‘Tis the Season to Be Wary: Cautious Pasadena Firefighters Warn Homeowners to Keep Brush at Bay

If you lived through the Kinneloa Mesa fire above Pasadena in October of 1993, you simply will never forget its hot, smokey breath. One hundred twenty-one structures, mostly homes, burned to the ground and 40 were damaged. Over 500 homes were evacuated. The 5,500-acre conflagration injured 29 firefighters.

Experts said at the time that the blaze was “the fire of the future,” underscoring fears that urban encroachment into the foothills could lead to recurring massive fires roaring out of wilderness areas and marching into urban neighborhoods, destroying large numbers of structures.

Pasadena was faced with the realities of how small brush fires near urban areas can explode and increase exponentially practically in the blink of an eye.

In response, firefighters “learned to make their stands where houses are defensible and abandon those that are closely surrounded by brush or trees,” the New York Times reported in 1993.

The City of Pasadena has learned, too, the paramount importance of brush clearance.

Throughout May and until the of June, Pasadena Fire Dept. crews are out inspecting neighborhoods and hillsides for compliance with the extensive preventative measures reinforced by the city’s Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance.

“We have approximately 1,500 to 2,000 residences in this district that are deemed in hazardous areas,” said Station 38 Fire Captain Ken Fitch, whose district is one of eight that are under close inspection this fire season.

Station 38 is located on Linda Vista Avenue near its intersection with Salvia Canyon Road.

These high-hazard areas, which are typically located in and around highly vegetated hillside communities, are referred to as Wildland Interface Areas, which extend from the brushy Arroyo areas up through Linda Vista and the San Rafael hills on the city’s west side, as well as in the Kinneloa Mesa and Hastings Ranch areas on the east.

Every year firefighters start in early April and continue throughout June to inspect all of the high-hazard areas. Residents are urged to follow preventative procedures outlined in the ordinance to prevent the spread of wildfires.

Pasadena’s Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance specifically requires property owners to:

• Remove all dead trees and keep grasses and weeds mowed within 100 feet of any building (including those on adjacent property), and within 10 feet of any roadway used for vehicular travel. This does not apply to ornamental shrubbery, trees or cultivated ground cover. In extremely hazardous areas, distances up to 200 feet from a structure and 50 feet from a fence or roadway may be required by the Fire Department.
• Grasses and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from any building and less than 18 inches in height may be maintained where necessary to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Large trees and shrubs in that area should be 18 feet apart.
• Remove leafy foliage, deadwood, combustible ground cover, twigs or branches within three (3) feet of the ground from mature trees located within 100 feet of any building or within 10 feet of any roadway used for vehicular travel.
• Remove dead limbs. branches and other combustible matter from trees or other growing vegetation adjacent to or overhanging any structure.
• Remove any portion of a tree which extends within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe. Trim and maintain all vegetation away from curbline up to a height of 13.5 feet to accommodate emergency vehicles.
• Maintain five (5) feet of vertical clearance between roof surfaces and any overhanging portions of trees.

The Pasadena Fire Department says that about 95 percent of residents comply with the ordinance.

“Most residents have a shared interest at heart. They know how dangerous it is and will very rarely raise any objections to it,” said Fitch.

According to Fitch, this is the time of year when proactivity towards brush prevention is critical. The end of spring brings small periods of rain and spurts the growth of grass to several feet by early summer causing it to dry out quickly and become Mother Nature’s tinder.

“It can become a dry, flash fuel at that point,” said Fitch.

One thing is certain — the possibilities of potential devastation still remain.

“This year we have less than positive predictions,” said Lisa Derderian, Pasadena Fire Department Public Information Officer. “Typically in these communities there is one way in and one way out, so keeping fires away from these areas is a big concern for safety.”

PFD also sprays a fire retardant called Phoscheck in highly vegetated areas in surrounding hillside areas to address uninhabited areas that go unreached.

As most city ordinances go, the penalty for non-compliance is a fine.

“The fees add up,” said Fitch.

Starting at $61, to be exact, prices can quickly soar to a $298 for a second offense. There is a one month period for residents to correct and comply with inspection protocol, however firefighters want to work with residents and to let them know that extensions are welcomed.

Are you prepared for fire season? Community efforts in preparation are necessary precautions to keep Pasadena homes standing and blazes like the one in 1993 a thing of the past.

Pasadena Fire Department representatives said they welcome questions from the public, and invitations to discuss vegetation management and other fire-related issues with organizations or individuals.

Call (626) 744-4668 or (626) 744-4655 for additional information or to arrange for a meeting with a Pasadena Fire Department representative or visit www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire/Hazardous_Vegetation_Program.