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A photo of the historic Auburn firehouse

Fire Prevention

Each year, thousands of acres of California wild land and hundreds of homes are destroyed by fire. Living along the steep terrain of canyon areas or among the dense, dry vegetation of the foothills, presents serious fire safety risks to you and your property.

The Auburn Fire Department provides the following fire prevention information:

The fire season lasts from May through October. Fire protection is everyone's responsibility.

Fire Prevention Checklist

The following checklist, developed by the Auburn Fire Department, can assist you in making your home and surrounding area more fire safe.

Roof

  • Remove dead branches hanging over your roof
  • Remove all branches within 10 feet of your chimney
  • Clean all dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters
  • Install a roof that meets the fire resistance classification of "Class A"
  • Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a nonflammable screen of 1/2 inch mesh

Landscape

  • Create a "defensible space" by removing all flammable vegetation at least 30 feet from all structures and replacing it with fire resistant plants
  • Space native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart
  • For trees taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within 6 to 10 feet of the ground
  • Choose ornamental landscaping plants that are fire resistive
  • Maintain all plants by regularly removing dead branches, leaves, and needles

Yard

  • Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and clear away flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles
  • Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and other debris from your yard
  • Contact your local fire department to see if open burning is allowed in your area; if so, obtain a burning permit

Emergency Water Supply

  • Clear around hydrants and mark all emergency water sources
  • Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source

Access

  • Identify at least two exits routes from your neighborhood
  • Design driveways and road widths, grades, and curves to allow access for large emergency vehicles
  • Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as dead-end roads, and weight and height limitations
  • Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have turnaround areas wide enough for emergency vehicles
  • Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways
  • Cut back overhanging tree branches above roads and driveways to 14 feet
  • Construct fire barriers, such as greenbelts and fire breaks
  • Make sure that your street is named or numbered, and a sign is visibly posted at each street intersection
  • Post your house address at the beginning of your driveway, or on your house if it is easily visible from the road

For Safety's Sake

  • Designate an emergency meeting place outside your home
  • Practice emergency exit drills regularly
  • Make sure all children know how to dial 9-1-1 and know their address and phone number
  • Install smoke detectors in every bedroom, check them monthly, and change the battery at least once a year

Additional Resources

The following websites provide valuable information on weed abatement:

In addition, the City of Auburn has implemented the following:

  • Uniform Fire Code
  • City Ordinance 6-9.05