Defensible Space and LE-100
California State Law requires the clearing of brush, tree limbs, and other flammables within a 100 foot radius of a structure located on land within the State Responsibility Area (SRA). The SRA encompasses land all over the state. In Mariposa County, it includes all land excepting the National Park, the National Forests, and the Mariposa Public Utility District. Besides deploying crews to fight wildfires, CAL FIRE responds to all structure fires within the SRA. Officially, this law is called Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291. Under this law, homeowners may be cited and fined if they fail to correct hazardous conditions found within the 100 foot radius during periodic inspections. The law is also referred to as LE-100.
The land within the 100 foot perimeter is called the Defensible Space. If the landowner has done what the law requires, firefighters called to the scene during a wildfire event have a good chance of saving the structure from destruction. A list of the prescriptions contained in LE-100 may be found at the offices of the Mariposa Fire Safe Council (5006B 8th Street, Mariposa), or at CalFire Mariposa-Madera-Merced Unit Headquarters (5366 Highway 49N, Mariposa).
Air Pollution Control/CalFire Burning Regulations
Piles of slash often result from fuel reduction projects on private lands. For residential pile burning, landowners are restricted to piles 4 x 4’ in size, composed of dead dry vegetation: brush, tree limbs, pine needles, etc. Piles should be surrounded by ground cleared down to the dirt to a distance of 10 feet. CAL FIRE sets the burn season depending upon weather and moisture conditions in the forest. During the burn season, permits may be required, and can be obtained from CAL FIRE Unit Headquarters. Large burn projects may require a permit from the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (5100 Bullion Street, Mariposa). If in doubt about your project, contact the Pollution Control District. Pile burning can only be done on permissive burn days, which are determined by the Pollution Control District in cooperation with CAL FIRE. Landowners should call the Burn Day Information Line (408-966-1200) before igniting a burn pile to determine whether the day is a permissive burn day.
Chipping and Brushing Program – Mariposa County Fire Safe Council
When funding is available, the Mariposa County Fire Safe Council provides chipping free of charge to those able to cut the brush and stack it properly in an accessible location. The Council will cut brush free of charge for persons disabled or over 65, who lack the financial resources to pay a contractor to do it. Brushing is also available free of charge to families of deployed military personnel who lack the financial resources to pay a contractor. The Council may be contacted at 209-966-7700, or via their web site at www.mariposafiresafe.net.
Cost Sharing Programs That Support Hazardous Fuel Reduction
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers a cost sharing program available to qualified landowners under the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP). Projects are chosen competitively, and depend upon the availability of funds. For more information contact the NRCS District Conservationist at 209-966-3431.
CAL FIRE also awards cost sharing contracts to fund fuels reduction products. The program, California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) accepts applications with accompanying project plans and makes awards on a competitive basis subject to availability of funds. For more information, contact the CAL FIRE Unit Forester at 209-966-3622.
Part One: Fire Ready Group in Mariposa County: Fire History in the Sierra Foothills
Part Two: Fire Ready Group in Mariposa County: Fire Safety and Volunteerism in the Mid-20th Century
Part Three: Fire Ready Group in Mariposa County: The Telegraph Fire Remembered
Part Four: Fire Ready Group in Mariposa County: Reducing the Fuel Load on Private Land
Part Five: Fire Ready Group in Mariposa County: The Economics of Fire Safety
Below is a flyer for the First Annual Fire Ready Workshop to be held in Midpines on October 11, 2014.
