Homeowners Told to Clear Brush
Ventura County fire officials have mailed out more than 18,000 notices warning homeowners that weeds and brush within 100 feet of their homes must be cleared before June 1.
The county Fire Department’s vegetation management program seeks to protect residents from wildfires, which in 1993 destroyed scores of residences in the county.
“Burning brush and embers can and do fly long distances, igniting vulnerable materials,” department spokeswoman Sandi Wells said in a statement.
“The clearance of vegetation creates a defensible perimeter that helps firefighters protect structures,” she said.
Residents are encouraged to remove the brush, weeds and other flammable materials themselves, clearing paths around the property up to 100 feet wide.
The notices warn property owners that they have until June 1 to comply with the fire-prevention order, or the Fire Department will arrange for the work to be done and then bill the landowner.
Cleanup costs for owners who fail to clear areas surrounding their homes will be added to the landowners’ yearly tax bill, fire officials said.
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