Pine Valley Fire Protection District
Fire Prevention

Preparing for Fire Season Back to the top

While fuel breaks are technically areas without any fuels at all, including fire lines that get down to mineral soil where the duff (forest leaves, needles, and other surface debris) has been removed, defensible space can be exactly what the term says: areas that are defensible.

It is not necessary to remove all vegetation to create defensible space. Defensible space can be landscaped, have shrubs or trees, be irrigated areas, or watered lawn grass, as well as rocked or cleared areas free of vegetation and other fuels.

Eliminate slash, remove dead fuels (vegetation, branches, or trees) and prune up lower-hanging tree branches. Landscape with fire-resistant plants. Selectively thin existing live fuels. Remove trees or shrubs that are too close to, and would jeopardize, your home if they became involved with fire. Homes on flat or gently sloping land should have a defensible space radius (distance from structure) of at least 50 feet. This should be increased to 100 feet if there is much shrubbery. For those who live on a moderately-sloped hillside a distance of 200 feet is recommended.

Installation of a class A fire resistive roof, boxing in eave's, and stacking firewood at least 30' away from your home. For a list of fire safe landscaping and other tips of wild land fire safety visit firesafe.com

Weed Abatements (local Ordinance 97-01) Back to the top

Because of the large areas of undeveloped parcels and the nature of the vegetation in our area, The Pine Valley Fire Protection District actively pursues a vegetation (weed) abatement program throughout the district. This program has proven effective in mitigating the spread of vegetation fires in our district and has played a part in keeping the destruction due to these fires to a minimum.

Clearance of properties shall be accomplished by methods that will not disturb native soil or root stock. Grading shall not be used to clear the properties without a County of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use grading permit. Native annual grasses must be cleared up to 100' from the structure, native chaparral must be cleared up to 50' and thinned out there after up to 100'. Mature trees within 100' of the structure must be limbed 6' off the ground and also be cut back 10' from chimneys.

The districts weed abatement inspections are completed between June and September annually. Our inspectors will be out in Fire District vehicles performing inspections. Land owners not in compliance first receive a 30 day notice, what this means is that the land owner has 30 days to mitigate the hazard before the inspector returns. If after 30 days the hazard still exists or no contact from the land owner has been made a 10 day notice sent certified mail will take place along with a phone call if a number is available.

Please note the Fire District tries every avenue of contact before taking the next step which is a forced abatement. This is when all the documentation of the case is sent to a contractor to come in and clear the property at the owners expense. All land owners are encouraged to resolve these matters with their own contractor because a forced abatement can cost up to 10 times the amount. Thank You in your help in maintaining a fire safe community.

Burn Permits Back to the top

The Pine Valley Fire Protection District issues burning permits to local residents. This is done in cooperation with the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) regulations. Burn piles must be vegetation or tree clippings from clearing fire hazards. Lumber scraps of any sort are not acceptable. Piles are to maximum 10' in diameter and 5' in height, note incinerators are no longer approved.

Other requirements are 30' minimum clearance of vegetation around pile, garden hose and shovel on hand, and at least one adult in attendance at all times. Burning hours are between 8AM-3PM on permissive days only. Permit duration is typically 2 weeks and are typically issued between the months of December and April. To obtain a permit either call or stop by the Fire Station to inquire and an inspector will meet with you on site to inspect your pile and issue a permit.

Fuel Breaks  Back to the top

Fuel breaks are places where the amount of vegetation has been thinned out or reduced to a point where a wildfire would have less material to burn, so the fire can cool off, settle down, and enable firefighters to extinguish it.

The most common fuel break is called a "shaded fuelbreak" and is used along primary access roads and on key ridge tops. The Pine Valley Fire Protection District along with the Cleveland National Forest have completed and maintained fuel breaks around most of Pine Valley and Guatay. For a map of fuel breaks in the Pine Valley Fire District click here.

Fuel reduction along access roads is key to reducing fire risk and also allows first response firefighters the opportunity to protect homes and prevent the fire from spreading. Guidelines for creating a fuel break, defensible space around your home, are available at The Pine Valley Fire Station, CDF stations, or USFS Stations.

Plan Checks  Back to the top

The Pine Valley Fire Protection District is required by the County to perform plan checks on all new structures, or add-ons to existing structures whether residential or commercial. This has proven effective in keeping all new construction up to date with the Fire Code so property and life loss can be reduced during fires.

For every Plan Check performed the District collects a fee of $200 for new commercial structures, $100 for Residential, $75 for out buildings eg: detached garage, and $25-50 or 75 for add-ons depending on the size. Also a fire mitigation fee is paid to the County, typically 0.34 cents per sq. ft.

The following is the Fire District checklist of most common requirements:

• Premise identification with address at street or house, visible from the street. Numbers must be at least 4" in height and have a contrasting background. As per UFC 901.4.4 and San Diego County amendments.
• Access, individual driveway minimum of 20' unobstructed width and 13.5' vertical clearance. Driveway must also be paved or concrete if grade over 15% with the grade not to exceed 20%, this is to provide all weather driving capabilities. UFC 902.2.2.1 and UFC 902.2.2.2
• Roads in excess of 150' in length must be constructed with an approved turn around UFC 902.2.2.4
• Roads that cross a bridge must be rated at minimum of 40,000 lbs.. UFC 902.2.2.5
• Water supply - an approved fire hydrant must be located within 500' of the structure, if not a new fire hydrant will have to be installed at owners expense. If outside of a water district a minimum 5,000 gallon water supply tank must be supplied, tank must have mechanical fill valve, also must have a 4" valve with National Standard Threads with valve being located no closer than 50' and no further than 150' from the structure and must be accessible to fire apparatus.
• The structure must be in compliance with the district Fuel Abatement Ordinance 97-01
• Must have one hr. fire wall and a 20 minute door with self closing hinges if structure has an attached garage. UBC
• Must have a smoke detector in every bedroom and egress way, detectors must be hard wired with battery backup. UBC
• One window in every bedroom must be able to be used as an exit, One must have a minimum opening of 5.5 square feet. UBC
• The electrical panel must have all breakers labeled for their use. UFC 8509.3

Commercial Inspections Back to the top

The Pine Valley Fire Protection District inspects all local businesses on an annual basis. Letters are sent to all business owners prior to inspections, the business owner can schedule an inspection at their convenience, there aren't any surprise inspections.

The following is a list of common violations:

• Fire extinguishers - A minimum of a 2A10BC rated extinguisher must be located every 75' of travel distance (most businesses only require 1 extinguisher), also extinguisher must have current inspection cert.
• Doorways, exits, and aisle ways - clearance and proper identification
• Smoke / Fire Detection Systems - location and operation
• Electrical wiring, sockets, extension cords, etc, - condition, location, and replacement.
• Rubbish and debris - location and required clean up.
• Weed abatement - location and required abatement.
• Propane / Butane tanks - Location, protective barriers, and shut off valves.
• Hot water heaters / Heating systems - location, proper venting, line shut off valves, and area maintenance.
• Electrical power panels & Boxes - location and proper labeling; access.
• Combustibles and flammables - location and storage precautions
• Sprinkler systems - if equipped must have current inspection tag and be in good operating condition.