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Annual Brush Clearance Information
The South Pasadena Fire Department will soon be conducting brush inspections to ensure the fire safety of our community. Certainly, fires in the past few years have highlighted the importance of this program. Deadline to have hazardous brush removed is June 1. It is your responsibility, as property owners, to take all necessary actions to clear dry or dangerous vegetation and hazardous brush away from structures or buildings. This will assist in creating a defensible space which may help save your home.
The South Pasadena Fire Department shall enforce the brush clearance requirements specified in the California Fire Code (2007 Edition): The Fire Code requirements include:

Remove all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth within 30 feet of any structure, or in areas determined to be high hazard. The brush shall be cleared a minimum of 100 feet from any structure. The high hazard area is defined as the section of the city located south of Monterey Road and west of Meridian Avenue. Single trees, ornamental shrubbery or cultivated ground covers may be permitted provided they are maintained in such a manner that they do not easily transmit fire from the vegetation to the structure.

For areas considered extremely hazardous, the inspecting fire officer, with the approval of the Fire Chief, may require an additional 100 feet of clearance/defensible space for a total of 200 feet minimum clearance away from any structure.

Dead branches shall be removed or pruned from living trees. Dead branches shall not be allowed to overhang the roofs of structures or buildings. All roof structures shall be maintained free of dead leaves and flammable debris.

A portion of any tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe shall be removed.

A portion of any tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe shall be removed.

Woodpiles or stacked wood shall not be allowed within 30 feet of a structure. Flammable vegetation shall not be allowed within 10 feet of woodpiles or stacked wood.

All chimneys and fireplaces shall be equipped with an approved metal or non-flammable spark arrester having openings not larger than 1/2 inch

Address identification shall be clearly visible from the street fronting the property.
Successful prevention of catastrophic fires requires a partnership between the community and the Fire Department to maintain properties free of hazards. Please use the above information to ensure that your property is protected. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

It is the philosophy of the South Pasadena Fire Department to prevent catastrophic brush fires through comprehensive code enforcement efforts and, when necessary, a rapid response of properly trained and equipped firefighters. Successfully preventing fires requires a partnership between the community and the South Pasadena Fire Department to maintain the hill areas free of hazardous brush and combustible vegetation.

If you have any questions, please contact the South Pasadena Fire Department - Fire Prevention Bureau at (626) 403-7300. Thank you.