|
Home |
Search the Database |
Display Index |
Contact Us |
Database Login
|
The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database,
please complete the following form (MS
Word).
Return to your search results or Perform a new search
|
Title: |
Santa Barbara, CA -- Wildland Fire Plan
|
|
Type: |
Fuelbreaks
Designation of high risk areas
Community Planning
|
|
Jurisdiction: |
City/town
|
|
State: |
California
|
|
Program Description: |
Background
The City of Santa Barbara Fire Department (SBFD) is proposing to implement a comprehensive City Wildland Fire Plan (Plan). This Plan will amend the City's Fire Master Plan. In accordance with the Plan, the Fire Chief is mandated to identify and amend high fire risk designation areas within the City's jurisdiction and to apply regulations and strategies to reduce wildfire risk in these areas. The proposal is currently in the process of a CEQA review.
Hazard Assessment
The SBFD has completed a wildfire hazard and risk assessment of the City and adjacent jurisdictions. Hazard factors included fuels, weather, and topography. The hazard evaluation was used to redefine the City's high fire hazard areas. The risk assessment examined roof types, density of structures, water supply, fire response times, and fire history of the area. The findings of the risk assessment were overlaid on the hazard assessment. This information was used to develop the policies and actions of the Plan.
Plan Policies and Actions
The Plan proposes to redefine the existing high fire hazard areas into four zones with varying defensible space requirements. Specific zone designations and requirements can be viewed at the Santa Barbara City Government - Departments - [Fire Department] website.
The Plan also identifies high fire risk areas that are outside the Department's jurisdiction for defensible space requirements. In these areas, identified as Vegetation Management Units, the Department will work with private property owners to reduce fuels by 1/3 to 1/2 their current load. The Plan specifies the use of one of four methods of vegetation management depending on slopes, exposures, vegetation types, and access. These methods include the combination of hand cutting and either chipping, multi-cutting, or prescribed burning. The Plan will also update recommendations of a 1993 plan for vegetative treatment of City-owned property and will attempt to reduce fuel loading by 1/3 to 1/2 on these lands, as well.
A specific target area for fuels treatment, is located in the extreme foothill defensible space zone. Treatment in this area will focus on breaking the continuous decadent stands of chaparral located outside the City. This will be known as the community fuels treatment network. The network plan will require extending treatment on private property owner's lands beyond the 150-foot modification requirement specified for this zone. The goal is to reduce fuels by 1/3 to 2/3 in the network area. This will provide a last line of defense for fire fighters before a wildfire enters more highly populated areas of the City.
In addition to defensible space, the Plan addresses biomass utilization, exotic invasive plant species management, evacuation planning, and the importance of public education programs.
Contact information
For more information, contact Ann Marx, Wildland Interface Specialist, via email at [email protected], or phone her at 805-564-5702.
|
|
