Attachment 2FIRE DEPARTMENT
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
14700 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95032-1818
(408) 378-4010 • (108) 378-9342 (fax) • vPww.sccfd.org
March 1, 2017
Dear Property Owner:
With huge amounts of rain coming into California few are thinking about wildfires. Although
the "water drought" may be over, we must look at the devastation the drought years have left us
with. The number of dead trees and other dried vegetative fuels is significant and puts our
communities at risk for wildfire. Over the past few months we have endured a considerable
amount of rain, which will help to produce rapid growth during spring. When summer and fall
arrive, that growth will be dry and become greater fuel for a wildfire.
The Santa Cruz Mountains has had its share of significant fires. Your prorcrtv is either low s f in
the mountains or adjacent to them, which means you are living with fire. Wildfires :ire extremely
costly, not only to property owners and residents, but also to local agencies. Wildfires pose a
serious threat to the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. ft is imperative that you
take steps to protect your home and all structures on your property from wildfire.
Your property is located in the Wildland Urban Interface Area (WUI) and requires a defensible
space of 30 feet around all structures. To accomplish this, you must remove all flammable brush,
vegetation and dry grasses adjacent to structures.
Did you know, wildfires don't have to be outside your front door for your property to be at risk.
The burning embers and firebrands from a wildfire can travel far beyond the area it's impacting.
These ignition sources can travel about a mile and can become a significant threat to your
home/structure or other combustible fuels on your property. To help protect your property from
wildfire damage, I want to introduce you to a new program "Be Ember Aware". The IBHS
Research Center's extensive testing and investigation is showing how embers cause structures to
ignite. The following websites are an excellent source for information on the danger of embers
�ww livint )\ itl1fiit_. n(e: and https:/ fdisastersafety.orillwild
Enforced Safety Regulations (Items A-F)
A. Create 30 feet of Defensible Space around your home. To accomplish this, you inust clear all
flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around structures.
B. Clear ornamental shrubs and trees of dead leaves and branches.
C. Remove all pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.
D. Trim tree limbs 10 feet from chimneys or stove pipes, and remove dead limbs that hang over
rooftops.
E. Cover chimney outlets or flues with a 1 /2" mesh spark arrester.
F. Post a clearly visible house address, using at least 4" high numbers, for easy identification.
Organized as the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District
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FIRE DEPARTMENT
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
14700 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos. CA 95032.1818
(408) 378-401.0 •(408) 378-9342 (fax) • www.sccfd.org
March 1, 2017
Dear Property Owner:
With huge amounts of rain coming into California few are thinking about wildfires. Although
the "water drought" may be over, we must look at the devastation the drought years have left us
with. The number of dead trees and other dried vegetative fuels is significant and puts our
communities at risk for wildfire. Over the past few months we have endured a considerable
amount of rain, which will help to produce rapid growth during spring. When summer and fall
arrive, that growth will be dry and become greater fuel for a wildfire.
The Santa Cruz Mountains has had its share of significant fires. Your property is either located in
the mountains or adjacent to them, which means you are living with fire. Wildfires are.extrernely
costly, not only to property owners and residents, but also to local agencies. \A'ildfires pose a
serious threat to the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. It is imperative that you
take steps to protect your home and all structures on your property from wildfire.
Your property is located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and requires 100 feet of
defensible space. To accomplish this, you must clear 30 feet around all structures and provide an
additional 70 feet of reduced fuel zone.
Did you knew, wildfire; don't have to be outside your front door for your property to be at risk.
The burning embers and firebrands from a wildfire can travel far beyond the area it's impacting.
These ignition sources can. travel about a mile and can become a significant threat to your
henie/structure or other combustible fuels on your property. To help protect your property from
v, ildfire damage, I want to introduce you to a new program "Be Ember Aware". The 1t3.1 IS
Research Center's extensive testing and investigation is showing how embers cause structures to
ignite. The following websites are an excellent source for information on the danger of embers
rA .iivi re.info and https:( dirasters,ifety.orf;/wildfire/
Enforced Safety Regulations (Items A-F)
A. Create TOO feet of Defensible Space around your home. 'Co accomplish this, create a Green
Zone by clearing all flammable vegetation 30 feet around structures. Additionally, create a
Reduced Fuel Zone for the remaining 70 feet or..to your property line.
B. Clear ornamental shrubs and trees of dead leaves and branches.
C. Remove all pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.
D. Trim tree limbs 10 feet from chimneys or stove pipes, and remove dead limbs that hang over
rooftops.
E. Cover chimney outlets or flues with a 1 /2" mesh spark arrester.
F. Post a clearly visible house address, using at least 4" high numbers, for easy identification.
Organized as the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District
Sank' Clara County and the coanrnunitie; of Campbell. Cupertino, Los Altos,
Los Altos Hills, Les Gatos, Monte Serena. and Saratoga
Dear Property Owner:
The Santa Clara County Fire Department has made an
inspection of your property. The item(s) checked below are not
in compliance with the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area
safety regulations. Please perform the necessary corrections.
A. ❑ Create 30 feet of Defensible Space around your home.
To accomplish this, you must clear all flammable
vegetation a minimum of 30-feet around structures.
❑ Create 100 feet of Defensible Space around your
home. To accomplish this, create a Green Zone by
clearing all flammable vegetation 30-feet around
structures. Additionally, create a Reduced Fuel Zone
for the remaining 70 feet or to your property line.
B. ❑ Clear ornamental shrubs and trees of dead leaves and
branches.
C. ❑ Remove all pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves
and rain gutters.
D. ❑ Trim tree limbs 1q-feet from chimneys or stovepipes,
and remove dead limbs that hang over rooftops.
E. CI Cover chimney outlets or flues with a 1/2" mesh spark
arrester.
F. C7 Post a dearly visible house address, using at least 4"
high numbers, for easy identification.
A RE -INSPECTION WILL OCCUR ON OR AFTER JUNE
1ST. IF, AT THAT TIME, THE REQUIRED CLEARANCE
OF FLAMMABLE VEGETATION HAS NOT BEEN
COMPLETED, AN AUTHORIZED CONTRACTOR WILL
I3E INSTRUCTED TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY
WORK TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ABOVE
REGULATIONS. WV WILI.t RECEIVE NO FURTHER
NOTICE. COST FOR WORK PERFORMED BY THE
AUTHORIZED CONTRACTOR WILL BE ,PLACED ON
YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL.
Should you have any questions regarding this notice,
please call the Santa Clara County Fire Department, Fire
Prevention Division, at 408.378.4010 or 1.800.800.1793.
APN#
6..y Officer's Name (print)
Date
Fm #110307
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN
In reply to the letter I received concerning the clearance of hazardous vegetation from
structures, please be advised:
❑ I have checked my property for hazardous brushlveeetation clearance and believe that it's in
conformance with Fitt Cale regulations. 1 underhand that an inspection of my property may be
conducted for verification of compliance.
❑ I am no longer the owner of this property.
❑ There are no structures on this property.
❑ 1 will remove the hazardous brush/veeetetaticut from around the structure in accordance with
Fire Code regulations no later than 01 June 2017. I understand if not completed, the
authorized contractor may enter the property and abate the hazardous brush/vegetation, with all
charges being placed as a special assessment ap}Tinst the property.
❑ I authorize the designated contractor to enter the property and abate the hazardous brush/
vegetation to c onfomt with Fire Code regulations. I understand that charges for such work will
be placed as a special assessment against the property.
❑ I am uncertain as to what abatement work is necessary. I would like an inspection from Santa
Clara County Fire Department personnel advising me what work is needed to comply with Fire
Code regulations_
Signature:
Date: Day Phone:
2017 Brush Hearing LG-Final/Desktop/Brush/lg 04.07.17
Dear property owner,
Your property, which is located in the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area,
was recently inspected by the Santa Clara County Fire Department. At
that time, your property was found to be non-compliant with Wildland
Safety Regulations. Enclosed is a copy of the notice that was left at the
residence and indicates the corrections that are necessary.
Please note that a public hearing will be held during the Town of Los
Gatos council meeting on June 20, 2017 at 7:00pm. At that time, all
properties identified by the Fire Department as being non-compliant with
Wildland Safety Regulations will be declared to have hazardous
conditions requiring abatement. An additional inspection of all identified
properties will be conducted after the hearing and prior to ordering any
abatement work. If your property is found to be in compliance at the time
of the re-inspection or upon the arrival of the abatement contractor, no
work will be done and no charges will be imposed.
If you are interested in having the County of Santa Clara do any brush or
weed removal or wish to have an inspection for a cost estimate, please
contact the Hazardous Vegetation Department at (408) 282 -3145. For your
convenience, a price list indicating the rates for the County Contractor is
included on the reverse side of this notice.
If you should have any questions about the information on this notice,
please contact the Fire Prevention Division of the Santa Clara County Fire
Department at (408) 341-4420.
(over)
2017 Brush Hearing LG-Final/Desktop/Brush/lg 04.07.17
LOS GATOS WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
2017 COUNTY WEED ABATEMENT FEES
Please be advised that the property owner of any parcel found to be non-compliant on or
after the June 1st deadline will be scheduled for abatement by the County contractor. If
you complete the abatement work before the County contractor performs the abatement,
you will not incur any further charges. Should the abatement work be performed by a
County contractor, you will be assessed the contractor’s charges plus a County
administrative fee of $434.00 per parcel.
2017 COUNTY CONTRACTOR’S WEED ABATEMENT PRICE LIST
A) Disc Work**
PARCEL SIZE: 1st Disc + 2nd Disc = Total Discs
0 -12,500 sq. ft. $202.86 $136.00 $338.86
12,501sq.ft. - 43,560sq.ft. $235.72 $170.00 $405.72
Larger than 1 Acre $100.87 $89.53 $190.40 (Per Acre)
** It is required that parcels be disced twice a year. The cost for the first discing is
higher due to additional work normally required during the first discing.
B) HANDWORK $3.38 PER 100 sq.ft.
C) FLAIL MOWING 6 Foot Mower $4.50 PER 1000 sq.ft.
12 Foot Mower $3.50 PER 1000 sq.ft.
D) LOADER WORK $110.50 PER HOUR
E) DUMP TRUCK $102.00 PER HOUR
F) BRUSH WORK $3.38 PER 100 sq.ft.
G) DEBRIS REMOVAL $38.86 PER 1000sq.ft.
H) DUMP FEE 100%
*Please note-this program does not offer herbicide application as a method of abatement.