Posted by Bob, a resident of the Woodside: Woodside Heights neighborhood, on Aug 12, 2008 at 2:41 pm

Is this really a rule anyone would like to see applied along Walsh Road, in Woodside, etc? given the typical lot sizes, where the house is usually within 100-150 feet of the property line in every direction, this would essentially mean cutting down every tree between Alameda de las Pulgas and 280.

I don't think any of us really want to clear cut entire neighborhoods.

Bob

Posted by Linda Fuego, a resident of the Woodside: Woodside Glens neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2008 at 11:04 am

Defensible space doesn't equal clear-cutting. A bit of thoughtful pruning to keep branches away from rooftops, and shrubs a safe distance from the lower limbs of trees can make all the difference.

A lot of helpful information is here: Web Link

Posted by Bob, a resident of the Woodside: Woodside Heights neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2008 at 11:43 am

Pruning, etc. makes more sense. The Almanac articles certainly implied clear cutting, but if that's not the case it makes a lot more sense.

thanks,

Bob

Posted by Linda Fuego, a resident of the Woodside: Woodside Glens neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Yeah, even though firefighters tend to see trees as very tall piles of tinder, I don't think they're advocating that everyone bulldoze their landscaping and make a giant cement patio around their houses.

I think it's a little tough to sum up neatly, but there are brochures out there that explain how easily a wildfire can be sparked if dry, unmown grass gets ignited, flames move up to dry brush and then leap from there to low branches and climb into tree canopies and roof-tops.

It's all about breaking the links in the ladder of fire-fuels, either through pruning, green lawns, fire-resistant plants, etc.