By Gary Meyer

Properties within Kern County must meet these clearance requirements to avoid expensive fines:

• 30 feet from the house must be cleared of all combustibles and vegetation around all structures;

• Additional 70 feet must have reduced vegetation;

• All trees on the property must be “limbed up” six feet from the ground or one third of the tree height (for example, a 12-foot tree would be limbed up 4 feet from the ground). “Limbed up” means cutting off the limbs;

• There must be a minimum of a 10-foot clearance around stove pipes or chimneys;

• Any dead limbs that overhang structures must be removed;

• Clear the roof of all combustible vegetation, including leaves and pine needles;

• A minimum clearance of 10 feet is required of all combustibles around propane tanks;

• A minimum 10-foot clearance along all property lines which border improved properties is required;

• All “ladder fuels” must be removed. These are small fuels which lead up to larger fuels (such as grass leading to a sagebrush plant which leads up to tree limbs).

The deadline for property clearances is June 15. On June 16, citations will be issued to owners of non-compliant properties with a fine of $250.

If the property is still not in compliance within 30 days after the citation, the property owner will be fined an additional $500.

Questions on property clearance can be directed to KCFD at 661.823.1001.

A free training given by the Kern County Fire Department covered the requirements that properties must meet to remain in compliance with state and county laws and ordinances. About 10 local lot clearing service providers attended the KCFD workshop with Hazard Reduction Coordinator Scott Paine on Friday, March 27 at the Frazier Park Branch Library. Only those service providers who completed this training will be included on the county’s Service Provider List for 2015.

Photo captions:

Kern County Fire Department Hazard Reduction Coordinator Scott Paine (above) conducted a training session (left) for local service providers.

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This is part of the April 17, 2015 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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