Given the extensively dry period of the year that we are now entering, it is important to address the potential threats that fires have on our homes and the history of the massive destruction they have caused dating back to September 17, 1923. On that day, at around noon, a fire began along the east side of the San Pablo Ridge. Exacerbated by heavy winds, the fire destroyed nearly 600 homes, leaving over 4,000 residents homeless. In 1991, a small brush fire on October 19th and strong winds in the Oakland Hills near the Caldecott Tunnel caused smoldering embers to spread fires that catastrophically destroyed over 3,000 homes and resulted in the deaths of 25 people and injuries to 150 people.
The protection of your home begins within Zone 0 — defined as a five-foot area completely around your home’s perimeter. Essentially, this means that no combustible material should be within five feet of your home’s exterior walls and any attachment to the home’s footprint. It should be pointed out that while this is strongly recommended by the Berkeley Fire Department, this will soon become law. Here is what is essential to do to conform to the Zone 0 fire resistant requirements:
1. Use hardscape with a five-foot width from your homes perimeter. This consists or grave walkways, pavers, or concrete.
2. Remove fire-hazardous trees, shrubs, and grasses including Italian Cypress, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Pine, Thuja Juniper, Bamboo, Rosemary, Pampas, and Jubuta Grass.
3. Remove ALL combustible vegetation from within five feet of structures, including climbing vines, vegetation growing near doors, windows, and vent openings. Install galvanized metal screening with openings no larger than 1/8th inch over all exterior vents found along the walls of the homes. Irrigate regularly any vegetation round the home.
4. Limit combustible materials around your home, such as plaster or wooden outdoor furniture. Replace plastic skylights with double pane glass skylights.
5. Replace combustible fencing, gates and arbors attached to the home with noncombustible alternatives such as metal fencing and steel arbors.
6. Relocate garbage and recycling containers so they are further than five feet from the home.
These actions have been proven to reduce the ignition potential of your property and the fire threat to you home.
