It’s summer and it’s fire season. While the Morongo Basin has been moderately lucky so far this year, everyone of us should continue doing their part to prevent fires.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department, which oversees a significant portion of the Morongo Basin, has a program that will assess your yard for fire danger. It’s called the Residential Assessment Program, or RAP and it’s completely free.
Through RAP, an official from San Bernardino County Fire will come to your home and tell you how you’re doing when it comes to keeping weeds, brush and bushes, which can easily catch and spread fire, away from structures on your property.
It’s a concept called “defensible space,” and County Fire South Desert Division 4 Battalion Chief Travis Aguirre explains what the term means.
Chief Travis Aguiree: “Defensible space is exactly that. It’s a clearance from the nearest fuel or potential fuel in relation to your home. The issue we’re seeing right now with the substantial rainfall we’re seeing right now is there is a high growth of weeds and bushes. I know that it’s hot outside and people don’t want to get out there and weed right now, but it’s the best way to keep your home safe in case of a vegetation fire.
What we’re really trying to educate the public on is the idea of taking a proactive approach in trying to ensure that their home and investment is protected from vegetation fire. 100 feet is the general rule of thumb and the standard that we’re going for. Cal Fire preaches something similar.”
San Bernardino County Fire is eager to send an official to your house and assess your defensible space, free of charge, as part of the Residential Assessment Program.
Chief Aguiree: “We’ll send someone to your house. It’s one 100%, it’s something we’re looking to do in the name of community risk reduction.”
You can contact San Bernardino County Fire at 909.386.8400 or visit this link. SBCFire will contact you and set up an appointment.
