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Fire Prevention

 

Fire prevention

The goal of fire prevention is to educate the public to take precautions to prevent potentially harmful fires, and be educated about surviving them. It is a proactive method of preventing fire-based emergencies and reducing the damage caused by them

Fire Prevention Message:

The Morongo Valley Fire Prevention plays a very important role in the Department’s overall mission. This unit is also tasked with implementing the policies and programs that reduce the magnitude of emergencies and prevents or minimizes the loss of life, property, and environmental damage. The Fire Prevention Unit will provide education to our public, the engineering, per the fire code, during plan review and enforcement of the fire code to meet our goals.

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PLAN CHECK INSTRUCTIONS 

  • Please submit Plans and Fire Letter Application  by email to: (s.primack@morongovalleyfire.org)
  • Fire Hydrant Flow Test (Golden State Water Company) 
  • Fire Department Protection Guideline Letter Application (Morongo Valley Fire Department) 
  • Site Plan  
  • Floor plans 
  • Elevations 
  • Sections and details 
  • Material schedules 
  • Fire sprinkler plans 
  • Fire Letter Application can take up to 30 days
2022 Fire Department Protection Guideline Letter Application 
Morongo Valley Fire Department Fire Department Protection Plans Resubmission Form 
MORONGO VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 20222023 FEE SCHEDULE 
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Fire Marshal

 Stuart Primack

 Office: 760-363-6454

 Email: s.primack@morongovalleyfire.org
 

 

 

Business Owner 

The primary goal of these inspections is to address any fire and life safety issues that may exist in your business premises. Our aim is to educate and assist you in ensuring the safety of your establishment and its occupants. We understand that you have a busy schedule, so we will be contacting you to schedule an appointment at your convenience.

 

To schedule your inspection, please visit the following link: This form will allow you to provide us with your contact information and select a preferred date and time for the inspection. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the online form, please feel free to contact us. We are here to help and ensure a smooth inspection process.

Thank you for your cooperation, and I look forward to meeting you and conducting the inspection at your business premises.

 https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=maZXLggEtEaOo1jOb3S6mEVOh8-r_6VHqMpi4XIxiM5UNE9BMTRFSEZaMTJVQU4yVDRXMVcyWEZKRy4u

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Burn Permit ( Burn Permit are issued by San Bernardino County Fire Protection District )

You MUST obtain an open fire permit to conduct burning of residential or agricultural vegetation waste within the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Please use our online burn permit to obtain a permit. For further information, please contact the Office of the Fire Marshal at 909-386-8400. On behalf of your local firefighters, we appreciate your continued cooperation and support

Open Burning Status – San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (sbcfire.org)

NOTE:  ALL open fires (except for fires fueled solely by natural gas or propane) must be extinguished during Red Flag or Fire Weather Watch Conditions, when local winds exceed 10 miles per hour, or when directed by Fire Department personnel.

 

 

 

Weed Abatement Assistance 
Morongo Basin Fire Safe Council (MBFSC) 

Our mission is to protect the people of Morongo Basin and their property from the effects of catastrophic fires through education, cooperation, innovation, and action. The organization's staff helps implement projects, connect with community members, and leverage partnerships.

MBFSC is a chapter of HDEAA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization funded by grants and community support.

 

HDEAA Fire Safe Council — High Desert Emergency Action Alliance

Get FREE Naloxone Nasal Spray:

High Desert Emergency Action Alliance
57353 29 Palms Hwy Suite B
Yucca Valley, CA 92284

Open Tuesdays & Thursdays. Call or email for other days or an appointment 760-853-0220.

Free Narcan in the Morongo Basin serving the San Bernardino County High Desert — High Desert Emergency Action Alliance (hdeaa.org)

 

Fire Safe Council Smoke Alarm Program 

Fire Safe Council
Smoke Alarm Program

The Morongo Basin Fire Safe Council is dedicated to eliminating preventable injuries, deaths, property damage, and loss in our community due to a lack of working smoke alarms.  Did you know working smoke alarms should be in each sleeping space, in the hallway outside of bedrooms, and on every floor of the home?

Make an appointment

While we aim to serve all residents of the Morongo Basin our program prioritizes senior, disabled, at-risk, and low-income households.

Morongo Basin Smoke Alarm Program — High Desert Emergency Action Alliance (hdeaa.org)

 

Defensible Space 
Overview drawing of house

Defensible Space General Guidelines

Defensible Space refers to an area around the perimeter of structures or developments in the wildlands where the flammable vegetation has been modified to reduce the potential for the structure and/or structures to ignite in the event of a wildfire.

Defensible space is key to defending structures from wildfire. Millions of Californians live in residential developments that border fire prone wildlands.

Each year, hundreds of homes in the wildland interface are lost to wildfires. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire), as many as 80 percent of the homes lost to wildfires in the past could have been saved if the owners had followed a few simple fire-safe practices.

Clearance from all structures shall not be less than 100 feet using surface measurements. Within the 100-foot perimeter, all brush, flammable vegetation, or combustible growth shall be modified so that a wildfire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure.

Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or ground covers are permissible provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure. Such specimens shall be spaced a minimum of 10-15 feet, both horizontally and vertically, from other specimens, structures or surrounding native brush. All trees and shrubs shall be maintained free of deadwood and litter.

Roof surfaces shall be maintained free of accumulations of leaves, needles, twigs, or other combustible materials. Chimneys shall be provided a 10-foot clearance from trees.

Access roads shall be maintained with a minimum 10-foot clearance on each side of the traveled section. Trees and shrubs protruding over the access roadway shall be trimmed to a minimum height of 13 feet 6 inches to allow proper access for emergency equipment.

Discing and rototilling are acceptable methods for removing small types of vegetation. The material shall be tilled or descend into the soil in a manner to eliminate possible fire spread.

These minimum standards are established to provide reasonable measures of controlling both fire and erosion hazards and to protect lives and property. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department may require greater protection levels in high-danger areas. In special cases where difficult terrain, the danger of erosion or environmentally sensitive habitat areas makes compliance difficult, the requirements can be adjusted to accomplish all goals.

For additional information regarding the requirements for Defensible Space as outlined in PRC 4291 please go to http://www.readyforwildfire.org/.

 

Hazard Reduction Program

Every year, the County Fire Department sends notices to abate fire hazards to the owners of many properties in county fire jurisdiction that potentially pose a fire hazard, in conjunction with public education efforts through media outlets such as local television stations and newspapers. These notices indicate the onging defensible space requirements. Property owners have approximately three weeks to meet the requirements for clearing property outlined in the notice for their property.

 

Roof

The roof is the most vulnerable part of your home. Homes with wood or shingle roofs are at high risk of being destroyed during a wildfire. Build your roof or re-roof with materials such as composition, metal or tile. Block any spaces between roof decking and covering to prevent embers from catching.

Vents

Vents on homes create openings for flying embers.

  • Cover all vent openings with 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch metal mesh. Do not use fiberglass or plastic mesh because they can melt and burn.
  • Protect vents in eaves or cornices with baffles to block embers (mesh is not enough).

Eaves and Soffits

Eaves and soffits should be protected with ignition-resistant* or non-combustible materials.

Windows

Heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break even before the home ignites. This allows burning embers to enter and start fires inside. Single-paned and large windows are particularly vulnerable.

  • Install dual-paned windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage in a fire.
  • Consider limiting the size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation.

Wood

Wood products, such as boards, panels or shingles, are common siding materials. However, they are combustible and not good choices for fire-prone areas.

  • Build or remodel your walls with ignition resistant* building materials, such as stucco, fiber cement, wall siding, fire retardant, treated wood, or other approved materials.
  • Be sure to extend materials from the foundation to the roof.

Decks

Surfaces within 10 feet of the building should be built with ignition-resistant*, non-combustible, or other approved materials.

  • Ensure that all combustible items are removed from underneath your deck.

Rain Gutters

Screen or enclose rain gutters to prevent accumulation of plant debris.

Patio Cover

Use the same ignition-resistant* materials for patio coverings as a roof.

Chimney

Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a non-combustible screen. Use metal screen material with openings no smaller than 3/8-inch and no larger than 1/2-inch to prevent embers from escaping and igniting a fire.

Garage

Have a fire extinguisher and tools such as a shovel, rake, bucket, and hoe available for fire emergencies.

  • Install weather stripping around and under the garage door to prevent embers from blowing in.
  • Store all combustible and flammable liquids away from ignition sources.

Fences

Consider using ignition-resistant* or non-combustible fence materials to protect your home during a wildfire.

Driveways and Access Roads

Driveways should be built and maintained in accordance with state and local codes to allow fire and emergency vehicles to reach your home. Consider maintaining access roads with a minimum of 10 feet of clearance on either side, allowing for two-way traffic.

  • Ensure that all gates open inward and are wide enough to accommodate emergency equipment.
  • Trim trees and shrubs overhanging the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

Address

Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road.

Water Supply

Consider having multiple garden hoses that are long enough to reach all areas of your home and other structures on your property. If you have a pool or well, consider getting a pump.

 

Fire Resistive Landscaping

A fire-resistant landscape isn’t necessarily the same thing as a well-maintained yard. This type of landscape uses fire-resistant plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home. Fire resistant plants are great in California because they are often drought tolerant, too.
The good news is, you don’t need a lot of money to make your landscape fire resistant. And you will find that a fire-resistant landscape can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home.
Choose Fire-Resistant Plants and Materials

  • Create fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks and roadways.
  • Use rock, mulch, flower beds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks.
  • There are no “fire-proof” plants. Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.
  • Choose fire-retardant plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe.
  • Select fire-resistant shrubs such as hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples.
  • Plant hardwood, maple, poplar and cherry trees that are less flammable than pine, fir and other conifers.
Calfire Video Defensible Space 
Safety Videos 

 

 

 

(NFPA)Data, research, and tools 

To keep you in the know, NFPA studies fire data in detail to provide insights about the overall fire problem, firefighter fatalities and injuries, major fire causes, fire protection systems, and many other topics. Through the Fire Protection Research Foundation we work with organizations around the world to investigate emerging fire safety hazards and solutions.

 

Reports on the US fire problem | NFPA

Electrical Research and Reports | NFPA

Emergency responder reports | NFPA

NFPA reports - Hazardous materials

NFPA reports - Building and life safety

NFPA reports - Suppression

NFPA reports - Wildland urban interface

NFPA - Proceedings

NFPA Data Lab | NFPA

 

 

 

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day MAY 7, 2022 
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Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national campaign that encourages people and organizations everywhere to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks.

It is held in the United States and Canada on the first Saturday in May. Given that in-person gatherings are limited or on-hold in many places, this year’s Prep Day is focused on what residents can do on and around their home to help protect against the threat of wildfires.

PREPDAYFact Sheet.pdf

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day | NFPA