Seniors and Disabled Defensible Space Program, Murphys Area

The project will assist elderly and disabled residents of the county create defensible space within 100-feet of their residence, or to the property line, whichever is closer. This project will consist of removing brush, trees less than 12-inches diameter at breast height, and surface fuels to reduce flammable vegetation in the area surrounding residences. Dead trees of any size may be felled by hand and either left on site for the landowner or hauled to a local green waste facility. Operations will consist of contractors using hand tools to cut brush and small trees, prune trees, rake leaves and pine needles, trim weeds to less than 4-inches in height after the grass has cured, and chipping cut vegetation. Vehicles and chippers will only work from existing roads and driveways. Cut, trimmed, pruned material may be removed from the site and hauled to a green waste facility. The intent of the project is to eliminate the vertical and horizontal continuity of understory fuels and surface fuels to reduce potential fire danger and help elderly and disabled residents of the county comply with the requirements of Public Resources Code 4291. The community of Murphys has been selected as the project area. The project area is approximately 3,321 acres in size. The goal is to reduce hazardous fuels around 200 residences. The area of treatment around any given residence could be up to 100-feet from the residence, or roughly 40,000 square feet (less than 1 acre) per residence. Actual work is expected to occur on less than 200-acres within the project area. The reduction of vegetation around residences will comply with the requirements of Public Resources Code Section 4291 and is expected to minimize fire behavior in the event of a fire.