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1. What are "Very High Fire Hazard Severity (VHFHS) Zones"?

Per California State Law and in the City of El Cerrito's Fire Hazard Reduction Program, any geographic area designated per Government Code section 51178 to contain the type and condition of vegetation, topography, weather and structure density to potentially increase the possibility of wildland conflagration fires. As a community adjacent to extensive wildland areas, the City of El Cerrito contains several VHFHS zones. A map of these zones is available from the Fire Department. Fire hazard reduction standards are more extensive for properties located within VHFHS zones.

2. What is meant by the term "defensible space"?

Defensible Space is a concept in landscape design for homes which provides a band of managed vegetation around a home that slows movement of fire by reducing or denying fuel and provides a space for fire fighters to take a stand to protect the house.

3. What are fire resistant plants?

"Fire resistant plants" is a relative term used to describe plants that are "more resistant" or "less resistant" than other plants to fire. Given enough heat, all vegetation will burn. Yet plants in fact differ in how fast they burn, how high a flame they produce and their ability to survive fire. Fire resistance is enhanced by higher amounts of moisture within twigs and foliage. Fire-resistant plants can lose this quality altogether if not properly maintained and irrigated. A partial list of fire resistant and highly flammable plants is available from Diablo Fire Safe Council  and the El Cerrito Fire Department.

4. What is considered "Fire hazardous vegetation"?

Fire hazardous vegetation includes plants which can burn easily because they generate dry undergrowth, contain flammable oils or produce significant quantities of dead or dying material. Hazardous vegetation is fuel which must be removed or strictly maintained so as not to constitute a fire hazard by igniting easily and then contributing to rapid fire spread. Seasonally dry grass, weeds, brush, and unmaintained and unirrigated trees and ornamental vegetation are examples of fire hazardous vegetation. Properly chipped, mulched and disbursed material does not constitute fire hazardous vegetation. Fire hazardous vegetation is also known as flammable vegetation and combustible growth.

5. What is "Ornamental landscaping"?

Ornamental landscaping: Decorative plants growing within a tended garden or yard which are appropriately irrigated, maintained and located to provide aesthetic decoration and functional utility, such as privacy screening, shade, weed suppression and erosion control. The use of fire-resistant plants and the removal of fire hazardous vegetation will enhance fire safety.

6. What is a "Firebreak"?

A firebreak is an area in which all flammable vegetation or combustible growth is removed and cleared away, thereby eliminating fire hazardous vegetation fuels which can rapidly transmit fire. Ornamental landscaping is permissible within a firebreak as long as it is adequately irrigated, maintained and spaced so as not to provide a means of rapidly transmitting fire. (note: firebreak is different than fuel break.)

7. What is a fuel break?

A fuel break is an area in which all flammable vegetation or combustible growth is reduced and cleared away according to established standards, thereby limiting the mass and arrangement of fire hazardous vegetation fuels which can rapidly transmit fire. Appropriate ornamental landscaping is permissible within a fuel break. Fuel reduction standards for fuel breaks limit the height of certain vegetation (brush, native shrubs, weeds and grasses), remove from trees any fuels which can ladder fire into the canopies, and provide adequate spacing between remaining plants.