Fire Prevention
Statement on Brush Clearance - January 2025
The severity of the recent fires and their rapid spread by severe Santa Ana winds is alarming to residents of foothill communities. The City takes the management of its properties and wilderness areas seriously. The City works closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to manage brush in the urban wildlife interface. Nothing can stop each and every fire from starting and spreading, but managing fuel sources, creating defensible space, and hardening your home are ways to minimize potential risks and damage.
Each year, the City is required to maintain its properties in the urban wildfire interface zone to Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) standards. The City clears brush, inspects trees, and maintains its properties above the LACFD standard requirements. The City also has a contractor that performs annual brush clearance in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park and for the last three months, the California Conservation Corp has been working in the CHWP on fuel reduction. In June, LACFD performed brush clearance and fire road maintenance in the Wilderness Park in anticipation of this fire season. Maintaining the fire road in the Wilderness Park allows fire trucks to access the hillsides quickly. The City arborist also inspects trees throughout the city. Each year, dead and diseased trees are removed. At this time of the year, many trees may look dry and dead but may in fact be dormant. These trees will begin growing foliage in spring.
Additionally, LACFD inspects and requires brush clearance of private properties in the severe fire zone each year in spring. Along Mills and Padua, there are private properties owned by the Department of Water and Power, Southern California Edison, Golden State Water Company and the Pomona Valley Protection Agency. The Botanic Gardens and the Bernard Field station area are also privately owned open space areas. The City does not inspect or perform brush clearance on privately owned property. In February 2025, property owners in Claremont's high fire severity zones will receive their annual notice to clear defensible space around their properties. In May, LACFD will be performing its annual property inspections. (See below for more information)
High Fire Severity Zones
California’s seasonally dry Mediterranean climate lends itself to wildfires, and in an effort to better prepare, CAL FIRE is required to classify the severity of fire hazard in areas of California. Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps arose from major destructive fires, prompting the recognition of these areas and strategies to reduce wildfire risks. Legislative response led to mandated mapping across California under the California Public Resources Code 4201-4204, encompassing all State Responsibility Areas (SRA). portions of northern Claremont have been classified as high fire zones in the Local Responsibility Area (LRA). Properties in the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are subject to Defensible Space Inspections and Brush Clearance Notices by Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Cal Fire High Fire Severity Zones Map and Information
Building in a High Fire Zone
The City of Claremont follows the 2022 Fire Code for building in high fire zones in Claremont. The code has requirements for building materials, access and easements, hydrants, landscaping, and fire suppression systems. The Fire Code section may be found here.
Annual Brush Clearance Program
The LA County Fire Department sends Brush Clearance Notices to residents in Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) annually. The Brush Clearance Program is a joint effort between the Los Angeles Fire Department and the County of Los Angeles Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures, Weed Hazard and Pest Abatement Bureau (Weed Abatement Division). There are approximately 60,000 homeowners who will be receiving this notice for the first time while others have been part of the Department’s annual brush clearance program for many years. Over the last two years, the fire department integrated a geospatial database into the Defensible Space Inspection Program that is far more accurate than visual identification used in previous years. Using criteria-based mapping, numerous parcels have been identified within the FHSZs that have never been inspected.
California Health & Safety Code, Section 14902, allows recovery of inspection program costs. In 1989, the Los Angeles County Dept. of Agricultural Commissioner, Weights and Measures, was authorized by the board of supervisors to recover their inspection program costs. The fire department resisted imposing this fee until 2022. Working with the board of supervisors, the fire department agreed to phase in the brush inspection fee over a three-year period. In 2022, the fee was $50 (to be billed on the 2023 property tax bill); in 2023, the fee will be $100 (to be billed on the 2024 property tax bill); and in 2024, the fee will be $151 (to be billed on the 2025 property tax bill). These fees will be assessed on all declared hazardous properties whether or not they are cleared by the property owner. The fee is intended to offset the Department’s costs in an effort to keep the Brush Clearance Inspection Program cost neutral.
Brush clearance inspections begin on May 1 in inland communities. If hazardous fire conditions exist on a property at the time of inspection, the property owner will be issued an Official Inspection Report that will indicate existing violations and provide specific clearing instructions and a compliance deadline.
For more information regarding brush clearance requirements and responsibilities, visit LA County Fire Hazard Reduction Programs or contact the Brush Clearance Unit at (626) 969-2375.
Brush Clearance Annual Notice - FAQs
Southern California Edison Vegetation Trimming and Clearance
Trees, shrubs, and other vegetation can cause safety hazards and power outages if they grow into or near power lines. To support safety, SCE regularly trims or removes trees that are dead, dying, diseased, or growing near or under power lines.
SCE offers a free “make-safe” program. As part of this program, SCE will assess and remove portions of trees to a level that would allow other workers to remove or prune the rest of the tree safely. Find out more about SCE's trimming and clearance standards here.
Fire Prevention
With brush inspections in full swing, and a projected active fire season before us, time is of the essence to remind community members to review the Ready! Set! Go! materials.
There is no guarantee any structure will survive the indiscriminate destruction of a wind-driven fire. However, studies have identified three factors that may decide whether or not your home survives the next wildland fire: Ornamental vegetation, landscape maintenance, and hardening structures to resist catching fire from wind-blown embers. Embers are lightweight, burning pieces of vegetation or construction material which are sent high into the air by winds or smoke and can land a mile or more away, starting new fires. Ember-proofing, or "hardening" your home may be the critical difference between a home surviving or being destroyed during a wildland fire.
To assist you with hardening your home, the L.A. County Fire Department has developed the following information:
Ready! Set! Go! Your Personal Wildfire Action Plan(PDF, 2MB)