Resources should be commited to fuel reduction in proportion to risk: propertties with more area and more foliage should receive more funds. The chipper program is not that useful for large properties (which produce more risk) because it requires the material to be brought to the chipper. That’s simply not practical on (say) a 5 acre plot. We were all wondering what to do with extra library funds a while ago. Fire prevention would be a good use.

Someone needs to enforce the defensible space regulations, Having trained firemen do that is a waste of talent. Planning and building staff, who are in the field anyway, could bring back the identities of properties that need brush clerance, and the town could carry out inspections and noticing of non-compliant properties.

"That’s simply not practical on (say) a 5 acre plot."

Then sell it and move into a condo.

Personal responsibility. Public responsibility, too.

Are there not rules?

Home Alone —. I can see why... Let me explain so even you understand: the chipper program provides free chipping IF you bring the brush to the curb. That’s impractical on a large lot with truckloads of brush. So every year I rent a chipper for $hundreds and bring it to the brush. The point being that the program only really helps on smaller lots, and they aren’t the ones creating all the fire danger. To make a real impact it needs to bring the chipper (which is on wheels) onto the property where the brush is.

The town also needs to get Openspace to clean up its land too. Thornewood is a fire trap endangering all of Skywood, Skylonda and Old La Honda.

Jean Jennie — yes there are rules that are not enforced.

>> So every year I rent a chipper for $hundreds and bring it to the brush.

Omigosh! You have such a large lot in WOODSIDE that you spend a couple hundred a year on cleanup! Poor thing - yes, an expanded government bailout chipper welfare program is exactly what you need!

Home depot has chipper rentals starting at $69 and you can buy a solid gas chipper for under a grand.

Man up. Or as @homealone said: sell and get a condo.

I feel for you, Man Up. If I tried chipping with a $1,000 chipper I’d be lashing out too.