Just after 6:00 pm Monday, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District was dispatched to a report of an exterior fire on 3rd Street off E Home Street in the City of Oakley.
Upon arrival, firefighters, Engine 53 firefighters located grass on fire up against both a home, and a neighboring fence with an open field of grass also on fire. A full residential structure fire response was requested as a precaution as the fire was getting into a fence.
Firefighters said on scene the fire had potential had the grass not been cut and multple homes would have went up, but with the grass low to the ground, it prevented a quick spread and they were able to make quick knock down.
Crews were on scene for about 40-minutes.
Editors Note:
With 80 degree weather expected for the remainder of the week and 90’s by the week of June 3, now is the time to begin preparing your home with defensible space.
Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation, debris and other types of combustible fuels have been treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of fire to and from the building.
The most important person in protecting houses from wildfire is not a firefighter, but the property owner. It is the action taken by the owner before the wildfire occurs that is most critical. Everyone needs to know about defensible space.
The following information was provided by the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District website:
100 Feet of Defensible Space is the Law
In January 2005 a new state law became effective that extended the defensible space clearance around homes and structures from 30 feet to 100 feet. Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire. This defensible space also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland fire.
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District has established minimum standards for weed abatement.
“Weeds” means all wild plants growing upon the streets or private property in this jurisdiction. It includes sagebrush, chaparral (chamise, coyote brush, greasewood, broom brush, buckwheat), dry grass, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable materials which are capable of being ignited and endangering the public safety by creating a fire hazard.
Property owners are ultimately responsible for managing their vegetation to meet fire district requirements. As a public service, the fire district offers lists of some area contractors who perform vegetation management work, such as, mowing, discing, and “weed-eating”. The fire district does not endorse contractors nor imply approval of the quality of work performed.
