before 10 a.m. when temperatures are low, and to refrain from doing so when it’s warm or when the wind is blowing. Lawn mowers should never be used on dry vegetation, he said.
“Be careful to avoid rocks, stones and metal objects which could cause a spark and start a fire,” Glass said.
Hot ash and coals should be placed in a noncombustible container with a tight-fitting lid.
It’s important in wildland areas to keep spark arresters on all portable gasoline-powered equipment, such as chainsaws, weedeaters, mowers, motorcycles and ATVs. Always keep a hose or water fire extinguisher nearby, Glass said.
Hot exhaust, catalytic converters and mufflers start fires, Glass said, so don’t pull off the road onto dry grass. And always have a cell phone nearby and call 911 immediately if a fire starts.
Finally, Glass advised residents to stay at least half an hour after completing work to ensure no fires have started.
The county fire department warns that high fire danger is expected to continue throughout the year. “Because of these current conditions, we highly recommend that you be diligent in protecting your home and family by creating and maintaining a defensible space on your property,” states a department-issued wildfire safety brochure.
For more information about the Santa Clara County Wildland Urban Interface, visitsccgov.org/sites/fmo/waterandaccess.
Link: Dry conditions caused by drought increasing likelihood of wildfires
