For Open Space Neighbors: Improve the fire safety of your property.

The hot summer months are here and the grass on our hillsides is turning brown. As you are well aware, these conditions mark the onset of fire season.

The Marin County Open Space District and the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association want to remind you to make your home fire-safe. The Open Space District and Marin's fire departments perform a variety of tasks to reduce the possibility of fire on Open Space District lands, but we need your help to do an even better job. You can contibute substantially to the fire safety of your own home by clearing tall grasses near your home to create what firefighters call "defensible space."

If your home is adjacent to lands of the Marin County Open Space District, we encourage you to mow grass on Open Space District lands up to a distance of 30 feet from our common property line to provide additional defensible space for your home. Guidelines to help you perform this work safely are listed below. You do not need a permit to mow grass on Open Space District land. However, if you wish to cut brush or trees on Open Space District land, please call the Open Space District at (415) 507-2816 for further instructions and to obtain a fuel reduction permit.

GUIDELINES FOR MOWING GRASS ON MARIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE DISTRICT LAND ADJACENT TO YOUR HOME

It is extremely important that your clearance work does not start a fire and that you follow the guidelines below:

• Confirm that the property you want to mow is owned by the Marin County Open Space District, not your neighbor or another agency. Information on lot lines and property ownership is available at the County Assessor-Recorder's Office (499-7215, or go to http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/AR/main/index.cfm) and the County Community Development Agency (499-6269, or go to http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/index.cfm).
• Mow only grass. If you wish to cut brush or trees on Open Space District lands, you will need a permit; please call the District field office at 415-507-2816.
• Never mow under high fire hazard RED FLAG conditions; call 415-499-7191 for current conditions.
• In the heat of summer, mow early in the morning or during the evening when it is cooler and less likely that you could start a fire. Use extra caution with power mowers or other spark-producing tools.
• Keep a 5-pound "ABC" fire extinguisher AND a fully charged garden hose at the work site while mowing or other work is taking place.
• Do not use metal mowing heads on power scythes (weed whips) as they can spark from contact with rocks.
• Make sure spark arrestors are in place and functioning.
• Do not lay power tools in dry grass where hot metals may ignite flammable vegetation.
• Re-fuel tools away from vegetation -- on paved surfaces or cleared areas. Store gasoline away from site.
• If possible, have someone spot you (keep a close watch) while you are working to watch for problems.
• Watch for hikers and other open space visitors; cease work until they are clear from the work area.

Information on the Open Space District is available on the internet at: http://www.marinopenspace.org.

For guidelines on fire protection, call your local fire agency or check the internet:

Fire Safe Marin
http://www.firesafemarin.org/

Marin County Fire Prevention Officers
http://www.marinfirechiefs.org/prevention

FireWise
http://www.firewise.org

Marin County Fire Services
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/FR/main/fire/services.cfm#vmp

City of Novato Fire Services
http://www.novatofire.org/default.aspx

FEMA - Wildfire brochure
http://www.fema/gov/pdf/hazards/wfie.pdf