Annual Vegetation Road Clearance Begins

This week The City of Santa Barbara’s Fire Department began implementing the annual High Fire Hazard Vegetation Road Clearance Project. The work will continue through January 31, 2017. The roads to be completed can be viewed by clicking the link at the bottom of this post. This year 16 miles of roads will be cleared through funds established by the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District in both the Extreme Foothill and Foothill Zone of the City’s high fire hazard area. The purpose of vegetation road clearance is to reduce the total amount of vegetation along roadways, enhance evacuation during a wildland fire and allow greater access for fire engines and equipment to respond during a wildfire. It is very important to maintain and keep up the work that has been completed. Maintaining roadways is not only important for your safety but the safety of the community. Since the Fire Department is not able to complete every mile of road in the high fire hazard area on an annual basis, the maintenance of the road clearance work is the responsibility of each property owner. Santa Barbara Municipal Code requires homeowners to make sure that vegetation on their property does not encroach onto adjacent roadways. This effort includes keeping evacuation routes clear of flammable vegetation and thinning vegetation along the roadways. In years past we have been able to recycle 98% of the chipped material and accomplished the same this year. If you have questions related to the project or have questions related to City property requirements you can call the Fire Department at 965-5254. http://civicaweb.santabarbaraca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=174114

Defensible Space Chipping - Coyote/Circle/Westmont

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Coyote/Circle/Westmont area starts Monday, May 23rd, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Chipping Instructions

Defensible Space Chipping - Las Tunas

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Las Tunas area starts Monday, May 16th, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Chipping Instructions

Defensible Space Chipping - San Roque/Ontare

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the San Roque/Ontarechip area starts Monday, May 2nd, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Chipping Instructions

Defensible Space Chipping - Lower Riviera

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Lower Riviera chip area starts Monday, April 25th, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Chipping Instructions

Defensible Space Chipping - Sycamore Canyon/Las Alturas

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Sycamore Canyon/Las Alturas chip area starts Monday, April 11th, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Chipping Instructions

Defensible Space Chipping - Eucalyptus Hill

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Eucalyptus Hill chip area starts Monday, March 28th, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Defensible Space Chipping - Las Canoas

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Las Canoas chip area starts Monday, March 14th, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.

Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

Defensible Space Chipping - Sheffield/Parma

Annual Defensible Space Chipping for the Sheffield/Parma chip area starts Monday, February 29th, for homeowners who are within the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District. If you are a resident of this chip area please make sure to have your piles out by the date posted. Second passes will not be made.
Please remember to review the instructions for chipping that are printed in the annual newsletter and on the vegetation chipping notice you should have received prior to our crews chipping in your area. These instructions are also available online by clicking the link below. If you have any questions about the annual chipping program or would like to schedule a Voluntary Defensible Space Evaluation, please contact Chris Braden with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 564-5737. 

2016 WFSAD Newsletter

The annual newsletter for the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District (WFSAD) has been mailed out to all residents that live within the Foothill and Extreme Foothill High Fire Hazard areas within the City of Santa Barbara. The newsletter provides valuable information about our programs and includes tips to improve the defensible space around your home in order to be prepared for wildfire. Additionally, the newsletter includes the dates for our annual chipping program that is offered to all homeowners within the WFSAD. We encourage all homeowners within the WFSAD to review the newsletter and mark their calendars for when chipping begins in their area. 

We also recommend homeowners in high fire hazard areas within the City to contact the Santa Barbara City Fire Department to schedule a voluntary defensible space evaluation. Throughout the evaluation we will discuss your current landscaping and exterior building construction and assess its current condition along with improvements that can be made to be prepared in the event of a wildfire. For any additional questions regarding the newsletter, our programs or to schedule a voluntary defensible space evaluation, please call (805) 965-5254.