Fire safety and the California Parks Department

There is a situation brewing over the land behind the houses on the bluffs. This certainly affects the homes on the bluffs, but in the event of a fire, all of our homes would be at risk.

Here is the text of a letter from the State of California,Parks Dept. to one of our local and fellow neighbors on Mississippi Bar, Orangevale, CA . . . Don and I have had conversations with several other neighbors along Mississippi Bar; all of whom find it hard to believe that the Stateof CA. Parks Dept. thinks that it would be ok to allow ahazardous situation to develop on their property! Note the incorrect math.

Also, here is what Don has sent to several of our State Representatives and other officials, along with my comments.

Don, et. al.,

Thanks for taking the time to follow up on this. I will be posting this on the neighborhood website blog. We spoke with Kevin Overholt re the letter he received, and he's certainly not happy about the situation.

Amazingly, after attempting to get him to pay for the "restoration," he wasinstructed to water what the Parks Dept. is going to plant there. So, I guess trespass is in the eye of the beholder. It's ok for him to trespass if he's doing their bidding, but it's not ok to trespass to protect his property from a wildfire!

It seems to me that if the Parks Department wants to pay for a fire insurance policy against the possibility of a fire destroying the 200+ homes in the Arden Bluff neighborhood, then I have no objection to them allowing the over-growth of brush.

I would also like to know that they have the funds in place (perhaps in a trust fund) to pay off the millions of dollars of lawsuits that would ensue if people are injured or killed by the Parks Department negligent behavior.

I suspect that they are unwilling to insure our homes and unwilling to accept responsibility for injuries or loss of life.

I've been attempting to reach the local fire inspector (Russ at 916-942-3324), but we've been playing a less-than rewarding game of telephone tag. I will keep trying.

This is a very distressing situation, and we're all hoping that our State representatives will get involved before we have an Oakland Hills disaster.

Perhaps we need to have an Arden Bluff community meeting to discuss this inperson. We're happy to host this at our house.

Quoting "Don and Ann @ HOME" :
> Further, it is my understanding from Sacramento County Metro Fire Prevention
> District that it is the responsibility of the home owner to keep clear at
> least 30 ft - and up to 150ft of defendable space:
> http://www.smfd.ca.gov/wildland.htm
>
> I would sure like Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan to get involved and see what
> Fire Chief Rick Martinez (tel 916-566-400) has as a take is on this . as we
> may need another immediate town hall meeting to do some "emergency fire
> prevention planning."
>
> Here is more from Sacramento County Metro Fire Prevention District on 'Weed
> Abatement' which is again a 30ft minimum -and up to 150ft of "Clear Space"
> that can be done by discing (rototilling), scraping, mowing or weed eating.
> http://www.smfd.ca.gov/weed_abatement.htm which goes on to say that if you
> fail to abate, you may be cited and billed for the abatement clearing
> charges. (For more information, please call Scott Castill at 942-3300.)
> Several neighbors have been issued these blanket notices in past years . . .
> if you have a copy please forward.

You might also want to check out the "hostile perscriptive easement link: http://www.escrowhelp.com/articles/20031104.html

Jonathan