Full Notification

Folsom – Fire officials urge residents and property owners alike to be cautious when using mechanical equipment such as weed eaters, lawn mowers, welding tools and chain saws within vacant lots, greenbelts and other areas that are located within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in Folsom. This warning comes after there have been three vegetation fires in the last four days in the City. Each was determined to have been caused by individuals engaged in activities to provide defensible space and property maintenance. The seasonal high temperatures and low humidity this week caused additional challenges for firefighters. The enclosed photo shows the impact caused by a recent fire in the Empire Ranch neighborhood of Folsom.Each fire was quickly doused by firefighters before they grew beyond one acre in size.

The City of Folsom Fire Department offers the following tips to prevent fires from property maintenance equipment:

 Perform yard maintenance with power equipment before 10 a.m., not during the heat of the day or when the wind is blowing. The best time to mow in the City is before 9 a.m. when the humidity is highest.

 Never use lawn mowers on dry grass or brush.

 Be sure your portable gas-powered equipment has a spark arrester.

 Never refuel while equipment is still hot from use.

 Don’t drive or park in grassy areas.

 Always have a portable fire extinguisher nearby in case a fire does start.

As a reminder open burning in the City is prohibited due to the high fire danger present throughout all WUI areas of the City.

The City of Folsom also urges property owners to maintain a 100-foot defensible space around homes and other buildings. In addition, fire officials urge residents and property owners to prepare themselves and their properties from the risk of wildfire by visiting the READY-SET-GO program at wildlandfiresrsg.org website. This website helps residents to prepare by offering helpful tips on how to prepare for the fire threat, maintain situational awareness when a fire starts and to act early before a fire threatens your neighborhood.

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