Topics
Issue with map use
I am inquiring about the exact level of fire hazard for my house. I saw on the website of Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps Cupertino CA that it wasn't very clear whether we are in Red (Very High) or Orange (High),
• The Cal Fire hazard map I found online doesn't show any street names, so it's hard to tell precisely whether an address falls within a particular zone Questions
• How is it going to change my already very limited options for insurance? • Could CalFire do property reviews and give insight on risks and fire mitigation? • Will the city/CalFire help clear vegetation and create firewall zones? • What is the risk of our homes and can you explain why? • Will the City trim back its tall trees in hazard zones? • What support will the city provide for property owners? • What is the time frame for complying?
• Will the city waive fees for necessary tree removals? Suggestions/Requests
• At the interface between the wildlands and the suburban city, it's probably a good idea to have some kind of barrier, such as but not limited to a firebreak. • We want to urge for periodic control burns to save the environment. • Iurge local authorities to identify and maintain the wildland-urban interface areas through periodic maintenance specificallly control burns • Requesting you to create barrier at wildland interface to reduce wildfire impact.
Thanks
• There are a bunch of trees near the train tracks that are close to the US post office in Cupertino. This area should also be included as part of the fire hazard.
Additionally we should include these specific areas which are till those dry leaf areas.
• It is crucial to implement to identify the critical areas and work with local agencies to perform control burns periodically. Also investigating the feasibility of an outdoor sprinkler system.
• City must investigating the feasibility of an outdoor sprinkler system.
Other
• Ilive within a mile of a high risk fire area. Is there a program to install N5 smoke detection sensors in the Cupertino foothill area? My understanding is that some N5 sensors are being placed in "high fire zones in the Santa Cruz mountains" by the Santa Clara Countuy Fire Safe Council and SJ Water Co. but have not found any more information about this project or any such similar project in the Cupertino Area. Any plans in this regard? Many thanks for your response. • If homeowners have to maintain their properties then so should the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve... They should be managing the brush and areas to prevent risk to neighbors and residences!!!
• it is important for local authorities to identify and maintain the wildland-urban interface areas through periodic maintenance specificallly control burns. • 1I believe that all new construction in fire zones Moderate, High, and Very High should be required to use the latest construction hardening techniques to reduce the risk of fire damage. 2 I also believe that any new development with more than 10 units per acre should have a full Environmental Impact Report completed and mitigation efforts approved prior to approval for construction, and that any development of more than 20 units per acre should require including a new on-site fire station as part of the mitigation and approval process.
• The recent fire risk map changes primarily punish homeowners for the failure of the City of Cupertino to properly maintain and enforce residents to conform to existing fire safety requirements. At our request, The Fire Marshall office has inspected our property on several occasions and had NO recommendations for improving our fire safety and even complimented us on taking so many precautionary measures. The City of Cupertino fails to reasonably maintain road fire safety or to enforce adjacent property owners to meet existing fire safety rules. Per City representatives, our emergency exit is through a LOCKED GATE.
Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles regularly drive on our road without trouble. Rather than punish us for their failures, the City should enforce its own rules and regulations and meet its own responsibilities. If they did so, there would be no need to change the risk status of our property.