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c. Remove all dead piant material
<br /> from the §round that may create
<br /> rue{ ladders or contribute to the
<br /> spread of fire.
<br />
<br /> d. Where appficabte, trim conifer-
<br /> ous trees to where the lowest
<br /> branches or canopy are above
<br /> the roofline and a minimum of
<br /> to feet from chimneys or other
<br /> sources of i§nition.
<br />
<br /> e. Remove flammable debds from
<br /> gutters and roof surfaces.
<br />
<br /> f. Remove all combustible materi-
<br /> als and ye§elation from under
<br /> decks. Non-fire-resistant vege-
<br /> tation within three feet of build-
<br /> in~s, structures, and decks
<br /> should be spaced to limit i§ni-'
<br /> lion from surrounding ye§ela-
<br /> tion arid the creation of fuel
<br /> ladders.
<br />
<br />2. Recommended Zone ~ Fuel
<br /> Modification:
<br />
<br /> a. Defensible space should be re~'-
<br /> ulariy maintained during periods
<br /> of high fire danger.
<br />
<br /> b~ Provide adequate hydration for
<br /> all ye§elation.
<br />
<br />Zone 2: Fen feet to 3o feet from bbild-
<br />irt§s, structures, decks, etc.
<br />
<br />~. Required Zone 2 Fuel Modification:
<br />
<br /> a. Remove all ladder fuels and
<br /> dead material
<br />
<br /> b. Remove and destroy all insect
<br /> infested, diseased, and dead
<br /> trees to prevent spread to
<br /> healthy vegetation.
<br />
<br />.~_. Recommended Zone 2 Fuel
<br /> Modification:
<br />
<br /> a. Zone z defensible space shah be
<br /> maintained at least annually.
<br />
<br /> b. Create separation between trees,
<br /> tree crowns and other plants
<br /> based on fuel type, density,
<br /> slope, and other topographical'
<br /> conditions that may adversely
<br /> affect fire behavior.
<br />
<br /> ~:. Reduce continuity of fuels by cre-
<br /> olin§ clear space around brush
<br /> or plantin§ ~roups.
<br />
<br />"Basal area" 's a measurementtof tree_
<br />density:The basal area is the'cross~
<br />sectional area of a tree'4.5 fEe~iabove,"
<br />groun'dyhe basal:area of:all.t[ees in:a
<br />' given-land area describes,.~hed:egree _:.
<br />~': to which, an'are~
<br />.:.': an.'~, fa, [efleral[~. ~x p tess e &~ [~: ~a r~,?~.'~
<br />~'. feet- p'e~ ac~e:.Th e- b-asa'l~,a
<br />
<br />~;-Wh ere ~,..~qua [s...[re 6'dia m ete~ f~.~¢~?
<br />
<br /> d. Control erosion and sedimenta-
<br /> tion from exposed soils through
<br /> terracing, gravel beds, rocks, or
<br /> other appropriate ground cover.
<br /> Emphasis is placed on slopes ·
<br /> greater than 2o percent gradient,
<br /> in which case, additional vegeta-
<br /> tion treatment may be required.
<br />
<br /> e. Remove all but one inch of pine
<br /> needle or leaf droppings. It is
<br /> important to leave a layer of
<br /> decomposing plant material to
<br /> maintain adequate moisture lev-
<br /> els for further decomposition
<br /> and plant hydration.
<br />
<br />C. Zone 3; Thirty feet to loo feet from
<br /> buildings, structures, decks, etc. where
<br /> slopes do not exist and undeveloped
<br /> lots are [ess than two acres.
<br />
<br /> t, Required Zone 3 Fuel Modification:
<br />
<br /> a. Remove all ladder fuels and dead
<br /> material.
<br />
<br /> b. Thin coniferous trees to achieve
<br /> an overall average density of not
<br /> more than too trees or 60
<br /> square feet basal area per acre.
<br />
<br /> c. Remove and destroy all insect
<br /> infested, diseased, and dead
<br /> trees to iJrevent spread to
<br /> healthy vegetation.
<br />
<br /> 2. Recommended Zone 3 Fuel
<br /> Modification:
<br />
<br /> c. Zone 3 defensible space should
<br /> be maintained at least annually.
<br />
<br />CONCLUSION
<br />As larger numbers of people have sought the
<br />scenic and natural amenities of living in the
<br />wildland/urban interface, planners in com-
<br />munities facing wildfire hazards have faced
<br />an increasing need to draft and implement
<br />regulations that can direct such develop-
<br />ment to appropriate locations and to mini-
<br />mize the hazards for those living, there. They
<br />also face a growing need to become knowl-
<br />ed§eable about what has worked and .what
<br />does not. Although models exist for crafting
<br />such regulations, the nature and the scope
<br />of the hazard will be different [ri every com-
<br />munity, so model codes must be adapted to
<br />local circumstances. However, as the new
<br />PAS Report documents, it is possible to
<br />enlist public support through education and
<br />the direct involvement of residents to
<br />achieve workable and effective solutions.
<br />
<br />VOL. =~, NO: 3
<br />Zoning Practice is a monthly publicatio, of the
<br />American Planning Ass~ciatiom Subscriptions are
<br />available for $65 (U.S.) and $9o (forei§n). W. Paul
<br />~armer, AicP, Executive Director; William R. Klein,
<br />~lc~, Director of Research.
<br />
<br />Zoning Practice (ISSN ].548-o~-35) is produced at
<br />APA. lira Schwab, AicP, and Michael Davidson,
<br />Editors; 8arty gain, Aicp, Fay Oolnick, Josh Edwards,
<br />Megan Lewis. AICP, Maria Morris, A~CP, Rebecca
<br />Retzlaff, AICI', Lyon M. Ross, Sarah K. Wiebenson,
<br />Reporters; lulie Von Bergen, Assistant Editor; Li~a
<br />Barton, Design and Production.
<br />
<br />Copyright ©~oo5 by American Planning
<br />Association, !22 S. Michigan Ave., Suite t6oo,
<br />Chicago, iL 6o6o3. The American Planning
<br />Association also has offices at ~776
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<br />www.p[anning.or§.
<br />
<br />All rights reserved. No part of (his publication may
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<br />ZONING PRACTICE 3.05
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