FAQ’s

Fire Safe Councils are grassroots, community-led organizations that mobilize residents to protect their homes, communities, and environments from catastrophic wildfire. A local Fire Safe Council is often sparked by a catalyst – perhaps a recent fire or a group of neighbors eager to spread a fire-safe message – then embraced by the community, which turns that initial interest into a committed group that finds ways to empower the residents to do their part to make the community safer. 

Fire Safe Councils throughout California educate homeowners about community wildfire preparedness activities while working with local fire officials to design and implement projects that increase the wildfire survivability of their communities. Many Fire Safe Councils have successfully implemented such projects as hazardous-fuel-reduction projects, Community Wildfire Protection Planning, and homeowner training. 

The East Stanislaus Fire Safe Council is a coalition of public and private sector organizations that share a common, vested interest in wildfire prevention and loss mitigation. The Fire Safe Council is dedicated to saving lives and reducing fire losses by making their communities fire safe through wildfire hazard mitigation, preparedness and education. The East Stanislaus Fire Safe Council encompasses the communities of Knights Ferry, Valley Home and the City of Oakdale. 

A Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) is a zone of transition between wildland and human development. Communities in the WUI are at risk of catastrophic wildfire and their presence disrupts the ecology. Homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)should follow defensible space recommendations. 

A fuel break is a strip of land where hazardous vegetation has been removed and less hazardous vegetation is retained. 

A shaded fuel break is a type of fuel break in forested areas where the trees have been thinned, tree canopies have been raised through removal of lower branches, and the understory vegetation has been managed to reduce the fire threat and limit the fire’s ability to spread rapidly. Shaded fuel breaks are more aesthetically pleasing than a fire break or fuel break, and tree health and vigor are improved. 

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) identifies and prioritizes areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommends the types and methods of treatment that will protect one or more at-risk communities and essential infrastructure and recommends measures to reduce structural ignitability throughout the at-risk community. A CWPP may address issues such as wildfire response, hazard mitigation, community preparedness, or structure protection – or all of the above. 

Defensible space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been managed to reduce the wildfire threat and to allow firefighters to safely defend the house. Defensible space improves your home’s chances of surviving a wildfire. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of a wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire—either directly from flames or from radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters protecting your home. 

Enacted in 2005, Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 4291 sets the requirement for defensible space around structures in mountainous, grass or brush covered lands, or land that is covered with flammable material. PRC 4291 requires defensible space of 100 feet from each side and the front and rear of a structure, but not beyond theproperty line. It was enacted to improve fire safety and help prevent catastrophic wildfires. Defensible space does not mean property has to be cleared to bare soil. 

Two zones make up the required 100 feet of defensible space. Zone 1 is within 30 feet of the structure. Zone 2 is within 30 and 100 feet. 

In Zone 1, remove all dead plants, grass, and weeds; remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof, and rain gutters; and keep tree branches trimmed 10 feet away from the chimney and other trees. 

In Zone 2, cut or mow grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches; create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees; and create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees.

Burn permits are available at the following staffed fire stations during normal business hours when burn permits are required, not during burn suspensions or open burning periods.  

• Fire Station 28- 325 East G Street Oakdale Ca 
• Fire Station 29- 17706 Sonora Road Oakdale Ca 
• Fire Station 30- 13200 Valley Home Road Oakdale Ca

In conjunction with the local fire districts, the Calif. Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Air Resource Board, the Air Quality Management District regulates “burn” and “no burn” days. Burn day status determined by Cal Fire and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and be found at the following :  

Cal Fire Burn Permit Information  
https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District 
https://www.valleyair.org/aqinfo/cbyb.htm

The CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit notifies the public, local media, the Air Pollution Control District, and public officials when burn restrictions are implemented and lifted. CAL FIRE will also post this information on its social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. 

Burning can only be done on permissive burn days with a burn permit. State law prohibits the use of burn barrels. 

The maximum debris pile size for burning is four feet in diameter. Clear all flammable material and vegetation within 10 feet of the outer edge of the pile. Keep a water supply close to the burning site. An adult should be in attendance until the fire is out. No burning should be undertaken unless weather conditions, especially wind, are such that burning can be considered safe. 

No household trash or garbage can be burned outdoors at residences. Dry, natural vegetation grown on the property can be burned outdoors in open piles. 

Each year CAL FIRE responds to 1,600 fires started by using equipment the wrong way. Lawnmowers, weed eaters, chain saws, grinders, welders, tractors, and trimmers can spark a wildland fire. 

Here are some tips from CAL FIRE for using equipment safely. 

• Do all yard maintenance that requires a gas or electrical motor before 10 a.m. Never do this yard maintenance in the heat of the day or when the wind is blowing. 

• Never use lawn mowers on dry vegetation. 
• Use a weed trimmer to cut down dry weeds and grass. 
• Remove all rocks in the area before you begin using equipment. A rock can start a fire when struck by a metal blade. 
• In wildland areas, spark arresters are required on all portable gas powered equipment, including tractors, harvesters, chain saws, weed eaters, mowers, motorcycles, and All Terrain Vehicles. 

• Prepare an emergency kit. 
• Check for, and remove, fire hazards in and around your home, such as dried out branches, leaves and debris. 
• Keep a good sprinkler in an accessible location. 

• Learn fire safety techniques and teach them to members of your family. 
• Have fire drills with your family on a regular basis. 
• Maintain first-aid supplies to treat the injured until help arrives. 
• Have an escape plan so that all members of the family know how to get out of the house quickly and safely. 

• Have an emergency plan so family members can contact each other in case they are separated during an evacuation. 
• Make sure all family members are familiar with the technique of “STOP, DROP, AND ROLL” in case of clothes catching on fire. 
• Make sure every floor and all sleeping areas have smoke detectors. 
• Consult with your local fire department about making your home fire-resistant. 
• If you are on a farm/ranch, sheltering livestock may be the wrong thing to do because a wildfire could trap animals inside, causing them to burn alive. Leaving animals unsheltered is preferable, or if time and personal safety permits, evacuation away from the danger zone should be considered. 

Residents will be advised of potential hazards and the possibility of evacuation. There are two types of evacuation notices. Evacuation Warning: An evacuation warning is issued when an evacuation order is imminent. It includes the specific geographical areas that may be evacuated and procedures to follow. Evacuation Order: An evacuation order is issued when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. The evacuation order contains specific geographic areas to be evacuated and procedures to follow.

The fire agencies managing the fire will decide which areas to be evacuated based on fire location, wind, fire behavior and predicted fire spread. Law enforcement agencies are responsible for coordinating the evacuation process and will work with residents during the evacuation process.    StanAware is the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services communications system that allows the public to be contacted directly in case of a large-scale emergency and keep local citizens informed in the event of an emergency or disaster.  StanAware utilizes the Everbridge Mass Notification System in use by many other government agencies, universities and corporations. In the event of an emergency or disaster, residences and businesses within Stanislaus County can be contacted by telephone, text or email with emergency alert information.  The Emergency Notification system is intended to supplement, not replace information you will receive from television, radio and other sources. Additionally, there may be situations where direct communication from the county is simply not possible. We encourage citizens to develop and practice individual and family emergency planning.   For additional information please visit the following website  

http://www.stanaware.com/

In Your Home: Call 911. Stay inside your house away from outside walls. Keep all doors closed but keep them unlocked. Fill sinks and tubs with cold water. Keep the entire family together and remain calm. Remember, if it gets hot in the house, it is four to five times hotter and more dangerous outside.  After the fire passes, check the exterior and roof immediately and extinguish all sparks and embers. If you must climb to the roof, use caution. Check inside the attic for hidden burning embers. Check your yard for burning woodpiles, trees, fence posts, and other burning materials.In Your Car: Call 911.  If you become trapped by fire while evacuating in your car, park in an area clear of vegetation, close all windows and vents, cover yourself with a jacket or blanket, and lie on the floor.